The Rebirth of a Scorned Heiress

The hall erupted into whispers as Yellow Hill’s model and Funray Fashion’s model walked onto the stage, both dressed in the same attire with a slight difference in colour matching and embroidery placements.

The attire looked so similar that it would have been mistaken to have been made by the same designer if they were not in the opposing team.

Just one glance at the model and the audience, along with the judges, could tell that one of the contestants had copied the other.

“Do they think in the same direction to make the same design?”

“Obviously, one of them cheated! This thing happens a lot in the world of fashion, so I’m not surprised.”

“Is this a coincidence or someone played a foul?”

“I’m finding it hard to believe this is a coincidence! They have the same design, the same patterns, and just some minor changes. It’s obvious one of them plagiarised!”

“They are really bold! Even if you want to plagiarise a work, how can you go for one that is going to be displayed at the same time as you?”

“But how are we going to know which team plagiarised?” They both look calm and unaffected by the situation. What do you think the judges will do?”

“The judges will probably have a way to sort it out; the culprit will be disqualified after the investigation. But for them to be this calm, they’ve probably made enough arrangements.”

“The culprit is looking down on the judges and the hosts too much!”

“Tch! The competition is going to be even more fun at this time. I’m looking forward to it!’

Contrary to the calmness the model was showing to the audience, both designers felt anxious and angered for different reasons, while Lily hummed in enjoyment.

“Wow, what a coincidence! You managed to have the same design as the Funray fashion team,” Shannon snickered as she stood in front of Merissa, who had been trying to sneak out of the backstage waiting room.

Merissa clenched her fist, her heart racing against her ribcage as she glared at Shannon. “What are you insinuating?” She gritted out.

“What do you think I am insinuating? I find it hard to believe this is a mere coincidence,” Shannon replied as she stepped closer to Merissa, who had begun to feel self-aware from the glare she was getting.

While the confrontation was going on, Daisy, the designer for Funray Fashion, stormed into the waiting room with a livid expression. She forced her way through the gathered group of designers and tailors as she approached Merrisa.

“How did you get that design?” She demanded coldly, eyes filled with hate and anger.

“What do you mean, how did I get it? I made it myself! I prepared the design myself, and I should be asking you where you got yours!” Merissa replied smugly.

“Don’t you dare try to pin this on me,” Daisy retorted, her voice laced with venom. “I know for a fact that this design is mine. I’ve been working on it for months, and there’s no way you could have come up with the same concept independently.”

My mum even helped me with the designs when I hit a rock and you are telling me it’s yours? Bullshit!” She added angrily.

Merissa’s eyes narrowed, her lips curling into a contemptuous sneer. “Are you accusing me of plagiarism? How laughable. You’re just jealous that my design is superior to yours. Face it, Daisy, you’re not as talented as you think you are.”

The surrounding designers and tailors watched the confrontation with bated breath, their gazes shifting between Merissa and Daisy as the tension mounted. Whispers filled the air, speculation and accusations flying as the situation threatened to spiral out of control.

“I don’t believe you,” Daisy spat, her eyes ablaze with fury. “I’m going to expose you for the fraud that you are. You won’t get away with this, Merissa. I’ll prove to you that I own that design! You won’t get away with it!”

Merissa’s facade began to crack, her carefully constructed persona crumbling under the weight of Daisy’s accusations. Her true colours began to show, revealing a manipulative and ruthless individual who would stop at nothing to achieve her goals.

“You have no proof,” Merissa hissed, her voice dripping with malice. “It’s your word against mine, Daisy. And we both know who the judges are more likely to believe. The designer from one of the famous schools in the country or a designer that is working for a rundown company.”

“Who do you think the judges will believe?” Merissa smirked while cooking, somehow forgetting that her reputation had long been stained by her evil deeds.

Daisy’s face paled, the realisation that Merissa might have the upper hand in this situation hitting her like a tonne of bricks.

She knew that Merissa was right-without concrete evidence, it would be difficult to prove that she was the original creator of the design. However, given that she had used her tablet to draw the design, there was no way she could provide one drawn on paper.

“I was expecting this, but it’s much more interesting than I expected,” Lily muttered as she watched the two confront each other.

“One of the designs she stole belonged to another person,” Alana asked in surprise, and Lily shook her head with a mischievous smile. “Not one. All of it belonged to others, and none is mine,” she replied calmly.

“I told you she’s digging a grave with the first design she used, right? With this one, she can start preparing for the burial of her career.”

“But Merissa can easily suppress Daisy and their company. It’s just a matter of paying them off to keep quiet.” Alan mused.

“I won’t make it that easy for her,” Lily replied firmly. “There is going to be a rematch between the two groups because they can’t find enough evidence to decide which one of them owns the design.”

“And then?”

“And then my plan is complete. She’ll be desperate to save her neck in the next stage, and that will land her in jail for copyright infringement.” Lily laughed, and a shiver ran down Alana’s back.

“What do you mean jail?” She asked in surprise.

“You’ll see,” Lily winked and walked forward.

“Let’s all relax.” She tried to separate the two while standing in their middle. “Since both of you claim the design is yours and you work on it, Then provide the evidence. Anything that can prove that you own it.”

“Without evidence, I can also claim that it is mine, can’t I? And instead of arguing and yelling, start working on how to prove yourself innocent, or you can start making preparations for a new design. Yelling and arguing won’t change anything,” she reprimanded.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Despite the hatred boiling inside her towards Lily, Merissa held back, turned around, and left. “Fine, since none of you believe me, I’ll prove it to you!”