From mistake to mastery.

"What happened?" Gabriel asked, his curiosity piqued. "Next time," Caleb replied, attempting to brush it off as he stepped forward. But Barron blocked his path, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Your girlfriend is calling you," he teased.

Caleb turned to see Abigail approaching them with a bright smile. "MD," she called out, greeting Barron and Gabriel warmly. Barron quickly took the opportunity to introduce himself, launching into a charming explanation of how they had met at the hospital and cafe. "I'm Barron, and your gown looks absolutely fabulous," he said, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

Abigail thanked him graciously, and Barron continued, "And this is Gabriel, who works as prosecutor in the city division unit." Gabriel smiled and extended his hand, introducing himself. Abigail returned the greeting, her smile radiant. "Hi, I'm Abigail." Caleb remained still, observing the exchange with a mix of emotions.

Abigail stood awkwardly after the exchange of greetings, her eyes darting between Caleb's friends. Caleb, however, remained still, his expression unreadable. Gabriel nudged him discreetly, hinting that he should say something to his girlfriend and not leave her standing there in awkward silence.

From her seat, Abigail watched as Caleb, accompanied by his friends, attempted to approach her. However, he halted mid-step and turned back, his eyes avoiding hers. Abigail's gaze lingered on him for a moment, a mix of emotions swirling inside her.

Her attention then shifted to Barron, who was standing nearby. She had met him before, when she pretended to be Caleb's girlfriend, and she couldn't just ignore him now. With a friendly smile, Abigail decided to take the initiative and greet them, hoping to break the awkward tension.

Barron, sensing the awkwardness, chimed in, "We should all have a meal together someday." Abigail smiled, relieved by the suggestion. "Of course," she replied.

Ethan, who had been standing at a distance, observed the conversation with interest. He couldn't help but notice the enthusiasm with which Barron and Gabriel had introduced themselves to Abigail, and the way Caleb was gazing at her, his expression a mix of emotions. Ethan's curiosity was piqued, and he wondered what was really going on beneath the surface.

Just then, Shara's voice echoed through the room, announcing the restart of the final round and calling all contestants to return to the hall. Abigail excused herself, "I have to go. Nice meeting you all." Barron and Gabriel nodded in response, while Caleb simply gazed at Abigail, his expression unreadable.

Abigail turned to Ethan, picked up a bottle, and took a sip, mentally preparing herself for the final round. With a deep breath, she seemed to steel herself for what was to come, her focus shifting to the competition ahead.

Caleb cast a lingering glance at Ethan before turning to leave. He stepped forward, followed closely by Gabriel and Barron. Despite Abigail's upcoming final round, Caleb chose not to stay and offer his support.

As they drove away, Barron spoke up, "You should stay and support your girlfriend." Caleb's expression remained nonchalant, his eyes fixed on the road ahead as he continued driving. His silence spoke volumes, leaving Barron and Gabriel to wonder about his true intentions.

Shara's voice echoed through the hall once more, announcing the commencement of the final round. The room fell silent, and all eyes shifted to the stage, focusing intently on the competition. The air was electric with anticipation, and the audience held their collective breath, eager to see the outcome.

With a fierce determination, Abigail embarked on creating another show-stopping short gown for the final round. This time, she chose a rich, plum-purple fabric that seemed to shimmer in the light. As she began to cut out the pattern, her hands moved with a newfound sense of purpose.

However, her scissors slipped, and she made a small mistake, cutting a crucial seam incorrectly. Abigail's heart sank, and she felt a wave of frustration wash over her. She had to recut the fabric, precious time ticking away.

Undeterred, Abigail took a deep breath and refocused. She carefully recut the fabric, making sure to get it just right. But just as she was making progress, her sewing machine jammed, the threads tangling into a knotty mess.

Abigail's patience was wearing thin, but she refused to give up. She carefully removed the jam, thread by thread, and continued sewing with precision and patience. The hours ticked by, and the gown began to take shape.

As she worked, Abigail encountered another challenge - the fabric's slippery texture made it difficult to gather and drape. But she persevered, experimenting with different techniques until she found one that worked.

Finally, after hours of tireless effort, Abigail completed the gown. She stepped back, her eyes widening with pride, as she beheld the stunning purple gown. The intricate details, the flowing design, and the perfect fit all came together to create a truly breathtaking masterpiece.

Abigail's perseverance and creativity had paid off, and she knew that she had overcome the challenges to bring out the best purple gown. With a sense of triumph and pride, she prepared to showcase her creation to the judges and the world.

As the judges made their way to Abigail's workstation, she stood up straight, her hands carefully positioned to showcase her stunning purple gown. But despite her poised exterior, her mind was racing with anticipation.

She glanced down at her hands, noticing the tiny pinpricks of blood on her fingers from the countless hours of sewing and needlework. The physical evidence of her hard work and dedication was a reminder of the journey she had undertaken to create this breathtaking gown.

As the first judge approached, Abigail took a deep breath, mentally preparing herself to articulate the inspiration, design process, and intricate details that had gone into creating her masterpiece. She had practiced her explanation countless times, but she still felt a hint of nervousness.

With a confident smile, Abigail began to speak, her words flowing smoothly as she described the concept, fabric selection, and meticulous craftsmanship that had brought her vision to life. The judges listened intently, their eyes scanning the gown as Abigail highlighted its unique features and intricate details.

As each judge took their turn to ask questions and hear Abigail's explanation, she felt her confidence growing. She was proud of what she had created, and she knew that she had poured her heart and soul into this stunning purple gown.