Chapter 337
Aubree ignored the pained look in Ronald’s eyes. One more look at that face, and she might just puke.
Aubree ignored Alice’s words. She just sneered. “You’re the last person who deserves to be called a mother.”
'After all her scheming against her own daughter, how dare she even call herself a mother?' Aubree thought.
With that, Aubree turned her attack directly toward Carmen. “At this point, you’re sticking to your story, and I’m sticking to mine. Both sides seem to have their points."
“You’ve talked so much, Carmen, but where’s your evidence? Since you made the accusation, you should provide proof. If you can’t prove I coerced you into those plagiarism incidents, I’ll be filing a slander lawsuit against you.”
Aubree tilted her head slightly, a sweet smile playing on her lips.
Carmen thought, ‘How am I supposed to produce any proof when I fabricated the whole thing?’
A dark glint flashed in Carmen’s eyes, but she showed no sign of panic. Instead, there was a hint of triumphant satisfaction.
Aubree frowned slightly. ‘What’s she scheming now?’ she wondered.
Percival sneered. “Who in their right mind carries a voice recorder around every day? You’re asking for the impossible."
“Even surveillance footage isn’t kept for that long. Isn’t the testimony from your brothers and parents enough for you?”
Just as his words faded, an approaching voice called out in confusion, “Carmen, what’s going on here?”
The voice cut in suddenly, making the crowd instinctively part to form a path. Three figures appeared. While the speaker’s identity was unclear, the other two were so well–known that even those who didn’t recognize them at first would have a look of surprise and recognition flash across their faces after a hint from the people around them.
Carmen replied, “Irvin, it’s nothing. Mr. Xaver and Aubree just had a bit of a disagreement. Why are you here?”
The arrivals were Irvin, Alvin, and Bowen, who had stubbornly insisted on coming along.
Alvin had been worried about Irvin getting too close to Carmen. And now that Aubree was also attending the exhibition, he figured he might as well tag along to keep an eye on things.
As for Bowen, he put it bluntly, “I’m afraid my girlfriend will get picked on.”
Alvin rolled his eyes. ‘If Aubree isn’t out there picking on someone, that person’s having a lucky day. How could she possibly get picked on?’ he thought.
Despite all his grumbling, Alvin still obligingly brought Bowen along.
“So, you’re Aubree,” Irvin looked at Aubree, his eyes instantly darkening with undisguised disdain.
Bowen and Alvin were already standing beside Aubree, drawing a clear battle line.
“Carmen,” Irvin asked, “did she give you trouble again?”
Carmen forced a weak smile. “Not really,” she said, then explained what had happened. But the calculating glint that briefly flashed in her eyes didn’t escape Aubree’s notice.
Aubree wondered if Carmen was deliberately waiting for Irvin to arrive.
Indeed, Carmen had invited Irvin, and through him, Alvin too. As she had calculated, both of them would show up because Irvin would inevitably pester Alvin into coming, just so she wouldn’t be upset. And she also knew they would arrive deliberately late.
Carmen curled her lips into a vicious smirk, and her gaze locked on Aubree as she thought, “This time, I’ll make sure everyone knows that I’ll crush you beneath my feet."
Her gaze shifted to Bowen, and her brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. He was an unexpected variable, but she didn’t think his appearance could derail her plans.
When Irvin saw the woebegone look in Carmen’s eyes, his heart instantly ached for her.
He said, “What’s so hard about that? Since both sides are sticking to their own stories, let’s settle this with a live painting session. Each of you shall use your signature style."
“Everyone present can judge which piece is better. After all, there’s no way the better artist would ever need to plagiarize from someone less skilled.”