Chapter 62
Sebastian Valdemar's fingers tapped lightly on the desk, his brow furrowed.
On the trending list, the hashtag #ShatteredStarsPlagiarism was climbing at an alarming rate, quickly reaching the top three.
"KL Group insider exposes Evelyn Roland's alleged design theft!"
The comments section exploded.
"I knew it. How could a rookie create something so stunning?"
"Valdemar Group is finished. Their stocks will plummet."
"Plagiarists should be banned from the design industry!"
Isabella Langley stood in the corner, a cold smirk playing on her lips. Watching the flood of hateful comments on her phone, she felt a surge of satisfaction.
"Ms. Roland, how do you respond to the plagiarism allegations?" A reporter suddenly shoved a microphone in Evelyn's face.
The camera flashes were blinding.
Sebastian moved to intervene, but Evelyn gently stopped him. Her expression remained calm, as if she were merely an observer.
"Mr. Valdemar, should PR handle this?" Theodore Ashcroft whispered urgently.
Sebastian shook his head. "Wait."
Just then, commotion erupted at the entrance.
The crowd parted like the Red Sea.
"It's Master Edmund Grandelle!"
The white-haired elder strode forward, his sharp gaze fixed on the Shattered Stars display.
"This design is from my sketchbook twenty years ago." His quiet voice silenced the room.
Reporters snapped photos frantically.
Isabella nearly laughed aloud. Feigning concern, she approached Evelyn. "Little sister, it's not too late to apologize—"
Evelyn's icy glare made her instinctively step back.
"Master Grandelle," Evelyn said evenly, "are you certain this is your work?"
The old man stroked his beard, adopting a sorrowful expression. "Taking shortcuts is understandable, but plagiarism is despicable."
Boos erupted from the audience.
Sebastian's face darkened. Before he could speak, Evelyn suddenly smiled.
That smile sent an inexplicable chill down Grandelle's spine.
"Since you claim this is your sketch," Evelyn pulled a flash drive from her bag, "shall we review the surveillance footage?"
Grandelle froze.
Every camera lens swiveled toward the tiny device.
Isabella's heart plummeted. Her nails dug into her palms as she stared at the flash drive.