In the Lap of Luxury
Lap of Luxury Chapter 170

Chapter 170 It Ends Here and Now

+15 BONUS

Celia had a particularly unpleasant expression at this moment, but she was unwilling to admit defeat.

“Grace, do you have to spout nonsense in front of everyone? Where’s your proof? Do you think you can just change the truth with a few words?” she asked.

Despite her guilty conscience, Celia maintained her defiant tone as she sought support from the crowd.

Finally, she spotted Benjamin, who was her beacon of hope. With a desperate look on her face, she rushed toward him.

“Ben! Your ex–wife is falsely accusing me. She resents us so much that she’s trying to ruin my future as revenge, and that too, right in front of everyone.” she complained.

Then, Celia pulled Benjamin toward Grace. However, Grace’s expression remained indifferent.

For some reason, even though she was standing right before him, Benjamin felt as though they were worlds apart.

In the current situation, if it were indeed proven that Celia had stolen the design, her career prospects as a designer would be utterly destroyed.

All the years she had dedicated to studying design would go to waste, and her future would be destroyed.

As Celia’s older brother, regardless of the truth behind this matter, Benjamin couldn’t let Grace ruin Celia’s future.

So his first words were, “Grace, are you done causing trouble?”

Grace had initially thought she had misheard. Then, a faint smile formed on her face, though her eyes showed no amusement.

She retorted, “Trouble? In your eyes, does it look like I’m merely causing trouble? Or do you consider stealing someone’s work to be insignificant?”

Benjamin’s face remained stern.

“Celia wouldn’t steal your design. This must be a misunderstanding.” Benjamin was quick to defend his sister. It seemed almost predictable, but after all, they were family.

“You must be overthinking. Do you really think-”

Grace was about to say more, but Benjamin interrupted her. “Grace, do you really have to ruin her?”

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Grace chuckled and responded unapologetically, “Yes. So what? I’m no saint. Am I supposed to have unlimited tolerance, regardless of what she does?”

Benjamin didn’t want to continue arguing with Grace in such a situation. “Let’s put an end to this matter,” he said more gently.

Grace found the situation truly absurd.

“Benjamin, what’s the point of pretending here? Do you think I should turn a blind eye just because Celia is your sister?” Grace asked.

Benjamin’s expression turned notably sour. “Grace, I must admit I was wrong about you.”

Grace remained unfazed. “Well, it’s never too late to realize the truth, especially since we’re already divorced, right?”

Her casual attitude only seemed to annoy Benjamin. But she didn’t give him a chance to say anything more.

“It’s quite amusing,” Grace continued. “Mr. Hawkins, my ex–husband, is going to great lengths to protect his sister here! But any form of deception is unforgivable in my eyes.”

Grace’s voice was as cold as ice. “As a designer, plagiarism is a grave crime in the industry! Stealing someone else’s work is a truly shameful act.”

The audience nodded in agreement. Alan’s expression grew darker. He couldn’t help but feel embarrassed to see such a scene at his own exhibition.

“Ms. Lewis is absolutely right,” he admitted, feeling a weight of shame on his shoulders.

“Plagiarists should be condemned publicly. Stealing someone else’s work is completely unacceptable.

“Allowing it today will only make it harder to prevent in the future. We should collectively resist plagiarists within our industry.

“Ms. Lewis, if you can prove that this design is yours, please provide the evidence. Let’s rely on solid facts and proof,” he suggested.