Chapter 372

Evelyn's lips curved into a knowing smile as she spoke into the phone. "You won't believe who I just saw having lunch together—Juliette and Eleanor Blackwell."

"No way!" Olivia's gasp was audible through the receiver. "Your ex-mother-in-law? Is she trying to push Nathan into marrying Juliette now?"

With an enigmatic smile, Evelyn arched one perfectly shaped brow and deftly changed the subject. "Thanks for the heads-up, darling. Dinner's on me next week."

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"Absolutely. I should get back to work now."

As the call ended, Evelyn slid Juliette's embossed business card into her designer wallet. Though their paths had rarely crossed, an inexplicable intuition told her this wouldn't be their last encounter.

Her instincts proved right sooner than expected.

Three days later, Olivia's frantic call shattered her morning. "Eve, we've got a serious situation."

"What happened? Breathe, then explain."

"Check your phone immediately. Someone's accusing our boutique of plagiarizing multiple signature designs. It's trending number one on Twitter."

The accusation was preposterous. Evelyn's fingers flew across her screen, pulling up the trending list.

There it was—her boutique's name emblazoned across the top, the scarlet letter "PLAGIARISM" burning beneath it.

With their loyal customer base and social media following, the allegations had exploded like wildfire.

"I can't believe this! That ivory lace gown was my favorite piece in their collection!"

"Not just one design—multiple pieces stolen from the same original designer. Doesn't the creator have any shame?"

"Shame? People like her wouldn't recognize shame if it slapped them in the face."

"Originality is sacred! Plagiarists belong on the industry blacklist. That store needs to shut down immediately!"

Each vitriolic comment hit like a physical blow. But the nightmare was just beginning.

"Evelyn, protestors are outside the boutique demanding we close shop and leave the mall!"

"Lock the doors immediately," Evelyn commanded, her voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins. "I'll handle this personally."

She ended the call and stood abruptly.

Maxwell looked up from his paperwork. "Ms. Carter? Is everything—"

"Cancel all my appointments," Evelyn interrupted, already striding toward the elevator.

The scene at the mall was worse than she'd imagined. A mob surrounded her shuttered boutique, some wielding spray paint to scrawl "THIEVES" across the pristine glass. Mall security stood helpless against the swelling crowd.

Then strong hands gripped her shoulders. Harrison Whitmore's concerned face appeared beside her. "Evelyn, are you alright?"

Exhaustion and frustration warred in her eyes as she focused on him. "Harrison... I didn't steal those designs."

The raw pain in her voice made his chest tighten. He pulled her into a protective embrace. "I know. I believe you. But this is bigger than it seems—we need to tread carefully."

His words anchored her. Drawing a steadying breath, she nodded. "We'll uncover the truth. I won't let them destroy everything I've built."

After a quick call to Olivia, they left the chaotic scene together.

——

Later that evening, Olivia burst into Horizon Technologies' executive office, thrusting a thick dossier into Evelyn's waiting hands. "I found something you need to see."