Ophelia Gets Thrown Out (Ophelia) novel Chapter 24

**Paths Lead To Purpose — Kevin Masters**
**Chapter 24**

Chapter 24

There was an undeniable sense of absurdity hanging in the air, a feeling that something was amiss in the entire scenario unfolding before Ophelia.

Her lips twitched slightly, betraying her inner turmoil.

Earlier, she had sent a message to Ella, clearly stating that there was no need to send over the design drafts for this quarter. Instead, she had instructed Dylan to deliver them directly to Caterina, bypassing the usual channels.

Yet, in a twist of fate, Ella had seemingly neglected to inform the general manager, leaving Ophelia in a precarious position.

Now, under the inquisitive gaze of Dylan, she felt the weight of the moment pressing down on her. “Sort of,” she replied, her voice steady despite the chaos in her mind. “I once participated in a design competition that Caterina hosted.”

What she omitted from her explanation was the fact that she had been the chief judge behind the scenes during that competition, the one who had the power to select the designers who would showcase their talents.

However, Dylan completely misinterpreted her words. “So, when you mentioned winning awards in the past, it was at Caterina’s design contest? That explains why the general manager was so excited to hear your name!”

He continued, his enthusiasm palpable. “He immediately agreed to help finalize your design within three days and even offered to personally deliver the dress to our home.”

Ophelia found herself momentarily speechless. ‘This was meant to be Ella’s message for him,’ she thought, bewildered. ‘How did it morph into such an exaggerated tale by the time it reached his ears?’

“Oh, that’s wonderful,” she replied, forcing a smile that felt stiff on her lips, attempting to mask her unease.

Owen was practically radiating excitement. “Wow, Ophelia! Not only are you a genius in IT, but you’re also famous in the design world? Caterina actually wants your work! That’s incredible!”

His eyes sparkled with admiration, making Ophelia feel both flattered and uneasy.

Zoe, however, was taken aback. “What? That’s impossible! Caterina has so many top designers! How could they possibly accept Ophelia’s designs just because of her name?”

The notion seemed too far-fetched for her to digest.

Noticing her incredulous expression, Owen chuckled, “Zoe, you’re shocked too, huh? Don’t just stand there in disbelief. Looks like dinner’s on you tonight. Let’s head upstairs!”

He was clearly ready to indulge in a feast, excitement bubbling over.

“Yeah, right, it’s my treat, but—” Zoe’s face froze into an awkward grimace, a mix of disbelief and annoyance.

She still struggled to wrap her mind around the revelation she had just heard.

Zoe’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Ophelia, can you even handle sashimi? Those are all top-grade imported ingredients.”

‘A girl like Ophelia, who grew up at the bottom of society? Has she ever even tasted anything so refined?’ Zoe thought, her skepticism evident.

Ophelia grinned slyly. “Never tried it before. Thought I’d give it a shot.”

Though she had no particular craving for sashimi, the allure of the price tag was undeniably tempting.

Frustration washed over Zoe, but since she was the one who had suggested this dinner, she could only grit her teeth and endure it.

Soon, the group wrapped up their orders. Dylan, while not ordering much food, opted for the restaurant’s most expensive bottle of red wine, further adding to Zoe’s growing sense of despair.

She felt utterly numb, as if her heart had been hollowed out.

To ease her discomfort, she tried to imagine a scenario where Ophelia failed the upcoming monthly exam, forcing her to buy Zoe a bag as a consolation. Otherwise, she would genuinely be furious.

After the orders were placed, Dylan’s curiosity about Ophelia intensified. “Ophelia, you must have won quite a prestigious award at Caterina’s competition, right? Otherwise, how could the person in charge accept your design solely based on your name?”