Chapter 658
Chapter 658:
A tremor ran through Alice’s voice as she asked, “Is it possible that you really are Salina p>
Maia confirmed her suspicion. “Your acquaintance, Morse Rayne, was the warden during my time in prison p>
The revelation sent Alice stumbling backward in shock.
A memory surfaced: before Morse’s death, Alice had pressed him about the events from three years ago, but Morse had insisted that the secret was safe with him.
Yet Maia stood before her, not only knowing every detail but also holding Salina’s other original sketches—drafts whose brilliance eclipsed Alice’s own work.
There could be only one conclusion—Maia was Salina.
What made Alice’s heart pound even harder was realizing these sketches represented nothing more than Maia’s unfinished ideas from years ago—she couldn’t begin to imagine the level Maia’s artistry had reached now.
A cold shiver of dread passed through Alice as the thought sank in.
Her whole body shook as she stepped forward, every eye in the room locked on her, confusion and astonishment spreading through the crowd.
In a moment no one expected, Alice made a deep bow before Maia, her voice breaking with humility. “I truly am sorry for my earlier ignorance and arrogance. Salina, no, Maia, please, accept me as your apprentice p>
Not a whisper broke the hush in the hallway—every sound seemed to vanish, the silence hanging heavy enough to smother a pin’s fall.
Without warning, Alice squared her shoulders and faced the flashing cameras, determination etched into every line of her face. “I know this may not be what you want to hear,” she announced, voice clear but trembling, “but I have to confess—years ago, I did take inspiration from Salina’s work p>
Emotion shook her words, yet Alice seemed free of concern for her own reputation. “There’s no doubt in my mind—I would never have reached this point without her. For years, I searched everywhere, just hoping for a chance to be her apprentice p>
A complicated blend of relief and regret colored her tone as she continued, “When I found out someone had stolen Salina’s ideas, I hesitated. If I stood up to expose the thief and claim that they were my works, would Salina finally show up and accuse me of impersonation? Maybe that would give me a chance to talk with her in person and tell her how I really feel p>
Then, as if to cap the shock, Alice’s lips curled into a smile. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d really meet her face-to-face p>
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Gasps rippled through the room, the press frozen in open-mouthed disbelief.
On the internet, the news exploded instantly.
“Wait—did Alice just say she borrowed from Maia’s old manuscripts in jail p>
“This is wild! So Maia’s innocent—she didn’t plagiarize at all p>
“I can’t believe it. I went so far as to burn my collection and now this p>
Everyone—crowd, reporters, even industry insiders—sat stunned, eyes glued to the stage, still processing the revelation.
Meanwhile, Larkin felt rage closing in around him, a black fog pressing against his vision as his hands began to shake.