CHAPTER 512: MY WIFE HAS THE RIGHT TO DO SO

Anthony moved to retrieve the video.

The reporters were stunned.

This was explosive news—Linda and the Turner family had both eyewitness testimony and hard evidence proving the designs belonged to Victoria, and on top of that, Selina had the finalized drafts in her possession.

Meanwhile, the Morris family had nothing—nothing but words, and no proof to back them up.

This...

Grandma Morris’s breath hitched, and her vision suddenly went black, dizziness washing over her.

What was Mrs. Turner saying...? Victoria... Victoria had known Mrs. Turner all along?!

Across the room, Hannah and Angela’s terror peaked in that instant. Meeting Linda’s eyes, they felt both hatred and fear.

One outspoken socialite turned directly to Angela. "Angela, the Turner family has just proven the designs were your mother’s. So why would you help your stepmother?"

The crowd’s eyes snapped to Angela. Her throat worked, but for a long moment she couldn’t speak.

—Why wouldn’t Angela answer?

—Did the Morris family know the truth? Did Angela? Was she deceived, or was she really biased toward her stepmother—going so far as to slander her own biological mother for her?

Grandma Morris swallowed in panic, eager to smooth things over. "Mrs. Turner, this might all be a misunderstanding—"

"Joe. You speak." Linda cut her off.

Joe flinched, wearing that same spineless expression as always—like everything done against Victoria had nothing to do with him, as if it were all his mother’s doing and he knew nothing.

Linda’s temper spiked. "Speak!"

Joe instinctively tried to defend himself. "I—I don’t really know... My mother told me, and Hannah admitted they were her designs... I didn’t know they were Victoria’s. If I had known, how could I possibly—"

"Heh." Linda actually laughed in anger at this utterly spineless man, lifting her hand slightly.

"Chairman Morris, bad news!" An assistant rushed in.

"The designs... Victoria’s designs have been circulating online, and many well-known designers have spoken out for her. Several major luxury brands have also vouched for her. Now... now the whole world knows Morris Group stole her work—our stock price keeps plummeting..."

"Chairman Morris, you need to act immediately! Issue a public apology, and ideally secure cooperation with Turner Group to stabilize the situation!"

Joe staggered back a step, while Grandma Morris’s head buzzed like a hive.

What do you mean it’s gone public? Selina actually dared?!

And now—how could there even be talk of cooperation? What cooperation was left with Turner Group?

"Madam!" At that moment, a Morris Group shareholder shouted in panic, "Admit it already! Apologize to Selina and Mrs. Victoria! The designs were clearly Mrs. Victoria’s—you refused to acknowledge it, so you take responsibility!"

"That’s right! Mrs. Victoria’s name should be on her own work. What’s Hannah doing pretending to be the author?"

"Madam, we know you didn’t like Victoria and favored this new daughter-in-law, but aren’t you going too far? Don’t ruin the entire Morris Group for selfish reasons!"

With profits on the line, the shareholders one by one urged Grandma Morris to change her mind.

Linda looked down at them coldly. "Madam Morris, make your decision now."

Grandma Morris trembled with unwillingness, forcing out a few words through clenched teeth. "Chairman Turner, are you just going to let your wife go this far...?"

A woman—why was she allowed to meddle in so much? And the Turner family didn’t stop her?!

Chairman Roger Turner didn’t even bother looking at Grandma Morris. "My wife has full authority."

Linda gave a derisive laugh. "Enough. Whether we cooperate depends entirely on the Morris family’s answer—right here, right now."

Joe couldn’t take it anymore. "They’re Victoria’s designs. Mrs. Turner, please don’t—"

"No! You can’t admit it!" Grandma Morris’s face darkened, and in an instant her expression turned manic. In front of everyone present, she suddenly exploded, shouting like a madwoman:

"I don’t agree! I don’t agree! Victoria’s dead—long dead! What use is this honor to her? We’ve already told the world these were Hannah’s designs. Joe, if you do this, how is Hannah supposed to hold her head up? Are you trying to drive me, your own mother, to my death again for Victoria’s sake? That cursed wretch—Victoria was a wretch!"

Linda’s face hardened. "Madam Morris, this is not the place for your tantrums!"

"I’m sorry. It’s all my fault."

Suddenly, Hannah stepped forward, eyes brimming with tears, her gaze full of apology. "I had a moment of weakness. I let greed blind me, and I claimed Victoria’s designs as my own. It was wrong. I understand that now, and I’ll issue a public apology. I just ask Turner Group to give Morris Group another chance."

Joe looked deeply moved. "Hannah..."

Linda gave a cold smile. "Fine. Then I’ll trouble Morris Group and Mrs. Hill to issue a joint public apology."

Hannah lowered her eyes, silently swallowing her anger until her nails nearly pierced her palms.

Linda thought to herself—Hannah really was clever. No wonder she had ruined Victoria so thoroughly back then. This apology, on the surface, was Hannah admitting plagiarism, but to outsiders, Hannah’s "plagiarism" and "taking the fall" would look like the Morris family’s decision.

The Morris Group would collapse, but the real culprit—Hannah—would walk away unscathed.

The board members held Grandma Morris back to stop her from causing more trouble. Joe quickly asked, "In that case, Turner Group will cooperate with us, right?"

"Cooperate? Of course." Linda nodded.

Joe breathed a sigh of relief, pulled Angela over, and smiled ingratiatingly. "This is Victoria’s daughter. She’ll handle this collaboration..."

"A daughter who sides with her stepmother to slander her own mother?" Linda sneered.

"Joe, let’s be frank. I’ve made it clear who I want to work with. If the Morris family can’t bring her back, then you can get out."

...

In the café—

Selina was taking small bites of a cake so sweet it was cloying. After eating barely half, she pushed it toward Logan. "Too sweet. I don’t want any more."

The man didn’t mind at all. Picking up the small spoon she had just used, he scooped up a piece of chocolate and put it into his mouth.

Hmm. Definitely too sweet.

Selina froze for a moment. Wait—that was the spoon she’d just eaten from, the one she’d licked.

And Logan just... used it. Wasn’t that an indirect kiss?

Logan, completely unfazed, glanced at the time. "Fifteen minutes are up."

Selina’s brows arched, and the next second, her phone began to ring.

Joe’s voice came through, laced with flattery. "Selina, where are you? Dad will come pick you up now..."

...

When Linda said the name "Selina," the room went still.

Grandma Morris struggled to speak, but the board members pulled her back. One shareholder said, "Chairman Morris, what are you waiting for?"

"Chairman Morris, there’s no such thing as a grudge between father and daughter lasting overnight. Call Miss Selina now!"

"Angela won’t work! We’ve told you many times—Angela and Miss Selina are not on the same level. Yet you insisted on following Madam’s wishes, bringing Angela back and sidelining Miss Selina!"

"You’re her father. If you apologize, do you really think she won’t forgive you?"

One question after another rang in Joe’s ears. He clenched his fists, thinking—

That’s right, he was Selina’s father. Surely Selina would forgive him unconditionally...

...

Selina heard Joe’s voice, her tone calm and without the slightest ripple. "Oh? Chairman Morris wants me to come back?"

"Yes, yes..."

"But Chairman Morris... I told you—once I leave that place, even if you beg me, I will never return."