Chapter 171

Vanessa Sterling crossed her arms with smug satisfaction, her lips curling into a triumphant smirk as she turned to face Evelyn Carter. The murmurs of the crowd pressed in around them like an invisible force.

"You heard them, Ms. Carter. Either show us proof or I'll be dialing the police," Vanessa taunted, waving her phone like a weapon. Nathan Sterling shot her a warning glance, but she ignored him completely.

Nearby, Gregory Hammond's fingers twitched toward his pocket where he kept the damning recording. But then his gaze locked with Evelyn's.

Evelyn stood perfectly composed, the picture of unshakable confidence. "Tell me, Vanessa," she said, her voice smooth as silk, "are you absolutely certain I have no evidence? How amusing - I always come prepared, especially when my professional integrity is at stake."

Vanessa's smirk faltered. "Excuse me?"

Without acknowledging her, Evelyn addressed the gathered crowd. "The proof is right here - hidden in plain sight on this very design."

Confused murmurs rippled through the audience.

"What could possibly be there? It looks like a normal design to me."

"Stop playing games! Show us already."

"Did you embed some sort of digital watermark, Ms. Carter?"

A knowing smile played on Evelyn's lips. "Precisely. Had Vanessa simply been inspired by my work, it might have gone unnoticed. But she copied it pixel for pixel - and that was her fatal mistake."

With deliberate movements, Evelyn retrieved the design. Then, in one fluid motion, she inverted it before the entire assembly.

"Observe the neckline carefully. It's my professional signature to embed a discreet marker there." Her finger traced nearly invisible lines. "These subtle indentations form my initials - 'EC'."

Gasps erupted as the crowd leaned in. There, barely visible but unmistakable upon closer inspection, were the telltale initials.

The revelation hit like a thunderclap.

"Those are definitely Ms. Carter's initials! How dare Vanessa plagiarize so brazenly!"

"Not just stealing - she couldn't even copy it properly!"

"All those crocodile tears earlier! She should be banned from the design industry!"

"Disgraceful behavior for someone calling themselves a professional!"

Vanessa's face drained of color. She staggered back as if physically struck, her manicured nails digging into her palms. This wasn't supposed to happen - Evelyn wasn't supposed to have an ace up her sleeve!

The weight of dozens of scornful stares pressed down on Vanessa. She wished the floor would swallow her whole. Even Nathan's expression had darkened considerably - his earlier defense of her now making him complicit in her humiliation.

Amidst the chaos, only one person seemed genuinely pleased with this turn of events.

Gregory Hammond watched the scene unfold with newfound admiration. Evelyn had outmaneuvered them all with such elegant simplicity. He almost regretted not getting to use his recording - almost.

Nathan's voice cut through the murmurs like steel. "Ms. Sterling, while I don't expect perfection from designers your age, plagiarism violates the most fundamental ethics of our profession." His disapproval hung heavy in the air.