Chapter 343

 343:
Narrowing her eyes for emphasis, she continued, her voice tinged with exasperation, “This woman is insufferably arrogant. She didn’t just clash with Kristy—she outright bullied her. You have to confront her; she must be held accountable!”
As Beth’s words sank in, Arthur’s expression darkened, his brows knitting together in visible annoyance. “An imitation, you say?” Arthur’s voice was a low rumble of disbelief. Fame had brought him recognition, but also a flood of counterfeit versions of his creations, something he loathed deeply. Coming across this today was nothing short of infuriating!
Arthur scanned the room intensely. “Who is it? Who dares wear such a thing?”
Beth, noticing Arthur’s gaze sweep momentarily over Linsey, pointed her out with a mix of urgency and accusation. “Mr. Flores, look there—it’s Linsey! She’s wearing a fake version of your design!”
Arthur’s eyes locked onto Linsey with sharp intensity. Then, taking a step closer, he suddenly gasped sharply, “Your dress… there’s something wrong with it.”
The tension in the room intensified at Arthur’s declaration. Every heart seemed to pause, hanging on his next word. The crowd around them couldn’t mask their sympathy for Linsey. It seemed Linsey had truly stepped into a mess—her dress was nothing but a fake!
Kristy and Beth exchanged smug glances, their smiles wide with delight as they watched Arthur’s displeased reaction. They could almost see Linsey, defeated and desperate, groveling for mercy.
Linsey’s pulse hammered in her ears, her thoughts swirling in disbelief. What? There was something wrong with her dress? Could it actually be a cheap imitation of Arthur’s original work?
That was absolutely impossible! Collin wouldn’t dare betray her like this.
gⱯlnσν𝓮ℓs․cøm brings endless adventures
A flicker of panic crossed Linsey’s face, a silent testament to her inner turmoil. Sensing her chance, Kristy stepped up, her eyes gleaming with malicious satisfaction. “Someone! Tear that dress off her right now!” she demanded, her voice ringing out clear and cruel. “Tonight, Linsey must grovel and degrade herself before us all, or she won’t be stepping through these doors. And let it be known, anyone who speaks a word in her defense will share her fate!”
The moment the words hit their ears, everyone nearby took a step back, not wanting to get caught up in Linsey’s disaster.
“Poor Linsey, she’s done for now—messing with Kristy is like walking straight into a storm.”
“We warned her to just apologize earlier, but no, she had to be all high and mighty. Now, who’s she got to blame but herself?”
“With the biting cold outside, getting stripped would almost surely land her with a nasty cold.”
“Catching a cold? That’s the least of her worries. If Linsey goes through with this stunt, give it half an hour—her video will light up the internet. She’ll never dare show her face around here again.”
Kristy’s words seemed to be the final straw. As she spoke, several men in black appeared out of nowhere, ready to seize Linsey.
Linsey’s face drained of color, her heart hammering in her chest.
How could she get herself out of this mess?
She was in total disbelief—there was no way Collin would give her a fake dress! As the men advanced, Linsey clenched her jaw and tensed, her hands balling into fists, ready to defend her dignity.
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