Chapter 196
"Lauren, you're the one embarrassed by Gianna's actions. You should manage her better."
Lauren frowned and replied coldly, "She's cut ties with me. Her issues aren't my problem anymore."
One of them shook their head, saying, "Blood ties still matter. Can you really just cut ties like that?"
Annoyed, Lauren threw her cards down and stood up, "I'm not feeling well, so I'll head back. Let's reschedule."
Ignoring their reactions, she left.
Back home, still fuming, she called Bella.
"Bella, I heard you're taking Gianna to court. What's going on?"
With the court session about to start, Bella hurriedly said, "Mom, I'll explain later. The session's about to begin. Talk to you later."
Before Lauren could respond, the call ended.
Lauren held her phone in silence, feeling she needed to ask Julian about this.
After calling Julian three times with no answer, she grabbed her bag and had the driver take her to the Redstone Group office. Just as she reached Julian's office, a woman in a red dress walked out.
Seeing Lauren, the woman looked surprised but quickly smiled.
"Lauren, why didn't you let me know you were coming? I could have greeted you. Gianna's in a meeting with a client. Let me take you to the lounge," Daisy said.
Lauren frowned, "What client is she meeting with?"
"A developer. Would you like something to drink?"
Led by Daisy, Lauren walked into the lounge.
"A cup of coffee will do," Lauren said.
"Alright, please wait a moment."
Daisy quickly returned, placing the coffee on the table with a smile, "I have some work to do. If you need anything, just call me."
Feeling annoyed, Lauren nodded, "Alright, you can go."
Half an hour later, Julian walked into the lounge.
"Daisy said you were looking for me. What's up?" Julian asked.
Lauren looked up at Julian, noticing the impatience in his eyes.
She pressed her lips together and said coldly, "Gianna's company's designer plagiarized designs from LR Design Studio. Bella took them to court. Did you know about this?"
Julian was taken aback. He had been busy with overseas projects and had just returned from a business trip, so he hadn't heard about this.
"They're being ridiculous! Taking such a small matter to court, it's embarrassing for the Redstone family!"
No wonder his clients had been giving him strange looks lately.
He took out his phone and called Bella, but after several attempts, she still didn't pick up.
Julian angrily put down his phone and glared at Lauren, "This is the daughter you raised!"
Lauren's eyes flashed with disbelief, and she gritted her teeth, "Julian, how can you say that? Do you have any conscience? Gianna's company plagiarized, and Bella took them to court. Isn't that justified? Just because Felix likes Gianna now, you're planning to distort the truth to please him?"
Julian sneered, "I don't have time for this. Get back to the Redstone family house before I lose my patience!"
With that, Julian stormed out.
Lauren took a deep breath, utterly disappointed in him, and turned to leave as well.
When she reached the ground floor of the Redstone Group building and was about to hail a cab, she suddenly realized she had left her phone in the lounge.
Suppressing her anger and annoyance, she went back. Upon reaching the top floor, she found that all the secretaries were likely in a meeting.
Lauren quickly walked to the lounge and was about to open the door when she heard heavy breathing inside.
Her hand paused on the doorknob, frowning. Someone dared to do this in the lounge? Julian's management was really slipping.
She hesitated, unsure whether to open the door or find Julian, when the voices inside froze her in place.
"Daisy! You're so enchanting!"
"Julian, be gentle! Don't leave marks on my neck, or others will notice."
"Isn't it more exciting if they find out?"
The voices were unmistakably Julian and Daisy!
Lauren's whole body trembled. She had been investigating Julian's mistress but never suspected Daisy.
Daisy was the daughter of a distant cousin, and Lauren had introduced her to the Redstone Group.
Daisy should be calling Julian "Uncle"!
She couldn't believe they were together. Didn't they find it disgusting?
Still in a daze, Lauren didn't know how she made her way out of the company building. She wanted to burst in and scold them but didn't have the courage.
What would exposing this achieve?
Divorcing Julian now would leave her with nothing, and she couldn't accept that!
She had to secure her position as Mrs. Redstone and wouldn't let Daisy succeed!
At court, the trial went smoothly. LR Design Studio's lawyer quickly proved MY FASHION had plagiarized and demanded fifty million dollars in damages.
MY FASHION's lawyer struggled, speechless against LR Design Studio's case.
Bella sat in the audience with a smug smile on her face.
The lawsuit was going better than expected. The judges and jury believed the design draft timeline was genuine. As Thomas had said, almost no one could tell the image was synthesized.
She got up and walked out, and upon seeing Julian's missed calls, she dialed back, but no one answered.
Bella didn't call again and sent a message to Thomas.
[The lawsuit went smoothly. We can prepare to celebrate.]
She put away her phone and walked to her car with a smile.
Just as she reached the car, reporters swarmed her.
Bella put on a perfect smile, ready to speak, but the reporters bombarded her with sharp questions.
"Bella, did you not anticipate LR Design Studio losing the case?"
"Bella, MY FASHION is demanding a public apology and fifty million dollars in compensation. When do you plan to pay?"
"Bella, the public is heavily criticizing LR Design Studio. Did you consider the consequences when you falsely accused MY FASHION of plagiarism?"
With each question, Bella's smile faded, and she frowned, "What nonsense are you talking about? How could MY FASHION win?"
Seeing her confidence, a reporter sneered, "Bella, did you leave before the verdict? MY FASHION's lawyer submitted evidence proving the draft image from LR Design Studio was synthesized. The judge ruled in favor of MY FASHION, and they plan to sue LR Design Studio further."
At the mention of "synthesized", Bella's face turned pale, and she gritted her teeth, "Impossible! That so-called evidence must be fake!"
Thomas had assured her no one would find out. How could LR Design Studio lose?
She was about to return to the court to clarify when her phone suddenly rang.
