Chapter 474
Some people couldn’t even get their hands on the new product-despite having put down a deposit, they were still waiting.
Suzan couldn’t wait to share her success with Lionel Harper. Lionel was genuinely happy for her, thinking that Suzan was finally starting to show some of his own flair.
Suddenly, the secretary burst into the room. “Mr. Lloyd, there’s a problem!”
Mitchell, who’d been in the middle of speaking, was visibly annoyed at the interruption. “What could possibly be so urgent that you have to barge in and disrupt my meeting?”
The secretary replied, “Mr. Lloyd, our latest collection is being accused of plagiarism. Now, customers both online and in stores are demanding refunds and returns.”
Suzan’s triumphant smile froze. Outraged, she snapped, “On what grounds? How dare they accuse us of copying?”
The secretary looked at Suzan, hesitant. “Because… of The Etheridge Group’s livestream.”
“Live… livestream? What livestream?” Suzan asked, her voice tight.
By then, Mitchell had already pulled up the broadcast. Shirley was on-screen, showcasing the final redesigned piece of her collection.
The designs, already impressive, had become even more stunning with her creative tweaks.
The livestream chat was flooded with praise for Shirley’s talent.
Fuming, Suzan grabbed her phone to leave a comment. “No matter how skilled you are, you’re still stealing someone else’s work! Shouldn’t you at least credit the original designer before making your changes?”
In her rush, Suzan forgot to switch accounts. The comment was posted from her freshly registered handle: JewelryDesigner_S.
As soon as fans, who had been following the whole drama, spotted the username, the chat exploded.
[The copycat herself just showed up!]
[How does she have the nerve to talk nonsense here?]
[Doesn’t she know they’ve already collected evidence and called the police?]
Suzan’s hand trembled when she saw the word “police.”
Panic rising, she looked over at Mitchell. He glanced at her, his expression unreadable. “You should go. Now.”
Suzan bit her lip and nodded. “Okay, I’ll leave first…”
But it was too late-police officers were already there to take her in.
Frantically, Suzan turned to Mitchell, desperate. “Mitchell, call my uncle! Please, get my uncle to help me!”
Mitchell was in this mess with her; there was no way he could just stand by and watch her go down alone.
“I’ll call him right away,” he promised.
Meanwhile, some nosy bystander was already waiting at the E&M Group building, ready to film Suzan as the police escorted her out. The footage hit the internet almost instantly.
That person was eventually sued for
violating privacy, but it didn’t
matter by then, everyone online
knew that Suzan had been arrested for plagiarism and infringing on someone else’s work.
When Lionel heard the news, he was in utter disbelief. His anger was palpable.
He’d believed those jewelry designs were Suzan’s original creations. And now? They turned out to be stolen.
He clenched his fists so tightly his palms nearly bled. “Unbelievable. This is outrageous!”
Yvette’s lips curled ever so slightly, a glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes.
Feigning concern, she tried to
comfort Lionel. “Suzan is still young.
Maybe she made a poor decision,
took the wrong path. But as her
family, as her elders, it’s our duty to help her. Unless…”
“Unless what?” Lionel pressed, his voice stiff.
Yvette just smiled, as if she’d rather not say more. “It’s nothing,” she replied softly.