Chapter 148

Natalie sneered, looking even more stunning. “Isabelle, do you know what I’m going crazy about? Stealing my design? Enjoying it quite comfortably, huh?”

Isabelle, seeing Natalie, immediately knew why she was here. “I don’t understand what you’re saying. How could I steal your design? You’re just a parachuted-in design director compared to someone like me with real skills. How dare you say I stole your designs?”

Natalie stepped closer, her cold gaze like a demon emerging from hell, yet her eyes were clear and untainted. “Then let’s go to the police; I have ways to prove you stole my designs.”

“Get up!” Natalie yelled.

Isabelle was taken aback and, reacting quickly, shouted, “I didn’t! Don’t slander me.” She glanced at Jennifer, hoping she would rescue her.

Natalie observed their expressions and understood. “What are you looking at Jennifer for? You two know each other. Oh, I get it. Jason never sent those photos he took to anyone, but the pictures in his album have disappeared. Who else could have accessed his phone besides Jennifer and Easton?”

Jennifer fixed her gaze on Natalie. “Natalie, you’re clearly out of your mind. You can’t even draw a design sketch yourself, yet you accuse someone of stealing yours. Why don’t you just draw it yourself?”

“Isn’t what you stole my drawing?” Natalie retorted with a smile.

“Don’t slander me; I didn’t do it.” Jennifer clung to Easton’s arm and said, “Easton, say something! Natalie is causing a scene; let’s get her out of here.”

Easton withdrew his hand, looking down at Isabelle. “You’d better tell the truth. Did you or did you not steal Natalie’s design?”

He was giving Isabelle another chance. She knew the truth but could only stubbornly deny it. “I didn’t.”

“I didn’t,” Jennifer echoed, thinking, ‘Natalie absolutely has no evidence; all the original sketches have been destroyed.’

Natalie stared coldly into Isabelle’s eyes. “Isabelle, you’re a capable designer, and I’ve always respected your work. But are you really going to push it this far?”

Natalie’s icy gaze momentarily caused a flicker of panic on Isabelle’s face, but she quickly concealed it.

“What are you talking about? How could I steal your design?” Isabelle tried to feign innocence, but her eyes betrayed her.

Natalie took a deep breath, deciding not to give her any chance to argue. She pulled out the video footage from the surveillance camera she had installed in her office.

“This is a detailed record of my design sketches; every single detail was drawn by me. And this footage clearly documents the time and place I worked on my designs, as well as the entire process of Jason taking my sketches.” Natalie showed the video to Isabelle.

Isabelle’s face turned pale, a flicker of fear flashing in her eyes. She clearly hadn’t anticipated Natalie having such conclusive evidence.

“I… I…” Isabelle stammered, unable to form a complete sentence.

“Isabelle, design relies on dignity. I didn’t expect you to do something like this.” Natalie looked at her in disappointment. “Do you know what this means to me? This is the most important design for my collaboration with the Chambers Group. Yet you easily stole it for your own benefit.”

Isabelle lowered her head, unable to look Natalie in the eye, let alone Easton. She regretted her actions deeply, thinking, ‘If I had known, I wouldn’t have taken the risk. Natalie has the video, and my career is over!’

Natalie hadn’t expected to find evidence either; she suddenly remembered that the cameras in that corner could capture everything. She opened the playback and found the video stored there.

Natalie showed the video to Easton. “Mr. Garcia, what do you think we should do?”

Easton watched the video where she sat beside a bright marble desk, beautifully sketching her designs. Behind her were floor-to-ceiling windows, sunlight streaming through and casting a gentle halo around her, clearly outlining her silhouette.

Her focus was intense, her pen gliding smoothly across the paper, creating exquisite images.

She was completely immersed in her own world, undisturbed by the outside, and her concentration impressed him.

Her design gradually took shape under her hand, the lines flowing beautifully, and the color combinations were perfectly balanced.

Easton’s voice was low and hoarse. “Natalie, I didn’t know the design was yours. What’s done is done, and the new product has been launched. How about this: we buy the designs from you?”

“Sure,” Natalie answered without hesitation. “I have two conditions: First, I want the sales royalties from these ten pieces of clothing. Second, I need you to clarify how Isabelle got the designs. If you can’t meet these two conditions, I have enough evidence to sue your company.”

Natalie’s eyes were filled with ruthlessness; she hadn’t sought trouble with Easton, knowing that this man didn’t need to scheme over a few design sketches.

Jennifer clenched her fists, staring at Natalie’s cold face, feeling angry. She thought, ‘What should I do? I’ve failed again. Ever since Natalie woke up at my birthday party, she really has changed.’

Easton looked at Isabelle, his gaze sharp, his voice filled with anger. “Isabelle, you have two choices: First, reveal who gave you the design. Second, spend a lifetime in prison.”

Isabelle jumped in fright, coming to her senses and casting a glance at Jennifer. With evidence in hand, she knew she couldn’t escape. Even if she was foolish, she understood she had been used by Jennifer.

“It… it was Jason who sent me the designs.” She lowered her head, tears welling in her eyes. She was talented, yet she ruined herself for a little profit. This was her life’s work and achievement; aside from designing, she knew nothing else.

Isabelle approached Natalie, looking at her. “Ms. Shawn, I was momentarily blinded by greed. Seeing the designs looked so beautiful, I didn’t think twice before using them. Please, forgive me just this once; I can do nothing but design.”

Natalie’s indifferent gaze met hers. “Isabelle, I know it hasn’t been easy for you to get here, but you haven’t told the truth. Before coming here, I visited Jason; you should understand what I mean.”

Isabelle’s heart ached suddenly; a moment of profit and confusion could truly ruin a life.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Shawn, it’s my fault.” Isabelle looked at Easton, thinking, ‘For him, I stabbed the other company in the back. Is this my retribution?’