Chapter 371

"Stop questioning me. Just follow my orders." Vivian's voice was sharp, her expression unyielding.

She quickly accessed her Instagram account and posted a brief confession.

[I deeply regret to inform you all that I'm withdrawing from the competition. The design I submitted was not my original work. I plagiarized someone else's creation. The guilt has become unbearable, and I must come clean. I sincerely apologize and ask for your forgiveness. This will never happen again.]

With her massive following and active engagement, the post instantly ignited outrage. While a few sympathized, most fans felt betrayed. Speculations swirled about whose work had been stolen—Evelyn's name surfaced but remained unconfirmed.

The competition's official page swiftly responded, reposting Vivian's statement and urging her to reflect on her actions. Their acknowledgment solidified the plagiarism scandal.

Vivian slipped on oversized sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat, concealing her identity completely. "To the airport," she instructed her assistant. "We're returning to Dresden."

The assistant nodded, signaling the driver.

In a hushed whisper, the assistant ventured, "Ms. Sterling, this could damage your reputation in the industry. Maybe we should confront Evelyn directly?"

Vivian exhaled sharply. "This isn't my decision to make."

Danielle had dragged her into this mess. And with Danielle's ties to the Wilson family in Dresden, resistance was futile.

Danielle's father had personally called Vivian, demanding her withdrawal and a public apology. The ultimatum was clear: comply or be blacklisted from the industry.

Vivian had no choice but to obey.

Yet, she deliberately omitted Evelyn's name in her apology. Even she wasn't entirely sure why.

Charlotte was equally confused. "Shouldn't she have exposed Evelyn?"

"I don’t want a target on my back," Evelyn replied calmly. "With two more rounds left, if it gets out that I was the victim, people might assume I'm playing the sympathy card. The competition's integrity would be questioned, and the Martin Group would face unnecessary scrutiny. This outcome is clean."

Whether her name was mentioned didn’t matter. The message to Vivian and Danielle was clear—Evelyn wasn’t someone they could push around.

Vivian left for Dresden. Danielle, meanwhile, faced her father's wrath and was ordered to return immediately. Her privileges hung by a thread—defy him, and she'd be cut off from the Wilson family entirely.

Bitter but compliant, Danielle swore to make Evelyn pay in the next round.

Gregory called to apologize on Danielle's behalf, but Evelyn cut him off. "This isn’t your fault. Don’t apologize for her."

"Evelyn, are you angry with me?" Gregory pressed.

"Why would I be?"

He kept apologizing until Charlotte finally interrupted. "How did you get Danielle’s father to bend to your will so easily?"

Evelyn smirked. "Guess."

Charlotte rolled her eyes. Is she turning into Nathaniel?

With the plagiarism scandal settled, the second round loomed in twenty days. Evelyn refocused—designs to perfect, Martin Group projects to oversee.