Isabel was unwilling to give up. She pressed on, "It''s me, Isabel."


    Lina replied coolly, "I know. So what?"


    "But you" Isabel was at a loss for words. Was Lina out of her mind?


    Lina continued, “I used to like you, honestly. When my mom was choosing a brand ambassador, I thought your image really matched the message herpany wanted to convey, so I encouraged her to pick you."


    "But now I see, you''re not at all like the person you pretend to be on screen."


    "They say distance makes the heart grow fonder. I never really believed it—until now."


    Lina turned toward Ms. Cooper. "Mom."


    She didn''t need to say anything else; Ms. Cooper understood perfectly. Ever since the divorce, it had just been the two of them. She could read her daughter''s mind with a single nce.


    Ms. Cooper looked at Isabel and said, "I''m sorry, Miss Isabel, but we''ll have to cancel our partnership."


    Isabel was furious. She hadn''t done anything—why was the deal suddenly off? Didn''t they realize how much time and effort she''d poured into this coboration?


    As if reading Isabel''s thoughts, Ms. Cooper added, "I saw what happened earlier. You deliberately stepped on Miss Bagnold''s hand, and you clearly tried to smear her reputation. If the two of you were rivals, Miss Bagnold has outssed you by far. She never once spoke ill of you just now, yet you kept attacking her."


    Isabel felt as if she had just swallowed a mouthful of flies-disgusted, but with no words to defend herself.


    It was true. She had done it on purpose.


    She just hadn''t expected Ms. Cooper to see right through her.


    Are all businesspeople really this sharp?


    Isabel tried to protest, but no words came out.


    "Huh? What''s this?" Lina suddenly noticed a sheet of paper on the floor. She picked it up and paused in surprise. "This must belong to Miss Bagnold. When we were stuck in the elevator, she used these papers to fan me and help me cool down."


    Ms. Cooper hesitated, taken aback.


    If anyone else had said it, she might not have believed them. But Lina was her daughter-she trusted herpletely.


    So those creases she''d criticized weren''t because Effie was careless or disrespectful. They were from saving her daughter?


    But why didn''t Effie say anything?


    "Wow, Mom, is this piece as beautiful in real life?" Lina''s eyes sparkled as she stared at Effie''s jewelry design.


    "If a ne like this really exists, I''d love to have one."


    Ms. Cooper took the photo from Lina and studied it carefully, aplicated


    emotion flickering in her eyes.


    "Mom?"


    "I''m fine. Let''s go," Ms. Cooper said, gently steering Lina away.


    Isabel, still unwilling to let go, turned to Ms. Cooper. "Miss Lina, you''ve never even spent time with me. Isn''t it unfair to dismiss all my efforts after just one brief encounter? Can''t you give me a chance?"


    Lina frowned in annoyance. "It''s true, I used to admire you. But as I said, distance adds a certain charm. Now that I''ve met you, the illusion''s shattered. You''re not at all the person I imagined you to be."


    Lina paused, as if she had more to say.