Chapter 5

SUMMER'S POV

I returned to my studio and copied all my 'Phoenix Rising' inspiration, fabric procurement records, and scanned first drafts from my computer onto a flash drive.

I would take these irrefutable proofs directly to the Golden Apex Award committee headquarters.

Just as I walked out of the studio building, a black, unmarked van suddenly screeched to a halt in front of me.

The sliding door burst open, and several burly men in masks rushed out. Without a word, they grabbed the bag from my hand.

"What are you doing! This is robbery!" I struggled, but one of the men shoved me hard to the ground.

The contents of my bag scattered. The man precisely picked up the flash drive, then respectfully handed it to a woman who stepped out of a Porsche behind the van.

Scarlett, wearing sunglasses and high heels, looked down at me, sprawled on the ground.

She played with the flash drive in her hand, a mocking smile on her lips. "Summer Miller, you're truly naive. Did you really think Liam would let you hand these things over?"

My palm was scraped, oozing blood. I glared at Scarlett. "Give it back to me!"

"Give it back to you?" Scarlett sneered, then threw the flash drive on the ground, grinding her sharp heel onto it.

Snap! The flash drive shattered into pieces.

"Here, Liam is power. You think you can fight him? You're practically asking to die," Scarlett said, taking off her sunglasses, her eyes vicious. "Not only will I take your designs, but I'll also ruin your reputation, making you a pariah who can never recover!"

With that, she turned and got into the Porsche, driving away.

I knelt on the ground, staring despairingly at the scattered shards.

I had underestimated Liam's cruelty, and Scarlett's shamelessness.

Less than two hours later, the online outrage exploded.

Scarlett's PR team launched a pre-emptive strike, playing the victim, publishing a lengthy post across all major social media platforms.

In the post, Scarlett tearfully accused an unknown designer named "Ms. Shen" of long-term stalking and harassing billionaire Liam, delusional about marrying into wealth. Now, this "Ms. Shen" was reportedly twisting the facts, attempting to steal her painstakingly created 'Phoenix Rising' design series.

To add credibility, the post included a few blurry photos. In the photos, I was seen "bothering" Liam outside Maxwell Group headquarters, while Liam's face was cold and indifferent.

Maxwell Group's official X account retweeted the post, with a single word: "Investigate."

This was essentially an official stamp on my "crimes."

In an instant, the entire internet erupted.

"Oh my god, this woman is shameless! Failed mistress now trying to steal someone's work?"

"Scarlett is a brilliant graduate from a top international university, why would she need to plagiarize some nobody from a no-name school?"

"Doxx her! Get this wicked woman out of the design world!"

My personal information, phone number, and even my studio address were dug up in less than half a day.

My phone vibrated incessantly, bombarded with vicious hate messages, every call filled with obscenities.

The glass door of my studio was smashed by extreme netizens, red paint splattered inside, and the walls were covered with blood-red graffiti like "Die, mistress!" and "Plagiarist scumbag!"

I hid in my unlit apartment, trembling uncontrollably.

Just then, my brother Ethan called.

As soon as I answered, his choked sob came through. "Summer... is what they're saying online true?"