:་ preferred me to remain broken by his side. So I escaped, and I'm now pursuing my dream with my left hand." Aside from Julian Blackwood's identity and the fact that I had changed my name, I told Zara Thorne everything else quite frankly. The connection between people is mysterious, and Zara Thorne and I hit it off immediately. Zara Thorne was indignant, cursing the (scoundrel), and then expressed her admiration for my courage to start anew. "No wonder you didn't want to be found," Zara Thorne suddenly realized. "So, Autumn, are you here for the design competition?" I nodded, not understanding her excitement. Zara Thorne said excitedly, "That's wonderful! I'll definitely be there to cheer you on!" A week later, my physical condition had largely stabilized. My numerous scars still left marks and still ached, but at least, when dressed, I looked normal. Despite Zara Thorne's repeated invitations to stay at the Thorne family estate, I politely declined. I completely trusted Zara's sincerity, but I couldn't afford the expenses of such a prestigious family in my current situation. Having finally started a new life, I only wanted to live within my means. Everything from now on, I wanted to achieve on my own. In fact, before meeting Julian Blackwood, I had always been this way. Before we married, I said I wouldn't give up my career. I was talented and hardworking, and already quite well-known in the industry. Julian Blackwood had said all the right things back then, promising to support me. But it turned out his support was only for when I stayed by his side. < I arrived at my mentor Emily's house and quickly immersed myself in preparations for the design competition. My previously submitted work had secured my spot in the preliminary round. Next was the semi-final, scheduled for half a month later. All contestants had to present a brand-new design and explain their creative inspiration to the judges on site. Following that would be the final round, where the semi-final design would be produced as a finished garment, and the winner would be determined by judges' scores and audience votes. I had already completed the initial draft of my semi-final piece back home. Emily was quite impressed after seeing it. "I have a feeling that your left-handed designs have even more spirit, a captivating vitality within them." I smiled. Emily's critiques were usually spot-on. Indeed, my current designs incorporated my experiences and hardships, my despair and my unyielding spirit. A vibrant, unyielding life force is always captivating. During this time, Zara Thorne also kept in frequent contact. Knowing I was busy, she would occasionally bring various delicious French pastries to "visit." The busy and fulfilling half-month flew by, and soon it was the day of the semi-finals, The Paris Design Competition was open globally, attracting contestants from all over the world. The favorites to win the championship were already well-known, including a local Parisian contestant named Vivian Dubois. Vivian had a face that radiated an innocent, "girl-next-door" charm, a supermodel's figure, and came from an influential family. Her superior conditions attracted countless fans. 12:42 pm P Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!