Chapter 20
20:
“Let’s educate her,” a woman chimed in, regarding Cynthia with admiration.
“This is Cynthia Keller. You’re from Grester, right? Then how do you not know her?”
With a dramatic flourish, she added,
“She’s from the esteemed Keller family—talented, and adored by hundreds of thousands of followers online.”
Linsey’s eyes narrowed slightly before she spoke.
“So, you’re Cynthia Keller?”
Cynthia practically glowed under the attention, her expression brimming with pride. She lifted her chin higher and drawled,
“That’s right. You’ve heard of me? Guess you’re not entirely clueless after all.”
Linsey smiled, her voice deliberate.
“Oh, I’ve heard your name. Like how your design academy thesis was actually written by a ghostwriter. And how it got exposed online when you refused to pay them. Is that true? I have to admit, I’m curious.”
That scandal had been a major embarrassment for Cynthia. The ghostwriter had presented undeniable proof of her academic dishonesty, but the Keller family had spent a fortune burying the story. Most had forgotten—until now.
Linsey hadn’t given it much thought until someone emphasized Cynthia’s reputation, triggering her memory.
Since they had gone out of their way to mock her, she saw no reason to be polite.
Cynthia’s face burned with anger. She snapped,
“What the hell are you saying?! Everyone knows I was framed! Some jealous nobody tried to ruin me!”
Step into fiction with gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s․𝒸o𝗺
Her outburst drew quiet chuckles from the onlookers.
Most might have let the story fade, but the veterans in the design world remembered it well.
Cynthia couldn’t find the words to defend herself, but her entourage jumped in, seizing the moment. One of them pointed an accusatory finger at Linsey.
“What’s your deal? You can’t stand that you’ll never measure up, so now you’re throwing out baseless accusations? You better take that back and apologize to Ms. Keller right now—or get ready for a lawsuit!”
Linsey’s lips twisted into a sneer.
“Did I say something incorrect? Everyone is aware of it. I haven’t slandered Cynthia in the slightest.”
Her eyes narrowed as she stared at the woman who had defended Cynthia, her voice dripping with scorn.
“Moreover, instead of scrutinizing me, maybe you ought to examine your own situation. I believe your surname is Rodriguez, isn’t it? Ms. Rodriguez, wasn’t your latest project embroiled in a plagiarism scandal just three months ago? The judgment has been passed—you’re a plagiarist. Yet somehow, you managed to secure an interview with CR Corporation. Now, that’s a real mystery.”
The accusation caused the woman’s face to stiffen.
“How did you come to know about that?”
Linsey didn’t pause to let her respond; instead, she turned towards another designer.
“And you—Ms. Jimenez, correct? I remember you boasting about winning a design award. Turns out, that recognition could be bought for a price. So, how much did you shell out for that recognition?”
Following that, Linsey proceeded to air the dirty laundry of several individuals. With her voice rising, she exclaimed,
.
.
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