Married To My Billionaire Stepbrother novel Chapter 265

Chapter 265: The Truth

The judges turned to Briena. "What do you have to say about this, Ms. Briena?"

Briena, still stunned, hesitated before saying, "I think it was a coincidence..."

"Coincidence?" Ms. Taylor exclaimed, frowning. "Such a coincidence that you created only half of the perfume and didn’t even realize it was incomplete? Which perfumer doesn’t know their own creation is unfinished? Have you truly created it?"

Briena froze under Ms. Taylor’s sharp words but quickly tried to defend herself. "I knew you wouldn’t accept it. You’re siding with Natalie. I saw you at her perfume event, standing with her. I’m sure you’re colluding with her!"

Ms. Taylor’s expression hardened. "Are you blaming me for your failure to complete a formula? How does it even show that I’m siding with her? The other judges here can also see through what’s happening."

One of the male judges finally spoke, his voice stern. "Ms. Briena, think carefully before accusing us judges. We are here to give a fair judgment, and everyone in this hall can see the situation clearly. If you present an incomplete perfume like this, you don’t deserve to be a perfumer."

"Stop accusing my daughter!" Clara exclaimed, stepping forward. "You’ve seen in the other rounds how she created incredible perfumes that all of you couldn’t help but praise. But now, just because of a small coincidence that her perfume matched Natalie’s, you’re accusing her? She must have been under pressure from the competition, which caused her to make this mistake."

Just then, a scholarly-looking man in a black suit entered the room, his presence commanding attention. He was a lawyer.

"Ms. Briena," the man said firmly, "on behalf of my client, I have filed a formal complaint against you for stealing their work and presenting it in this competition as your own."

"What?" Briena exclaimed, her face pale. "I... I didn’t steal Natalie’s work! If I had, why would I have stolen only half of it? I..."

"I am not talking about stealing Ms. Natalie’s work," the lawyer said, placing a large brown envelope on the table in front of Briena. "This is on behalf of my client, the famous perfumer Dew."

A collective gasp echoed through the hall. Dew was a renowned perfumer, known for creating only one perfume a year. Each creation was produced in limited quantities and auctioned at exorbitant prices. Dew’s identity was shrouded in mystery—no one knew whether Dew was a man or a woman, nor had anyone ever seen them in public.

"I... I didn’t steal anything from them!" Briena cried out in disbelief, her face pale.

Just then, the screen behind the stage lit up, displaying a series of perfume formulas registered under Dew’s name for over a year. These were the exact formulas Briena had used in the previous rounds of the competition.

The hall fell silent, stunned by the revelation.

The lawyer continued, "Ms. Briena, do not attempt to claim this as a coincidence. Every formula you’ve used in this competition belongs to Dew. My client has no intention of showing mercy."

"What proof do you have that my daughter stole it?" Clara demanded angrily, stepping forward.

The screen shifted, now showing evidence of the formulas being sold and bought illegally. The lawyer began explaining as more details appeared on the screen.

"A few days ago, someone working closely with Dew sold these formulas. They were caught and have confessed everything. Additionally, we have proof of money transfers to this individual from Ford Industries."

Gasps and whispers filled the hall as the evidence was displayed. The judges exchanged shocked looks, while the audience—both in the event hall and those watching on screens—was left in utter disbelief.

"She cheated through the entire competition?" one voice in the audience muttered, echoing the thoughts of many.

"Ms. Briena, the police will be here soon," the lawyer announced firmly. _{freēwebnovel.com}

Briena, with tears in her eyes, hid behind her mother. "Mom, I did nothing! They’re framing me!"

Clara glared at Natalie, her anger flaring. "I’m sure this is all your doing! My daughter could never do anything wrong. You envy her success and are taking revenge on her because Ivan chose her over a despicable woman like you!"

"Yes, your daughter can do nothing wrong," Natalie replied coldly. "Back then, she stole my work and pretended to be Aroma—even then, she did nothing wrong. She faked her own accident because she knew she wasn’t skilled enough to compete in the piano competition. She then blamed it on me, claiming I was jealous and didn’t want her to participate."

Clara was taken aback by Natalie’s calm yet icy tone.

"Clara Ford, how many such things has your daughter not done, while you conveniently turned a blind eye and covered for her?"

"Grandma, you know I didn’t steal anything. I am Aroma. I—"

"Shut up!" Sephina’s sharp, menacing voice rang out through the screen. "You wretch, you don’t deserve any of it. If Briena had been given the opportunities your mother provided you since you were young, she would be far better than you. This all belongs to Briena. She is the daughter of the Ford family that I accept, while you are nothing but a disgrace. From this day onwards, Briena is Aroma. You can cry all you want, but no one will believe you. And if you don’t stop right here, it won’t take me long to throw you out of the Ford family. Do you want to end up on the street as a beggar?"

Slap!