Chapter 109:
Upon hearing this, the Harper family was dumbfounded. Confusion washed over them. Weren’t they here to hold Elena accountable?
Braced for confrontation with the Design Association, Alexander had prepared himself for battle.
“Weren’t you here for the online rumors about Elena?” Alexander asked, convinced he had misheard.
The two vice presidents, already familiar with Alexander, the CEO of Harper Group, became even more respectful upon learning he was Helena’s father.
“Mr. Harper, the online rumors are entirely false. Our Jewelry Design Association plans to issue a statement to clear Miss Harper’s name. We came today specifically to meet Helena,” one of them said, sincere admiration coloring his voice.
Elyse had orchestrated everything, yet the outcome had veered drastically from her expectations.
“How could things turn out like this…” she murmured softly. Why was Elena blessed with such fortune, always emerging unscathed from every predicament?
Alongside her reluctance to accept defeat, a growing sense of dread welled up within Elyse. She had dismissed Elena as merely a county bumpkin, posing no real threat. But now, the truth revealed itself in stark clarity.
Elena was actually Helena, the internationally acclaimed top designer.
Suddenly, a soft laugh drifted to her ears, and Elyse looked up to find Jeffry observing her with an unreadable expression. Elyse’s eyelashes fluttered as she lowered her head to escape his penetrating gaze. In that moment, she felt as if Jeffry had peered straight into the depths of her soul.
Impossible. Even if Jeffry had uncovered who spread the rumors about Elena, it couldn’t possibly be traced back to her. She had orchestrated everything with the utmost discretion; exposure was unthinkable. With these reassurances, Elyse gradually soothed her racing heart back to a steady rhythm.
Across the room, Samira—who had been so resolute in her decision to fire Elena—now stood frozen in disbelief. Could it truly be that Elena hadn’t plagiarized at all, but was instead the enigmatic Helena, revered as a top international designer? How could this be possible?
“Sir, who did you say Helena is?” Samira asked, her voice trembling with incredulity.
Discover the best stories at gαℓησv𝒆𝓁s․com
Their demeanor toward Samira had noticeably cooled.
“The Miss Harper you just unceremoniously dismissed,” one of them replied. “A rare talent like Helena is coveted throughout the industry. Now that she’s departed from Leopardex, I’m prepared to offer ten percent of my company’s shares to secure Miss Harper’s expertise.”
Not to be outmaneuvered, the second vice president—fearing the prospect of losing Elena—quickly chimed in, “Should Miss Harper consider joining my company, I’ll not only match the ten percent share offer but also grant her complete autonomy in determining her salary!”
The two esteemed figures in the design industry nearly descended into an undignified squabble over Elena before the astonished onlookers. Jeffry’s timely intervention prevented the situation from escalating further.
Despite being equally surprised by his sister’s hidden identity, Jeffry maintained his characteristic poise. “Gentlemen, let’s not be hasty. This decision rests entirely with Elena’s preferences.”
