Chapter 20 The Sketchbook
Charmaine said in a low voice, “Those designs… they’re mine.”
Rex was stunned. “What?”
“When I returned to the Nelsons, I brought a sketchbook with me. It had some of my earlier drafts, and I also added a few new designs when I was bored. The designs submitted by this persort–every one of them is from my sketchbook.”
Charmaine’s eyes darkened. She hadn’t been able to recall when she lost the sketchbook, but now, it had resurfaced in the most unexpected way.
A flicker of suspicion crossed Charmaine’s eyes. Her instincts told her that something was amiss, that the truth lay hidden beneath the surface.
Rex didn’t respond immediately, but Charmaine could already hear the furious typing from his end.
She knew that Rex was fuming.
A few moments later, Rex’s voice came through, dripping with anger.
“Boss, you won’t believe who this ‘Lyra‘ is.”
Charmaine’s tone remained calm. “Leah.”
What? How the hell did you know that? Do you have a sixth sense, Boss?” Charmaine’s expression stayed neutral.
“The sketchbook went missing at the Nelsons. She’s the only one bold enough to submit those designs so openly.”
It wasn’t just that. In her previous life, after she donated her kidney, her health took a downturn.
While recovering at home, the Nelsons controlled her every move, insisting it was “for her own good,” leaving her little chance to keep up with the outside world. All she knew was that one day, there was a loud celebration downstairs.
Standing at the top of the stairs, she overheard snippets of conversation.
“Leah really kept this a secret from us!”
“Exactly! She didn’t just secretly become a special designer for Ydris Group she won the prestigious Feather New Designer Award! That’s something most designers dream of achieving their whole lives!
“As her brother, I didn’t even get a custom outfit from her! Talk about unfair.”
“Milo, if I had the time, I’d design something for everyone! But I’m just so busy… Each sketch takes me nights to finish.”
“Don’t stay up late, Leah. You just had a kidney transplant less than six months ago. You need proper rest.
“Hehe, copied that, Zayn.”
She remembered how hollow she felt as she listened to their laughter, clutching her shawl tightly as she slowly turned back to her room.
Rex’s angry voice snapped her back to the present. “That fake! She has no shame! She stole from her own family, stole your identity, and now she’s stealing your designs? Isn’t she afraid of being exposed and humiliated?”
Charmaine’s expression darkened.
Leah had submitted these designs long before Charmaine returned and cut ties with the Nelsons.
Even if Charmaine had stayed with the Nelsons, these designs would eventually be unveiled, and she would have noticed.
Leah’s boldness, was beyond reckless.
She was confident enough to steal these designs as if nothing would happen. Charmaine was sure of one thing–Leah had achieved her former success using her designs.
But why was Leah so brazen? Was it because she knew the Nelson family would protect her no matter what?
Or was it because…
She knew Charmaine would never have the chance to find out?
A chilling thought crossed Charmaine’s mind, her expression growing more serious by the second.
“Boss?” Rex’s voice brought her out of her thoughts.
“I’m here,” Charmaine replied.
“Don’t worry, Boss. I’ll take care of her right away-
“And do what? Do you think she’ll admit to it?”
“We’ve got the evidence! She can’t deny it!”
“And then what? She’ll cry a few tears, act pitiful, and the Nelsons will forgive her. What does Leah have to lose? What punishment would she even face?”
Consider what happened last night. A 300–million–dollar loss for the Nelsons, and Leah escapes blame with nothing more than a few crocodile tears.
“D*mn it!” Rex cursed, clearly furious. “So, what now? Are you just going to let this slide?”
Charmaine’s voice turned icy, her eyes gleaming with a sharp edge. “Didn’t I say I was going to destroy the Nelsons? Well, let’s start here.”
A cold smirk played on her lips. “She likes to steal? Then let’s make sure she has plenty to steal.”
Back at the Nelson Mansion, a palpable tension hung in the air, thick and suffocating.
“D*mn it! Ydris Groun is such a massive company. How could they just pull out like this? That bastard Rex
must have a personal grudge against us and is playing games!” Milo cursed, pacing around the living room.
Jonah, who had been riding high since taking over as president of Nelson Group, now looked just as grim.
Ydris Group was a fast–rising tech company with valuable new technologies and resources. Its innovations were at least ten years ahead of the current domestic market.
Losing such a partner was a heavy blow for the Nelsons
