CHAPTER 183: CHAPTER 182: BROUGHT IT ON HERSELF

Anna switched to sending voice messages because her voice was a bit hoarse after throwing up.

As an actress, she usually cares about her figure, and throwing up made her lose whatever little fruits and vegetables she had eaten.

"Before I came back, Finn reminded me."

Serena also sent a voice message.

She planned to return to Solaria, and Finn started arranging everything, finding information about The Grant Family and The Sullivan Family for her.

When she saw that Ruth Hale and Joel Quinn came from the same county, she found it very strange.

Then four years ago, Ruth helped Zoe Quinn frame her.

"I studied under Ruth longer than Zoe did, and my works brought her a lot of credit."

Back then, under Ruth’s guidance, Serena was in her prime, basking in glory.

Before The Brilliance Competition, all major media predicted that Serena would definitely win the gold prize.

However, on the stage, her work was similar to Zoe Quinn’s. Ruth went on stage, took out a video of Serena modifying one of her works, and accused Serena of being arrogant, lazy, and plagiarizing Zoe Quinn’s work instead of creating her own.

That modification video was from before the competition when Ruth said her work was imperfect, and had her redraw it with modifications on paper.

Not thinking much of it, after she modified the second version, Ruth said the first version was still the best.

At that time, she believed Ruth and submitted the first work as instructed by Ruth.

Unexpectedly, Ruth stole her second work and gave it to Zoe Quinn.

With that video and Ruth’s testimony, she was booed and driven off the stage.

Her confident self was labeled as a plagiarist; she was so downcast that she had a huge fight with Ruth and quarreled with Zoe Quinn.

Claire believed Zoe and Ruth, concluded she was not skilled enough and accused her of plagiarizing Zoe Quinn, and slapped her in anger.

The relationship between mother and daughter became tense after the competition.

"You tell me, what reason did she have to give up on me and promote Zoe Quinn?"

Serena had seen Zoe Quinn’s work; it’s not even worthy of winning gold, barely even making it to the finals.

"Shielding Zoe Quinn like this, must mean there’s some connection!"

Anna realized it from what Finn said.

"Not too dumb!"

Anna: Little Finn, I’m naturally smart.

Finn: Your brain is okay, but your eyesight is quite blind.

This sentence was a subtle jab at Anna liking Sean Lockwood. Anna listened quietly to them talk, without arguing against Finn’s sharp tongue.

"I tested Ruth today; it’s very possible Zoe Quinn is her daughter."

Anna, who was lurking for less than half a minute, couldn’t help but jump in, "Zoe Quinn is her daughter, no way, could she be Joel Quinn’s ex-wife or something."

"Finn checked, Joel Quinn has never been legally married before."

But it also doesn’t rule out the possibility that he was married before.

In many places, couples hold a banquet first, and register much later, which is legally considered a common-law marriage.

Anna: "Serena, your mom is really pitiful."

Anna sent a voice message, and Serena clicked to listen to it, hesitating for a moment.

If Joel Quinn, Ruth Hale, and Zoe Quinn were a family, Claire Sullivan really was pitiful.

"She brought it upon herself."

Finn bluntly said.