Chapter 5

The reporters Noah had invited to fill the room were the first to react, swarming around me.

“Miss Blake, there are rumors circulating online that you maliciously plagiarized new designer Briar Thorne’s work. What’s your explanation?”

“We hear you were in a relationship with Mr. Hayes. Did you make such an irrational move out of jealousy that your boyfriend was promoting a new talent?”

“Are you here today to publicly apologize to Miss Briar Thorne and Professor Thorne?”

Sharp questions came one after another, flashbulbs flickering wildly, threatening to swallow me whole.

Noah looked at me coldly. “Just go back! The plagiarism rumors are already trending! Do you seriously have the nerve to come here and make a scene?!”

After reprimanding me, he quickly stepped forward, adopting a humble and deferential posture toward Professor Thorne on stage.

“Professor Thorne, please don’t be angry. Audrey is young, she made a mistake. I’ll make sure to teach her a good lesson when we get home!”

Briar Thorne’s eyes immediately welled up, tears flowing freely. She weakly stepped to the front of the stage, pleading with Professor Thorne in a seemingly magnanimous tone.

“Professor Thorne, please don’t blame Audrey.”

“I know Audrey didn’t mean it. She probably just liked my design too much and made such a mistake.”

“Please, I beg you, give her another chance. I… I’m willing to forgive her.”

Her words, while seemingly magnanimous, were utterly insidious, directly nailing me to the pillar of shame for plagiarism.

The gazes of the crowd below were already filled with disdain and contempt.

Professor Thorne gave them a cold glance, saying nothing, but then turned the microphone towards me, his eyes burning with intensity.

“Audrey, come up here!”

“Now, I would like to formally introduce you to someone.”

“This person is the true author of the genius work ‘The Nest,’ and the brilliant designer I have been searching for years to take under my wing—Audrey Blake!”