chapter414

Connor barely glanced at Aiden, too focused on Lydia's competition to care about anything else.

The second round dragged on, way longer than the first, since everyone had to make their outfits from scratch. It was tough. But the rules allowed contestants to help each other, and plenty of them teamed up. After all, every design was different, so it made sense to join forces if it meant finishing in time.

Jenny was closest to Marissa, so they naturally teamed up, talking through ideas and working side by side. Evalina paired off with her friend Luna. Around the room, everyone was hustling, some in pairs, others trying to go it alone.

Sierra had embarrassed herself in the first round, but she didn't care. She was stubborn and determined to finish, no matter what. In her mind, Blake and Miss L obviously favored Jenny for some reason. Sierra refused to believe Jenny was as talented as everyone claimed. It had to be an act.

Sharee, though, was falling apart. Ever since she left the stage, she felt like everyone was staring at her, judging her, silently mocking every move she made. It was like she couldn't breathe. All she wanted was to run away.

"Sierra, can we just leave? I really don't want to do this anymore," Sharee whispered, barely meeting Sierra's eyes.

Sierra's patience was running thin. She hated how timid Sharee had become. "You're really quitting?"

Sharee shook her head, eyes fixed on the floor. "What's the point? I'm not going to win, not with all this talent around. I'm just embarrassing myself. I can't stand how everyone looks at me."

"Then help me," Sierra said simply.

Sharee blinked, caught off guard. What?

"I might not be able to finish by myself. Look around. Everyone else is teaming up," Sierra pointed out quietly.

Sharee didn't want to go back to the hotel alone. She hesitated, then finally nodded. "Okay. I'll help. I hope you win."

Sierra smiled, Thanks, Sharee. If I win, I'll remember what you did.

When the two hours were up, not everyone had finished. Some of the designs were just too complicated They had looked gorgeous on paper, but actually making them was a whole different story. Contestants were sweating, rushing, trying to get every last detail done before time ran out.

Sierra had the same problem. Her design was ornate, loaded with details and decorations. When she and Sharee started working, they quicklyrealized it was impossible to finish it all. They ended up simplifying things a lot, barely getting the dress done before the

timer buzzed.

Sierra, this....... Sharee trailed off, staring at the dress they'd managed to finish.

Sierra looked embarrassed, her voice quiet. "We didn't have enough time. We had to cut corners. At least the style is classic."

Out of forty-two contestants, only thirty actually finished their outfits. All the pieces were put on mannequins, each one labeled with the designer's name and number, lined up on stage under the lights It

line sturing sight rows of

was a

unique, eye-catching clothes, every one a little different.

But two of the dresses stood out for the wrong reason. Besides the color, they looked almost the same, with at least seventy percent of the style matching.

People in the audience started whispering right away.

"Jenny's dress is just like her sketch. Even the flowers on the skirt are perfect. But Sierra's... why does it look so much like Jenny's?"

"It's weird, right? Isn't that basically copying?"

"I thought their designs were similar in the first round, but now it's obvious. I knew I wasn't imagining it."