The fact that Rowan and Logan were the same height and build—and that Rowan always appeared when Logan was absent, and vice versa—hit Selina like a jolt of lightning.
A terrifying thought surged through her mind.
No way. No. It couldn’t be...
It shouldn’t be possible. Why would Logan, a man who practically ruled over City A with an iron fist, go to such lengths to take on a second identity as Rowan just to invest in a fashion competition?
Back on stage, after Angelica finished speaking, silence fell for a few tense seconds.
Everyone had expected Rowan to agree with Angelica’s defense of Star—but instead...
"Miss Angelica, Mr. Rigel," Rowan said coolly, voice flat and unimpressed, "you say you’re students of Star. But when you were lying—did it not occur to you..."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"...that Star might be here in person?"
A stunned silence blanketed the room.
Wait, what? Star is here? Rigel and Angelica were lying?
Selina blinked. Now this is getting fun.
She tilted her head slightly, sarcasm dancing in her voice.
"Maybe you two have lied so much, you actually believe yourselves."
Angelica’s breath caught. A wave of terror washed over her.
Star is here? That was impossible! She had asked around—Star was definitely not supposed to attend this year!
Then who was it?
No... no, it couldn’t be Selina!
Rowan rose from his seat at the judges’ table and stepped onto the stage.
Angelica’s mind scrambled for a way out. There had to be something—some way to spin this. If that person wasn’t Selina, she could still salvage this.
She could offer money. A house. Jewels. Career opportunities.
Surely something would matter to Star!
Meanwhile, Angelica’s relative, one of the Morris family’s clingy social climbers, leaned over to Joe, trying to butter him up.
"Joe, that Selina girl is outrageous! Look at her, making up such nonsense. Angelica is clearly Star’s student! You can’t let her get away with this!"
Joe turned to look at Selina. For some reason, she looked oddly familiar in that moment.
His silence emboldened the Morris woman further. She saw this as her golden chance to cozy up to the real Morris heir—Angelica. If she could win favor here, what riches might come later?
"Utter nonsense!" she shrieked. "Angelica would never lie! Selina, what, are you trying to say you’re Star? What gives you the right to even mention her name!"
Angelica stiffened, panic creeping into her voice.
"Selina, Auntie is right. I can help you clear your name on the plagiarism thing, but don’t pretend to be Star. You can’t possibly be her, there’s no way—"
She didn’t finish.
Because just then, Rowan stepped forward.
The crowd instinctively parted to let him through as he walked slowly toward Selina.
Ignoring Angelica’s panic. Ignoring the aunt’s screeching. Ignoring the stunned faces.
Rowan stopped in front of Selina with a soft, amused smile and gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face.
"Little junior sister" he said with unmistakable fondness, "had your fun yet?"
The crowd exploded.
Little junior sister—?! Everyone knew Rowan had only one "little junior sister."
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