Reborn From Oblivion

Meanwhile, Cameron was anything but idle. He was pulling out all the stops to give Greta a leg up in her career, sparing no expense just to arrange a meeting between Greta and Jasmine.

Despite the web of connections pressuring her, Jasmine begrudgingly agreed to the meet-up. On the day of the meeting, Cameron gently guided Greta into Jasmine's dressing room, where Jasmine was lounging on a sofa with a rack nearby, showcasing both Nellie's and Greta's creations.

As Greta laid eyes on Nellie's work, her smile faltered, embarrassment coloring her cheeks.

Jasmine didn't mince words, saying, "Miss Greta, both you and Miss Nathalie are incredibly talented. But after a thorough comparison, I regret to say I've chosen Nathalie as my apprentice."

Greta asked, "Jasmine, can you tell me where I came up short?"

Jasmine, running her fingers over the garment's stitches, replied, "You're impulsive, unlike Nathalie, who has the patience and attention to detail needed for greatness."

Tears began to roll down Greta's cheeks.

Cameron abruptly stood. "Jasmine, I have to tell you, Nathalie is my wife. The Dawson family is prominent in the Capital, and I won't allow my wife to build her own career. She'll be coming back home with me soon."

Jasmine was taken aback, then sighed. "That's a shame."

Greta seized the moment. "Please, if you take me on as your apprentice, I promise to work on my impulsiveness."

Moved by Greta's determination, Jasmine agreed to take her in.

Greta wasted no time sharing the news on her blog. [He didn't let me down. Thanks to him, I've got the chance to be an apprentice under the legendary designer.] She included a photo of two hands clasped tightly together, and Nellie recognized them as Cameron's and Jasmine's hands through the rings on the slender fingers.

When Nellie heard the news, it felt like the world tilted. Her mind went blank, and she stood like a statue in the room until Lizzy's voice broke through. "Hey..."

Nellie slowly came back to reality, stumbling to the sofa to take a gulp of tea. Lizzy, crouched in front of her and tried to comfort her, "Are you alright? It's just a missed shot at being a mentee. You're a gem, and you'll shine wherever you are. There's no need to be so down."

Nellie gazed at the innocent Lizzy. She didn't grasp the gravity of it. This competition was Nellie's big chance to change her fate, and despite winning, destiny seemed set against her. Jasmine still chose Greta.

Was it hopeless, no matter how hard she tried, to alter her fate?

Whether from stress or exhaustion, Nellie fell sick. She was burning with a fever, bedridden, and drained.

In her haze, she thought she heard Cameron and Lizzy arguing.

"Where's Nellie? I need to see her."

"Mr. Dawson, she's not well. She can't see you."

"She's always been strong. How could she be sick? She must be pretending to avoid me," he speculated without a shred of concern.

"She is genuinely ill and has a high fever," Lizzy insisted, blocking the door.

"A fever?" Cameron's tone softened. "How did she suddenly get sick?"

Lizzy didn't know Cameron and Nellie's tension, so she let her guard down. "She got heartbroken over not getting to learn from Jasmine, and it made her sick."