chapter 5

Samwell was also stunned. He hadn't known the gem was such a big deal. He had just reused my past life's design and taken the gem from my house when I wasn't home.

I said, "So, you didn't just plagiarize. You also committed theft. A gem worth tens of millions of dollars. How many years in prison are you prepared to serve?"

Just then, Dad, sitting in the audience, suddenly spoke up.

"Rosalie, I gave them the gem. I thought her design was good enough for your mother's jewel."

I stared at Dad in disbelief. Why was he helping outsiders cover up their lie?

Samwell reacted swiftly. "I know you're still upset with me, but ruining someone's reputation to throw a tantrum is going too far," he said, putting on a look of feigned heartbreak and helplessness as he stared at me.

My mind went blank. My silence made the crowd think I had a guilty conscience.

Someone in the audience shouted an insult first, then countless bottles and random objects came flying at me.

"How can someone be so vicious? Framing others over a personal grudge."

"She made it all sound so real. Thank goodness her father is a reasonable man."

I looked around. Lotta, Samwell and the other two, Dad, the judges, and the audience—they were all waiting for me to accept my guilty verdict.

But I refused to give them what they wanted.

"If it's not a false accusation, then prove it to them." A clear, resonant male voice cut through the chaos like a thunderclap.

"Uncle Oliver, weren't you working as a designer overseas? What are you doing back here?" Samwell exclaimed in surprise. But the man ignored him.

I lifted my head and met the man's gaze. The noise around me seemed to fade into silence instantly.

Was I crying? I should have been smiling.

I said, "You're right. It's not a false accusation. And I have proof."

Samwell frowned. One complication after another was giving him a bad feeling.

Catching the cue in Samwell's eyes, Lotta picked up the microphone and spoke to me, her voice choked with sobs. "Ms. Bluth, I know you think I'm not worthy of competing with you because I'm the housemaid's daughter. I'm truly grateful for the Bluth Family's kindness. If you just apologize, I won't press this any further.

"What happened with Samwell was also a misunderstanding. I never intended to steal your fiancé."

The audience's murmuring grew louder. It was human nature to side with the underdog.

"So the heiress is just jealous. Throwing her weight around just because she has family money. What's so great about that? She didn't even earn it—her dad did."

"Exactly. What a vicious woman. If she can't show us some real proof this time, she's not getting away with it."

"Let's drag her online. Get her blacklisted from the whole industry."

Facing the crowd's accusations, I felt completely calm. I took the microphone and spoke slowly and clearly.

"I originally designed this piece as a token of love for Mr. Samwell Harris.

"As a brooch worn over the heart, I designed each lotus petal in a special way. When the 3D petals are projected onto a flat surface, they spell out my name."