Chapter 231: Powerful Lawyer

In the audience, Morris chuckled softly, drawing the puzzled gazes of his parents.

"These two friends are still the same," he commented, shaking his head in mild amusement. "they know how to rile up the opponent."

Mr. Wilson turned to his son, confused. "Did you already expect this?"

Morris nodded, setting down his wine glass. "I know my sister. She would never do anything wrong." He glanced at his parents and added with a faint smile, "Just sit back and enjoy the show."

The Wilson couple exchanged glances before nodding. Trusting their son’s words, they turned their attention to the stage, eager to see what would unfold next.

Victor, standing on the stage, glared at the Faye and was about to step forward, but Silvia quietly held his hand, stopping him even before he could move as if she had already sensed his next move.

Barely anyone noticed as they were shielded by Natalie’s chair and Mia sitting on the hand rest.

Victor turned to look at her, only to hear Silvia whisper, "You see Natalie is calm and confident. I’m sure she has a plan. Your meddling will only cause her trouble. Just stay put and trust her."

He shrugged her hand off as if she were a nuisance and frowned. "You know nothing."

"This is the perfume I represent as well, and I care about its reputation just as much as you do. But I won’t interfere because I trust the person I chose to work with," she retorted, frowning. "But an arrogant man like you wouldn’t understand that."

Victor glanced at Natalie, who was calmly sipping her juice. Silvia’s words made sense, and after a moment’s hesitation, he decided to hold back. He reminded himself that Natalie was no longer the weak woman from the past. She had changed, and he didn’t need to be so overprotective anymore.

"You have to admit that this is my formula and that you stole it," Faye declared.

Natalie gave her a bored look. "You still need to prove it’s yours. You were granted entry into this highly secure event hall with a . Don’t make me regret it," she said with a smirk.

Faye flinched, caught off guard. She hadn’t realized how easily she had been allowed inside, and the realization made her nervous.

"Not just me, but everyone here—and let’s not forget the people all over the city watching this broadcast, thanks to our journalist friends—are waiting," Natalie added smoothly.

"Fine," Faye scoffed. "If you’re that desperate to humiliate yourself in front of everyone, so be it. Not like it’s anything new for you. One more addition to your list of shameful moments won’t make a difference."

Natalie remained composed, unfazed by Faye’s taunts, while Mia clenched her fists, itching to lash out. Natalie placed a calming hand over Mia’s and said quietly, "You’ll get your chance."

Mia held back her anger, choosing to wait and see how things unfolded.

The guests in the room were struck by Natalie’s confidence and calm demeanor. Her composure made many of them begin to doubt Faye’s accusations, though they remained curious about what would happen next.

Faye gestured toward two women standing behind her at a distance. As they stepped forward, she smirked.

"You recognize them, don’t you?" Faye asked Natalie. "They used to work under you."

Natalie let out a bored sigh. "Ah, yet another pair of useless staff members I kept around out of pity. "I should have known kindness goes to the gutter after some time and people become ungrateful." Her cold tone made the two women shiver as her piercing gaze landed on them.

Faye, undeterred, continued, "These two are witnesses who saw you harass me at work and steal my creations. I also have video proof of how you constantly made us cry. You insulted our work publicly, only to use it later under your own name."

The screen lit up, and a video began to play. It showed Natalie scolding Faye in a boardroom.

"Is this how you work?" Natalie’s voice was cold and sharp as she slammed a file onto the table. "Don’t bring this garbage to me. If you can’t produce something worthwhile, just leave the company."

In the video, Faye appeared distraught, tears streaming down her face. "I’m sorry," she stammered. "But I really think this perfume formula is good and—"

Natalie cut her off sharply. "Are we creating a unique, high-end product or churning out something you’d find on a roadside stall?"

The video continued, showing several instances of Natalie harshly criticizing employees.

Faye turned to the audience triumphantly. "This was her pattern—belittling us and our ideas, only to recycle those same ideas later. The formulas that brought her fame at Brown Industries were mine. She denied me credit every single time. She’s been a plagiarist before, and everyone here can see it’s true."

"Is it wrong for me to scold my employees when they do trashy work in the phase of company energies?" Natalie looked at the guests who were conflicted and said, "Ask anyone for them if they had never scolded their employees." No one could refute the claim.

Turning back to Faye, Natalie’s expression grew even colder. "The way you worked, if someone else were in my place, they might have pulled out your brain, washed away all the nonsense, and put it to better use. I showed you kindness by merely scolding you." She paused before continuing, her tone cutting. "But setting that aside, this video doesn’t prove I stole your work. If you’re going to accuse me, bring explicit evidence. Otherwise, you’re just making a fool of yourself."

At that moment, a dignified man with a scholarly air rose from among the guests and approached the stage. His unexpected action caught everyone’s attention, and murmurs spread through the hall. Who was he, and why was he here?

The man offered a polite nod to Mia, who acknowledged him with a slight smile. She then addressed Natalie. "Natalie, this is Mr. Daniel Cross. He’s here to assist us with legal matters. The CEO of NextEra himself has appointed him as our company’s legal advisor."

Gasps and loud whispers filled the room. Daniel Cross was not just any lawyer—he was the most renowned legal expert in the city, known for his undefeated record. His name carried weight, and his association with NextEra added even more to his influence.

Opposing lawyers often preferred to settle rather than face him in court, knowing the futility of challenging his expertise.

Faye’s lawyer, who had seemed confident moments earlier, visibly faltered. Though he was a reputable attorney from a top firm, the presence of Daniel Cross left him uneasy.

Daniel approached, his sharp eyes briefly meeting those of Faye’s lawyer, whom he greeted with a polite nod. Turning to Faye, he addressed her in a firm, measured tone. "Ms. Faye, if the accusations you’ve made against my client are false, I assure you, the legal repercussions will be severe. You and anyone associated with this matter will face lawsuits so comprehensive that recovery will be impossible. However, if you admit your mistake and withdraw your claims now, we may consider leniency."

"Mr. Daniel," Natalie interjected, her voice calm but resolute. "I have no intention of sparing her or the people behind her. Kindness has no place in this matter."