Chapter 659
Chapter 659:
He’d thought his plan was foolproof, every angle covered. Now here was Alice, publicly admitting her mistakes, pleading to be Maia’s apprentice, and praising Maia’s genius above her own.
Instead of bringing Maia down, this situation ended up becoming her greatest triumph—something Larkin never saw coming.
What was supposed to undermine her reputation had transformed into a product launch that marked Maia’s rise in the design world.
He couldn’t believe he had let things spiral this far.
Larkin shot up from his seat, fury etched across his face. Pointing a trembling finger at Alice on stage, he exploded, “Ms. Byrd, have you lost your mind? This isn’t what we agreed to! You were supposed to stand up here and accuse Maia—not do this p>
Beside him, Vance snapped out of his shock at his father’s outburst.
Memories of the airport confrontation flashed through his mind, sparking a new thought. With a sharp glare, he stood and pointed accusingly at Alice. “Ms. Byrd, you’re a global icon in fashion! Does your reputation mean nothing? How could you stand before the press and say such things? Was Pattie waiting at the terminal with a bribe the moment you landed p>
Murmurs rippled through the audience, and the energy shifted instantly. Dozens of eyes turned to Pattie, sitting coolly on her folding chair as if unbothered by the tension.
Whispers and nods of agreement built around Vance’s claim. Surely Alice’s brilliance couldn’t have come from Maia’s old design drafts—how could anyone believe that?
The idea that Alice, a revered trendsetter, would seek Maia as her mentor seemed even more impossible.
Suspicion grew. “It never made sense,” someone muttered. “Why else would Ms. Byrd suddenly show such respect to Maia? Pattie must have paid her to put on this act p>
Others pushed back, “Come on, do you really think MCN has that kind of influence? Could they really buy off a designer like Alice Byrd p>
As the debate threatened to boil over, Pattie remained perfectly composed. Reclining in her chair, she tilted her head, icy eyes and a half-smirk of pure disdain fixed on Vance. No panic flickered in her gaze—only mockery as she met his stare across the stage.
“Vance, is this really the line you choose to draw? Grasping at wild accusations like a drowning man desperate for a lifeline? Stop tossing baseless claims around. If all you have is a blurry photo, you’ll need much more to rewrite the truth p>
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Rising to her feet, Pattie lifted her phone for all to see. “Let’s clear this up,” she announced, her tone cold and commanding. “I make it a habit to record all my business meetings. Every word — from my first conversation with Ms. Byrd right up to your dramatic entrance — has been documented. Would you like me to share the audio with everyone here p>
A wave of shock froze Vance. “What?! You…” He faltered, unable to believe that Pattie had captured every moment on tape. Words failed him, and he stood stunned into silence.
Nearby, Alice shifted uncomfortably, her discomfort growing with each passing second. The Dixon family’s shameless antics had finally worn Alice’s patience thin. Being manipulated was bad enough — now they dared to twist her truth and drag Salina’s name through the mud.