7
In the deathly silence that fell over the entire venue, I walked towards the runway with
composure.
A flash of panic crossed Lucas’s eyes. He instinctively shielded Giselle behind him, warily watching me.
“Aria, what… what are you doing? If you have something to say, let’s talk in private.”
Ignoring him, I took the microphone from a nearby reporter and calmly scanned the
<
audience.
“Hello everyone, I’m Aria Snow.”
“First, I’d like to correct something. Miss Giselle said I’m the third wheel in your relationship. I can’t agree with that.”
I raised my left hand, on which was a ring identical to the one Lucas had just used to
propose.
“Because until just now, I was still Mr. Reed’s legal and nominal fiancée.”
The entire venue erupted in shock!
The reporters, like sharks smelling blood, became even more excited.
Giselle’s face instantly turned pale.
Lucas looked at me warily: “You really…”
I looked at him, smiling coldly, then turned my gaze to Giselle.
“You say you and Mr. Reed are truly in love. On this point, I actually believe you.”
“After all, I personally witnessed that true passion when you two were having an affair in the studio fitting room.”
“You!” Giselle trembled with anger, pointing at me but unable to utter a word.
The murmurs in the venue grew louder. Everyone’s expressions became increasingly
intriguing.
I didn’t give them a chance to catch their breath.
“However, I’m not standing here today to discuss your little love affair.”
“I’m here to reveal a secret, a shocking secret about our so-called genius designer, Mr.
Lucas Reed.”
16:26 Wed, 9 Jul RD
<
I snapped my fingers.
52%
Backstage, the staff I had arranged in advance immediately projected a PowerPoint presentation onto the giant LED screen at the center of the runway.
The first slide showed a large photo of Lucas, with bright red words beside it – “Thief or
Genius?”
Lucas’s face instantly drained of all color.
“Aria Snow! Have you gone mad? Are you trying to destroy me?!”
I ignored him and pressed the remote control in my hand.
On the screen, a series of comparison images began to appear.
On the left were all of Lucas’s award-winning, highly acclaimed designs over the years.
On the right were works by Mr. Quincy Yan from twenty years ago that had been buried in
obscurity.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please look closely. Mr. Reed’s so-called original designs and the Eastern classical elements he claims to draw inspiration from…
In fact, they all come from the works of a genius designer who retired twenty years ago
Mr. Quincy Yan!”
“This isn’t inspiration or homage. This is blatant plagiarism! It’s theft!”
My voice rang out strong and clear, each word striking at the heart.
The venue fell into a deathly silence. Everyone was stunned speechless by the iron-clad
evidence on the screen.
Those fashion critics who had been praising Lucas just moments ago now wore expressions more bitter than if they had swallowed flies.
Lucas trembled all over, his face ashen, muttering, “Impossible, impossible, how could you know…”
–
16:26 Wed, 9 Jul R
<
Giselle was completely dumbfounded as well.
I looked at their despairing expressions and continued: “Some might say that similar styles can’t be conclusive evidence of plagiarism. Well then…”
I pressed the final button.
–
On the screen appeared a thin face Mr. Quincy Yan.
