Samantha returned home with a pale face.
Seeing her, Yurika rushed over, preparing to ask about the situation with the design drafts. However, noticing Samantha's pale face, her heart sank suddenly.
Afraid that Samantha would feel upset, Yurika patted her shoulder and consoled, "If the design drafts didn't pass, it's because they don't appreciate it. You are amazing. If not this time, there will be another chance."
Samantha quietly looked at her, her eyes dark and unclear.
Yurika felt a shiver as she was scrutinized by that gaze.
She had never seen such eyes before.
Too sharp.
It was like looking at a completely unfamiliar person.
Why did Samantha look at her like this?
Samantha noticed her expression and withdrew the scrutinizing gaze. She murmured, "My design draft was stolen by Suzy."
Yurika was stunned, "What?"
Samantha weakly said, "Today, Ellena not only invited me but also Suzy. It turned out both of us presented the same design draft. Hers was the original, and mine was copied."
Yurika's eyes widened in disbelief.
Samantha continued, "As you know, plagiarism is a big taboo in the industry. Ellena Steele, in anger, canceled the cooperation, and Suzy even wants to accuse me of plagiarism."
Gradually, Yurika reacted, and a raging anger surged in her heart.
"It's Karen, it must be her! Only she could sneakily replace your original design draft with a copied one! Sammie, you can't stay here anymore. You have to move out quickly."
Earlier, she thought that by move in, she could protect her.
Now it seemed that she couldn't protect Samantha comprehensively.
Karen always found a way to exploit loopholes.
The only solution was for Samantha to move out and stay away from Karen.
Samantha asked meaningfully, "How do you know it's definitely Karen?"
Yurika didn't catch the hidden meaning in her words, angrily saying, "Your design draft was completed yesterday. From stealing it, copying it exactly, to sneakily placing it in the drawer, who else but someone close to you could have done it?"
Her analysis was well-reasoned.
But it made Samantha's heart sink even deeper.
Yurika's character was straightforward and impulsive, and her way of analyzing things wouldn't be so systematic.
Unless...
It had been planned in advance.
Samantha's heart was in chaos.
She rubbed her temples, which were throbbing with a dull pain, and said faintly, "I'm very tired, and my head hurts. I'll go rest in my room for a while. When Karen comes back, don't blame her right away. I'll personally talk to her."
Yurika, seeing that Samantha indeed looked fatigued, quickly said, "Anyone would be tired after encountering such a thing. You go rest in your room; I won't go find Karen, you can rest assured."
Samantha nodded and returned to her room.
However, Yurika's anger did not dissipate.
She found Samantha's award-winning works online, then drove to the old mansion of the Steele family.
After dinner,
Yurika led Alexander and Charlotte to play in the living room.
Samantha and Karen went to the study.
Karen intentionally asked, "Sammie, I noticed something wrong with your expression at the dinner table just now. Did your design drafts not pass today? It's okay; even if it didn't pass this time, we can design another one. Next time, it will definitely pass."
Samantha, not beating around the bush, directly said, "My design draft was stolen by Suzy."
"What?" Karen exclaimed, her face full of shock. "How could this happen? Your design was just completed yesterday. How did she steal it?"
Samantha expressed her speculation, "It should be an inside job."
Karen, shocked, covered her mouth.
Then, she vigorously shook her head, "Sammie, it's not me, and it definitely won't be Yurika. We've grown up together since childhood, and we would never betray you. You must believe me!"
Her completely different reaction from Yurika made the scales in Samantha's heart tip even more.
She patted Karen's shoulder reassuringly and said, "Don't worry; I won't suspect you two! We've grown up together since childhood, and I don't believe you would believe anyone else."
Hearing her words, Karen smiled with relief.
"That's good! Let's go out! If we stay in here, Yurika will overthink things."
Samantha sighed deeply, disappointed, "You always think about her, but she treats you like that! I'll talk to her later, ask her not to always use harsh words with you."
Touched, Karen's eyes turned red.
When the two of them left, Karen's eyes were still red.
Noah couldn't help but frown disapprovingly. He felt something had happened, but he had no way of knowing.
At night, before going to bed, Noah couldn't help but remind Samantha, "Mommy, Yurika is trustworthy, but Karen is not. Don't let Karen's appearance deceive you."
Samantha lowered her eyelids, concealing the emotions in her eyes, and nodded perfunctorily.
"I know! It's late! Go to sleep early!"
That night, Samantha couldn't sleep. Consequently, Noah didn't have the chance to send a message to Ethan, and he unintentionally fell asleep in the latter part of the night.
Ethan had been waiting for Samantha's message until three in the morning.
Repeatedly checking his phone, he still didn't receive any messages from Samantha.
In anger, he turned off his phone and tossed it onto the bedside table.
The next day,
Samantha received a lawyer's letter from Miller Group and a court summons.
This incident quickly made headlines.
Spreading like a virus, it escalated rapidly.
"Breaking News! Renowned designer Lila's new work suspected of plagiarism."
"Lila's reputation is not deserved; all her past award-winning works are suspected of plagiarism, facing high compensation."
"Sensational: Lila had an illegitimate child four years ago; her private life is chaotic."
In a short time, Samantha became a sensation nationwide.
The once high-profile award winner was now in the spotlight for a different reason.
Opinions on the internet were divided.
Some continued to support her as before.
Others took the opportunity to kick her while she was down.
"I heard that her private life was chaotic even before she became famous, slept with many men, and finally got pregnant. Outraged, her father cut off all ties with her. She couldn't make it in the capital and had to go abroad under the guise of further studies. With her character, her award-winning designs were either stolen or bought with money."
"I heard her private life is also chaotic overseas, sleeping with different men every day."
"Oh my God, this is too dirty! But looking at her appearance, you can tell she's very flirtatious; definitely not a good catch..."
Seeing the online abuse directed at Samantha, a chilling aura surrounded Ethan.
His handsome face turned dark and gloomy.
His eyes emitted a piercing, killing intent that made people shudder.
Anna was still on the sidelines, adding fuel to the fire, "Ethan, look, I was right! A woman like Samantha is not worthy of you. Even if you consider her as a bed partner, she's dirty! She might even have some filthy disease. You must stay away from her."
Ethan coldly retorted, "Mother, do you really think I'm a fool?"
"What?" Anna was taken aback.
Ethan tossed his phone onto the desk and sneered, "This whole thing wouldn't have spread across the country in just half a day without Suzy and the Steele family pushing it behind the scenes. How many of these internet trolls were brought in by you? We both know the truth."
Anna's face turned very ugly.
Multicolored.
There was an indescribable embarrassment, as if she couldn't get off the stage.
***