Bride To Be Not Me (Janice and Simon)

Shirley was here?

Where?

Could it be that the mysterious Shirley was actually plain and unattractive?

Was that why she had been hiding and too afraid to go up against Janice, whose influence was growing stronger by the day?

Everyone had their thoughts and their agendas. If given the chance, they would definitely go all out to poach Shirley.

Janice, on the other hand, was impossible to recruit. With her rumored

relationship with Prosper Stitch Group's chairman practically confirmed, no one dared to try and steal her away.

Seated quietly on the outskirts of the crowd, Louis watched the scene unfold with amusement.

"She really is beautiful," he murmured in genuine admiration.

When they had crossed paths during the international championship, she hadn't looked this radiant. Her complexion had been paler, her energy dimmer.

"Betrayed by her boyfriend, left with almost nothing... and yet she turned around and secured the backing of a massive corporation. All without ever using her looks as a bargaining chip."

Louis was a contradiction.

When he was cruel, he was ruthless. But when he appreciated someone, that appreciation was entirely genuine. A woman like Janice-now that was charisma.

At the center of the room, Celine took charge of the moment. "Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to formally introduce someone to you."

All eyes snapped to her.

Standing beside Janice, Celine smiled. "The woman standing next to me is not only Ms. Janice Smith of Prosper Stitch Group but also the legendary Shirley Olson."

For a long moment, there was absolute silence. Nobody moved. They were too busy processing the shock.

Janice was Shirley?

The same Shirley who had single-handedly revived the declining crochet industry and brought it back into the global spotlight?

So... Janice was with Prosper Stitch Group.

Shirley was also with Prosper Stitch Group.

Then what the hell were they even competing for anymore?

The executives from Melody & Loops Creations were the first to react.

Hugo quickly started clapping, his applause loud and steady. "Truly impressive. Ms. Smith has held such an esteemed identity yet remained so low key. She's a role model for all of us in the industry, a true standard for Greenfield City's business community to follow."

Big corporations had their way of handling setbacks.

Even though Hugo felt immense pressure from this revelation, he was at least relieved that he had never crossed Janice in any way. His words snapped everyone out of their daze.

Immediately, representatives from mid-sized and smaller companies rushed forward, surrounding Janice and eagerly handing her theirnoveldrama

business cards. Even if the

secure a deal with her, just getting their name in front of her was worth it.

"Ms. Smith! A pleasure to meet you."

"Our company isn't huge, but if you ever need anything, please don't hesitate to reach out!"

"Ms. Smith..."

Janice accepted every business card with a polite smile, careful not to offend anyone.

Meanwhile, the news spread like wildfire across Greenfield City.

Shirley's fans immediately flooded Prosper Stitch Group's official website, posting messages of support for the company. Some even started buying Prosper Stitch Group products on the spot, and orders for Refined Threads Co. skyrocketed as well.

The internet exploded with discussions.

"Wait, so Janice is actually Shirley? She stayed by that ungrateful ex-boyfriend's side, silently working at Refined Threads Co., only to be betrayed. Just imagine how much she must have suffered!"

"Exactly! Her ex was blind. He threw away a diamond thinking it was just a rock. I bet he regrets it so much now."

"Hold on, I just realized something crazy. Everyone says Ms. Smith walked away from that relationship with nothing. But I did some digging, and Refined Threads Co. hasn't had any major contracts or profits in recent years. So, how did the

company stay afloat?

"If you line up the timeline of her competition wins, it all makes sense. She was

using her prize money to keep Refined Threads Co. alive!"

That last comment blew up, sending shockwaves through the discussions.

The more people thought about it, the more terrifying the realization became.