Chapter 181 – The Regretful Billionaire: An Unpredicted Reunion

Filed to story: The Regretful Billionaire: An Unpredicted Reunion >>

As Jade ended her speech and applause followed, their shop officially opened. The crowd flocked in, and Danika, alongside her staff, tended to the customers.

Their prices raised several gasps and hushed whispers, being on par with several international luxury brands.

“Look at the price on this!” someone cried unabashedly.

Danika went up to the woman who had spoken up. “Would you like to hear about what materials we use for our clothing?”

“No, actually. I just want to know why you’d dare price your items as high as the Shanelle across from here.”

Obviously, this woman was rich. But still, she didn’t want to waste her money.

“We use the finest silkworm cocoons to spin our threads for our clothing,” Danika explained with a smile. “Every piece is woven by hand, too, so the price must be equivalent to the craftsmanship.” The woman sneered, “That’s it?”

“La Vie Danika Rose Designs mains in haute couture. Our country should have its own luxury brand, too, no?” Danika wasn’t upset. She had prepared for this sort of confrontation.

The woman continued sternly, “You think you can just make haute couture as you like? Do you have the centuries of blood, sweat, and tears the other brands have put in?”

“Is our culture’s five millennia worth of hard work and perseverance enough?” Danika continued to smile. All her designs were based on traditional techniques and inspiration, no less high-end than all the foreign brands.

“Hmph!” The woman was at a loss for words and turned away to continue shopping.

Those who could afford to walk into the shop today had enough excess to spend on what caught their eye, so money was not an issue. That’s why La Vie Danika Rose Designs soon got its first purchase-two silken robes, light and airy.

Just as Danika thought things were going swell, someone said, “Hey, your items look similar to the ones from that other shop that opened the other day.”

“Yeah, I thought so too,” another responded.

The woman who had purchased the robes stopped and grumbled upon hearing that. “What’s the meaning of this? You better give me a good explanation, or I’m not wearing this.”

Danika and Jade went up to them. “Which shop are you referring to, miss?”

“The one opposite yours. Dream Vonne Designs.”

Dream Vonne? Wasn’t that La Vie Danika Rose Designs’ previous name?

Was Yvonne up to something?

Just then, Yvonne walked into the store, sneering as she glanced at the available clothing. “I can’t believe you’d mimic my designs, Ms. Zellweger. Here I thought you were capable enough to make your own. Give me a proper explanation, or I’m afraid I’ll have to take this matter to court.”

Yvonne was enjoying the scene she had caused. Two of her staff stood by her side, holding robes similar to the ones the woman had purchased from Danika’s store.

The woman quickly compared her purchase with the ones shown. Her face fell when she realized they were nearly identical. She tossed a robe at Jade, demanding, “What is this? You expect me to wear a copycat’s work?!”

She was an influential woman in Parrington, so wearing something like this would surely ruin her reputation.

Jade tucked the robe in her arms and glanced at the ones Yvonne’s staff were holding. “We can guarantee there was no copyright infringement involved.”

“No?” Yvonne sneered and walked up to Danika. “How would you explain the similarity in our designs when we’ve been open for a week now?”

Danika knew Yvonne was coming directly at her. All this copycat stuff must’ve been her idea too. She just had to figure out how Yvonne got her designs.

“I have the fashion drawing for this robe because I drew the design myself. Do you?”

Yvonne smiled, then held out a hand to her assistant. “Of course I do.” She gave the paper to Danika. “Take a long look and tell me whose design is original.”

Danika’s eyes widened, staring at Yvonne’s design in shock. The design was the exact same as hers, if not for the different paper material.

Jade was just as taken aback. She asked quietly, “What is going on, Danika?”

“I don’t know…I think someone stole my design and gave it to her.” Not just her design-that person must also have seen the clothes after they had been finalized; otherwise, their designs wouldn’t have been so similar,

Danika suddenly caught onto something. Her eyes scanned the shop before landing on Felicity at the far corner.

The woman shivered and-before Danika could call her out-immediately left the store.

How dare she?

Danika had brought Felicity from the countryside to Parrington and let her stay at her own home, but this was what she repaid her with? Stealing her work for Yvvone?!

Clenching her fist, Danika let out a deep breath to regain her composure. “You know full well how you got this design.”

“Yes, our designer drew it herself.” Yvonne sneered, thinking Danika wouldn’t be able to prove the truth.

Danika had a few seconds of thought before taking out her phone. “I’ll call the police then.”

She wouldn’t be able to prove her or her brand’s innocence without the help of the police. It was the only way the public would believe in them again.

“You…” Yvonne gaped in surprise. Clearly, she didn’t think Danika would go down this route.

After making the call, Danika announced to the customers in her shop, “Thank you so much for coming to our opening tonight, everyone. I’m afraid we will have to close for the night, given we’ve been accused of infringing others’ copyright. But rest assured, once this matter is settled and we’ve proven our innocence, we will reopen with a bang.”

“You really didn’t copy their design?” the woman who had bought the robe asked.

Danika shook her head. “Thank you for your support, ma’am. Don’t worry-we’ll refund you your money. Do catch up with the police for updates on this case.”

The police came, and the customers soon left. Yvonne didn’t understand how Danika looked so confident. Did she have evidence?

She cautiously went up to Danika. “Do you have proof that you didn’t copy our work?”

“Don’t you worry. I’ll be handing all our proof to the police. You just worry about whether you missed something. Or your reputation will be ruined once the truth comes out.” Danika grinned.

Yvonne was shocked by her confidence but quickly recomposed herself. “Hmph! We’ll see just what you can come up with!” Before she left the premises, she turned around to upset Danika even further. “Eustace hasn’t been coming to you recently, has he?”

Danika frowned but ignored her.

“Don’t you wanna know what he’s been up to?” Yvonne grinned. “Because I know exactly what’s going on with him.”

“Nope. We’re alright. Thank you for your concern.” Danika turned to leave.

“Really? Then why does it seem like you don’t know anything that’s going on?” If only Danika knew about Mortimer Quincey, she wouldn’t be so confident. “Did you go to his study, by the way? Seen the picture he hides there? She looks like you, doesn’t she?” Yvonne called after Danika was a distance away from her.

Danika came to a stop, then turned to Yvonne. “Who is she?”

She couldn’t ask Eustace, nor had she found any answers online. Yvonne was her only lead. Of course, she wouldn’t wholeheartedly believe in Yvonne. She only needed a name to investigate that mystery woman.

Yvonne looked annoyingly happy with herself. “Looks like you did see the picture.”

“What’s her relationship with Eustace?” Danika asked. Unease churned in her chest the more delighted Yvonne looked.

“You’d never imagine a man like Eustace would get rejected by a woman, would you?” Yvonne said after a pause.

“Rejected?” Danika thought, eyebrows knitting together.

Yvonne was in a terribly good mood now, eager to make Danika as upset as possible. “You don’t need to worry too much, honestly. It’s not like they were dating.”

Her “consolation” didn’t help. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying, as much as Eustace did like her back then, they never dated.” Yvonne knew a lot more about the man than Danika did, after all.

“Eustace liked her?” The thought made Danika’s heart plunge.

It pleased Yvonne to no end. “The woman rejected Eustace when he confessed his love to her. He’s never let go of her since. Now he’s dating you in memory of her-you’re her substitute, Danika. He’s such a jerk, isn’t he?” Yvonne nearly floated three inches off the floor with delight.

As aware of Yvonne’s ill intent as Danika was, all this news still upset her.

Was this all true? She bit her lip, doubt now firmly planted in her heart.

Yvonne didn’t seem to be lying, given how happy she was telling Danika all this.

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