Chapter 54 False Accusation
Anna stared at Olivia, tears quickly pooling in her eyes and threatening to fall. With an expression that screamed ‘pity me’, she said, “Olivia, I know you don’t like me competing with you. But, I love designing too! This will be the last time, okay?”
The anger in Olivia’s heart surged. Even so, she looked calm on the outside. If she wants to act, I can act better than she can. “Do you mean this is the last time you plagiarize?”
Thus, Anna pretended to be agitated, and her tears poured out. “I didn’t plagiarize anything! I designed all of these! Olivia, it doesn’t matter even if you don’t like me, but you can’t falsely accuse me!”
In response, Olivia sneered, “To be honest, you could have just asked me if you wanted to use my designs. There was no need to put on such an elaborate melodrama. Crying so pitifully in front of everybody, then turning around to steal and plagiarize… It’s just… utterly shameless.”
“Olivia, when did I do that? That was you…”
As Anna spoke, she sneakily signaled Sarah with her eyes. Sarah immediately understood her intentions. Thus, she spoke up, “Mr. Host, I have a recording. Can I play it for you?”
Then, Anna pretended to stop her. “Sarah, don’t!”
Sarah played along too. “Miss Anna, I can’t let somebody accuse your hard work of plagiarism. I want everyone to know the truth!”
After the host asked the director for his opinion, he said, “Sure!”
Thus, Sarah hit the button on her phone’s recorder, and the sound of the quarrel between Olivia and Anna in the lounge played out…
After hearing the recording, everybody exchanged glances with each other. They couldn’t have imagined that Olivia would act so violently or threateningly in private.
The crowd took a look at Anna, a weeping beauty, then looked over at Olivia, an arrogant and high-handed woman. Comparing between the two, it was inevitable for them to have a prejudice toward the two ladies.
“Isn’t that judge picking on the participant a little too much?”
“I can’t believe she refused to allow her sister to participate in the grand competition just because she’s worried about competition!”
“No wonder Anna is covered in wounds.”
“Did you hear that sentence in the recording where she said ‘I can handle you alone’? Isn’t that clearly indicating that she intended to use her power as a judge to ruin the girl’s reputation?!”
“Yeah, that’s completely cruel! Moreover, she’s the elder sister too!”
Anna listened to the criticisms flying about around her, feeling extremely satisfied with herself. Even the gaze she turned on Olivia was considerably provocative. So what if I stole her designs? Does she even have any tricks up her sleeves? In the end, she is still not in a position to complain about anything—she can only suffer in silence! Not only can she do nothing to me, but I’m afraid she also has to take on the crime of engaging in malpractice, favoritism, and slandering her own sister!
Olivia sneered lightly. No wonder she was acting so strangely; she was waiting for this chance!
She looked at Anna like she was watching a crazy clown jumping to its death; even the faint smile curling at the corner of her lips seemed mocking. “The inspiration behind the four designs for the four gentlemen of the seasons—the plum blossom, the orchid, the bamboo, and the chrysanthemum—came from my three best friends in university.
The plum blossoms bloom in the snow, and the sword lilies hidden in the valleys remain tucked away; the wind breezes through the bamboo forest, bringing with it the faint fragrance of purple chrysanthemums! We had similar personalities. Whether we were cold and desolate or laid back and alone, we held the pride of not being touched by the world—we maintained our freedom of purity and authenticity. That’s why, when we graduated from university, I designed these four evening dresses as graduation gifts for the four of us. Anna, in the beginning, you only committed plagiarism. But now, you have added defaming a judge to your list of crimes.”
When Anna heard that, she panicked a little. I can’t believe that these designs have been converted into finished products. Moreover, she gave it away as gifts? Or, is she simply saying that on purpose?
“Olivia, you claim that these designs are yours and that you created finished products from them and gave them away as gifts. Then, why don’t you bring out those so-called evening dresses of yours and let everybody see for themselves? Is it truly the same as my designs? Or, is this another idea you came up with to stop me?!” Her voice was very loud and extremely agitated.
I don’t believe she can find somebody on the spot to cross-check this!
Olivia was so furious that she laughed coldly. “You won’t believe it until you see it, huh?”
