Chapter 350

Arianna George let out a soft laugh. “That’s exactly their clever move. None of this is really the sponsor’s fault, and Emily Blair isn’t to blame either. They’ve just twisted public opinion online, shifting the scandal away from the real issue. Now, instead of holding the plagiarist accountable, people are pointing fingers at the sponsor and Emily Blair. It’s Isabella Austin who should be facing consequences for what she did, but somehow it’s the sponsor and Emily who are expected to apologize and pay the price. Honestly, it’s a masterful play—I almost want to give them a round of applause.”
She shook her head in disbelief. “It’s absurd. Isabella Austin should be the one apologizing, she should be the one being criticized. But now, she’s somehow become the poor victim, with the entire internet comforting her. It’s shameful. And the worst part? She’s still online, fanning the flames, playing the victim to win sympathy. She really has no shame left.”
“Arianna George! That’s enough!”
Mr. Adams’ voice cracked like a whip.
“Do you have any idea what you’re saying?” he growled, teeth clenched. “You think we don’t see what’s happening? You think we’re blind? The reason we haven’t spoken up is because we can’t. Isabella Austin has Andrew Lane behind her, and Andrew Lane is the main sponsor of the Starlight Piano Competition. You’ve seen for yourself how close those two are. How dare you call Isabella out like that—are you looking for trouble? If Andrew Lane wanted to crush us, we’d be as helpless as ants. We wouldn’t even have a chance to fight back.”
He gestured toward the trending topics on his phone. “You see how much traction this is getting online? Don’t tell me Andrew Lane doesn’t have a hand in that.”
He fixed Arianna with a stern look. “For your own good, don’t mention Isabella Austin again. Andrew Lane’s made his position clear-he’s announced their engagement right in the middle of all this. He’s determined to protect Isabella. What choice do we have? That’s how the world works. There’s no way Isabella will ever be made to admit she was wrong. The only one who can be blamed now is Emily Blair. She has no one powerful backing her up.”
Let’s be honest the right or wrong here doesn’t depend on justice, but on which side Andrew Lane chooses.
If Andrew Lane stands by Isabella Austin, then she’s in the right. That makes Emily Blair the villain—no question about it.
That’s the reality, whether we like it or not.
Andrew Lane has decided Emily Blair is in the wrong, so that’s how it’ll be.
Emily Blair has no choice but to apologize.
Someone muttered under their breath, “I just don’t get it—Isabella plagiarized, so why is Andrew Lane defending her? What does he even see in her? Has he really lost all sense of right and wrong? Emily Blair used to be like a little sister to him, and now she’s being torn apart online. You’d think he’d step in, but he’s turned his back on her completely.”
Another voice chimed in quietly, “You don’t know the half of it. Rumor has it Andrew and Isabella were high school sweethearts-everyone knew about them. When Isabella went overseas for college, they broke up. Andrew never dated anyone else; he’s been waiting for her all these years. She only came back a few months ago, and now they’re already getting engaged. He’s crazy about her-nothing anyone says will change that.”
“So basically, there’s no turning this around anymore. If it were just Isabella pulling strings, maybe there’d be a slim chance. But with Andrew Lane stepping in, fighting for his beloved, we’re powerless. Everyone’s heard how ruthless he can be. Our best bet is to swallow our pride and apologize to Isabella—maybe then Andrew and Isabella will go easy on us.”
Mr. Adams’ voice dropped to a warning growl. “Enough. Stop gossiping. If word of what you’re saying gets back to Andrew Lane, not even I will be able to protect you.”