Chapter 71

Chapter 71

A woman in her fifties was escorted out by two bodyguards as the double doors of the exhibition hall swung open.

At the same time, Stephanie kept her eyes on Florence, who was struggling to maintain her composure despite her panic.

Stephanie smiled and asked, “Are you nervous?”

Florence immediately denied it, her voice suddenly rising, “How could that be? I don’t even know that woman. What does she have to do with me?”

“I suppose you’re being honest since Mrs. Hayes was the one who personally contacted her,” Stephanie said.

Florence clenched her skirt and snapped, “Stop your blabbering! How could you frame my mom with these false accusations? Why fabricate such lies to frame her when we are sisters?”

In response, Stephanie shrugged, saying, “Me lying and framing your mom? Don’t even think of sweeping things under the rug forever!”

The bodyguards led the wo

woman on stage.

She was greeted with the sight of a crowd below upon raising her head.

Stephanie’s face darkened. She said, “Frankly, I’ll sue you in the name of Starlight Design Studio till you’re imprisoned if you continue your deceit.”

The exhibition hall that was abuzz with conversation instantly fell silent.

The woman’s voice echoed throughout the room, “I’m a cleaner at Starlight Design Studio. A week ago, a man wearing a baseball cap and a mask approached me and asked me to take pictures of Ms. Hayes rough sketches. He promised to pay me 160 thousand dollars if I was successful. I agreed, as I desperately needed the money. That night, someone cut the power off, and I went to Ms. Hayes‘ office to photograph her rough sketches and sent them to the man. The next day, I resigned due to health reasons, and that afternoon, I was sent out of Jacaster. I did not expect to be captured and brought back here two days later. I swear it’s all true!”

“That doesn’t prove anything. The person who hired her is a man. What does that have to do with my mom?” Florence denied.

“Good question. Let us now welcome the man with the baseball cap to the stage,” Stephanie said, clapping.

The crowd’s attention shifted back to the hall entrance, where two bodyguards

Is were escorting a man in a baseball cap and mask.

“Is he the one you met?” Stephanie asked the cleaner, who looked at the masked man and nodded vigorously as she replied, “That’s him. I can tell by the unusual position of the mole on his neck.”“

The bodyguards removed the man’s cap and mask, revealing him to be Terry, the son of the butler of the Hayes family’s butler.

He pleaded pitifully, “Ms. Florence Hayes, please save mel Please don’t abandon me. I was only doing Mrs. Hayes” bidding!”

Florence pursed her lips at that, “I don’t know you!” she denied.

“I’m the son of the Hayes family’s butler! How could you not recognize me?” he exclaimed.

“That can’t be. Stephanie must have bribed you,” Florence denied, shaking her head.

“I still have my chat history with Mrs. Hayes, the photos of the rough sketches, and the transaction history on my phone! The dates on the photos are solid evidence!” Terry added.

The bodyguard handed Tarry’s phone to Stephanie, who logged into her account on a laptop and displayed all the evidence to the public.

Those present began to discuss and debate,

“Everything is clear now!” one said.

10.28 Thu, 30 May B DE

Chapter 71

“They claimed that tonigha

riginal creatines and that it was the combined effort of the design director and the team itus nut that

“How could they

prendre when they cemented such atrocities Shame on them,” one added.

“Colluding with your mother to sctimise your site is simply unacceptable. Stephanie would be better off severing ties with the Hayes family someone

Ti finally uniforstand Stephanie’s allusion to how a thief’s crimes are exposed sooner or later. She knew about their schemes all along and was hiding her

“Exactly Florence even claimed to have poured her heart and sout into the rough sketch When others doubted she’d gotten her inspiration during her time in the psychiatric hospital, she dared to point out that she worked in it day and night. The nerve of her to reap the rewards of someone elsa’s

nother chimed in.

“She

One person said. “She made Ms. Stephanie Hayes a vocal double and even stole her rough sketch. So at the rough sketches she produced under Fantasy Boutique were all Stephanie’s!”

“But of course What else can Florence do but plagiarize another quipped.

at photoshopping! Do you know she has edited into certain scenes instead of being physically present? I guess she thinks we’re a

bunch of idiots”

Florence glared at

tephanie fiercely, her eyes filled with hatred,

“What do you have to say for yourself?” Stephanie said, pursing her lips.

st them. Florence muttered under her breath, “Stephanie, are you casting Grandpa aside now?”

threat? Oh, how terrifying Stephanie said, blinking.

Florence continued, “Grandpa will be safe and sound if you deny all these allegations. Or else, don’t even dream of seeing him again!”

Stephanie na

narrowed her eyes at her

The audience’s game was fixed on the two

ste’s on stage

One of them was visibly overcome with hatred, while the other looked at the other lazily with a

hamusement and disdain.

A resounding slap broke the silence of the moment.

Florence’s face jerked to the side at Stephanie’s stap.

She gaped and looked at Stephanie in disbelief just before her anger overcame her, and she raised her hand to slap Stephanie back.

Unfortunately, Stephanie grabbed her wrist and delivered another slap to the other side of her cheek

The audience was stunned as four consecutive slaps rang out across the hall.

so satisfying!”

ssistant’s jaw dropped before she said, “Stephanie is so cool! It must be so

Madeline curled her lips and chimed in, “Someone like Florence deserves such brutal treatmen

However, Douglas couldn’t stand the scene any longer, not because of Stephanie hitting Florence but due to the bet he’d mady earlier.

While he was planning to sneak away undetected, Stephanie unexpectedly called out to him, “Mr. Fletcher, you just made a bet with Florence and Alicia on the red carpet that if they lost, each of them would kneel and bow down before me thirty times. You may now fulfill your end of the deal!”

Chapter 71

“They claimed that tonight’s designs were original creations and that it was the combined effort of the design director and the team! It turns out that everyone at Fantasy Boutique is a Earl” another said.

How could they accuse Stephanie of being aggressive when they committed such atrocities? Shame on them,” one added.

“Colluding with your mother to victimize your sister is simply unacceptable. Stephanie would be better off severing ties with the Hayes family,” someone

stated.

finally understand Stephanie’s allusion to how a thief’s crimes are exposed sooner or later, She knew about their schemes all along and was biding her time to retaliate!” another person uttered.

“Exactly! Florence even claimed to have poured her heart and soul into the rough sketch. When others doubted she’d gotten her inspiration during her time in the psychiatric hospital, she dared to point out that she worked on it day and night! The nerve of her to reap the rewards of someone else’s

labor!” another chimed in

One person said, “She made Ms. Stephanie Hayes a vocal double and even stole her rough sketch. So all the rough sketches she produced under Fantasy Boutique were all Stephanie’s!”

“But of course! What else can Florence do but plagiarize?” another quipped.

*She is also an expert at photoshopping! Do you know she has edited into certain scenes instead of being physically present? I guess she thinks we’re a

bunch of idiots!” someone criticized.

Florence glared at Stephanie fiercely, her eyes filled with hatred.

“What do you have to say for yourself?” Stephanie said, pursing her lips.

Just then, Florence muttered under her breath, “Stephanie, are you casting Grandpa aside now?”

“is that supposed to be a threat? Oh, how terrifying!” Stephanie said, blinking

Florence continued, “Grandpa will be safe and sound if you deny all these allegations. Or else, don’t even dream of seeing him again!”

Stephanie narrowed her eyes at her.

The audience’s gaze was fixed on the two sisters on stage.

One of them was visibly overcome with hatred, while the other looked at the other lazily with amusement and disdain.

A resounding slap broke the silence of the moment.

Florence’s face jerked to the side at Stephanie’s slap.

She gaped and looked at Stephanie in disbelief just before her anger overcame her, and she raised her hand to stap Stephanie back.

Unfortunately, Stephanie grabbed her wrist and delivered another slap to the other side of her cheek.

The audience was stunned as four consecutive slaps rang out across the hall

Madeline’s assistant’s jaw dropped before she said, “Stephanie is so cool! It must be so satisfying!”

Madeline curled her lips and chimed in, “Someone like Florence deserves such brutal treatment!”

However, Douglas couldn’t stand the scene any longer, not because of Stephanie hitting Florence but due to the bet he’d made earlier.

While he was planning to sneak away undetected, Stephanie unexpectedly called out to him, “Mr. Fletcher, you just made a bet with Florence and Alicia

on the red carpet that if they lost, each of them would kneel and bow down before me thirty times. You may now fulfill your end of the deal!”

Chapter 71

Douglas expression darkened. He gritted his teeth and replied, “Don’t push your luck, Stephanie!”

Do I? Didn’t you say so yourself? Are you going back on your word? All the reporters and our acquaintances outside have been taking pictures and even broadcasting the live stream. All the netizens would have known by now,” Stephanie scoffed.

“I was just kidding.” Florence faid, covering her face with both hands and the resentment in her eyes

s combined with a tinge of fear

Alicia also echoed from downstage. “That’s right! Can’t you see it was a joke? Who would want to kneel and bow down to you?”

Stephanie’s arms were on her hips as she said, “You three would have switched places with me if I had lost. I’m not a saint for patiently listening to your pleas. Gior

Giovanni carried a chair onto the stage and said, “Have a seat, Ms. Hayes!”

“Please proceed!” Stephanie ordered, sitting down comfortably and crossing one leg over the other.

At the same time, Giovanni raised his foot and kicked Florence’s knees, forcing Florence to kneel in pain.

Stephanie had the intimidating air of a queen looking down on her lowly subjects.

“Stephie, why do you have to go to such lengths? We are still related by blood!” Florence said. She was teary eyed.

Stephanie bit back her retort as she said, “Don’t even try to earn my sympathy! We’ve been as good as strangers since the day I cut all ties with the Hayes family!”

Florence sobbed and looked at the curious audience. None of them were willing to speak up for her.

When she encountered such indifference, she burst into tears and fainted instantly

Douglas rushed on stage to hold Florence and scolded Stephanie, “Everyone makes mistakes. How could you be so heartless? Will it make you to see your biological sister kneeling in front of you?”

feel better

“Exactly. Florence even stated that she would call off the bet if Stephanie lost,” Alicia chimed in.

Stephanie chuckled and replied, “Is this your attempt to guilt tripping me? Sorry to burst your bubble, but it won’t work. And Alicia, how dare Florence assume that I would lose! None of yo