Chapter 113 Adding Insult to Injury
Camera flashes exploded throughout the venue as Elora's lips curved into a cold smile. "Clara, are you still going to deny it at this point? The evidence is irrefutable—what more is there to argue?"
"I never did any of this! Those videos are all fabricated! You're framing me!"
Reporters below thrust their microphones forward.
"Ms. Johnson, why did you frame Ms. King?"
"What do you have to say about your malicious actions?"
"How does Mirage Fashion respond to this incident?"
"I told you I didn't do it! Don't you reporters think for yourselves? Those videos are obviously doctored!" Clara screamed hysterically.
But no one listened to her defense. Instead, the reporters became even more excited, "Ms. Johnson, your agitation right now—isn't that a sign of guilt?"
"Please address the evidence directly instead of deflecting!"
Clara had no chance to respond properly as security guards dragged her from the scene.
"Elora, Emily, I won't let either of you get away with this!"
Elora elegantly smoothed her clothes and faced the cameras. "I trust the law will give everyone a fair answer. As a victim, I choose to forgive, but I will never tolerate such despicable behavior."
The moment she finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted from the audience.
Elora watched it all with satisfaction.
At the police station, Clara was held for six full hours before being released.
"Ms. Johnson, you're free to go," the officer said coldly, not even bothering to look at her.
Clara shot to her feet, demanding angrily, "That's it? What did you investigate? Those videos are obviously fake. Why didn't you have them analyzed? Why aren't you investigating the truth?"
"We'll continue our investigation. Please cooperate," the officer replied dismissively, turning to leave.
"Wait! I want to see your supervisor! I demand technical analysis! Those videos are completely fabricated!"
Another officer said impatiently, "Move along. If you have issues, have your lawyer discuss them. Stop making a scene here."
Clara completely lost it. "Making a scene? I've been framed! Instead of investigating the truth, you're calling me to make me scene? How much did the King family pay you?"
"What nonsense are you talking about? Keep talking nonsense, and I'll charge you with slander!" the officer glared at her menacingly.
Clara was pushed out the police station doors, her fury reaching its peak.
She realized she was completely isolated—the police were bought off, the media misled, the public manipulated. Not a single person was willing to hear the truth from her!
Pulling out her phone, she saw the internet had exploded.
[Clara was taken away by the police!]
[Look at her having a meltdown outside the station—she's clearly guilty!]
[If the police got involved, she must have really framed Elora.]
[Scumbags like this should rot in prison! Too bad she was only held for a few hours!]
[I always thought something was off about Clara. Now her true colors are showing.]
[I used to think she was a talented designer, but she's actually this manipulative.]
Clara shook with rage, screaming at her phone screen. "You ungrateful idiots! I'm being framed and you're all kicking me while I'm down!"
Passersby stared at her strangely, some even taking secret photos.
Clara realized how disheveled she looked and quickly covered her face, diving into her car.
Sitting in the vehicle, she finally understood Emily and Elora's sinister plan. Whether the videos were real or fake, whether she was guilty or not, once she entered that police station, in the public's eyes, she was a criminal!
Returning to Mirage Fashion, even a harsher reality awaited Clara.
The HR manager nervously reported. "Ms. Johnson, we lost another twenty employees today. The entire company is down to fewer than fifty people now."
"What about our business partners?"
"They've all terminated their contracts. All those orders we signed recently can't be completed on schedule, and the penalty fees... we can't afford them."
Clara collapsed into her chair, staring at the empty office space.
Mirage Fashion was already struggling, and now it was completely devastated.
The CFO walked in with a stack of bills. "Ms. Johnson, the bank is demanding payment. Combined with supplier debts, employee salaries, and office rent, we have a funding gap of over thirty million dollars."
"How much is left in company accounts?"
"Less than five million."
Clara closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She knew Mirage Fashion couldn't hold on much longer, and what terrified her most was that Simon could arrive at any moment to clean up the mess.
As if summoned by her thoughts, her assistant ran in frantically. "Ms. Johnson, Mr. Johnson is here! He brought a whole legal team!"
Clara's face turned pale in an instant.
In the conference room, Simon sat imposingly at the head of the table in an impeccable suit, his expression cold.
The lawyer beside him was reading from documents. "According to the original shareholding agreement, when the company sustains losses exceeding 30% for three consecutive quarters, Mr. Johnson has the right to reclaim operational authority."
Clara shot to her feet and shouted, "Dad, you already gave Mirage Fashion to me! You can't take it away!"
Simon looked at her coldly and spoke, "Clara, look what you've turned Mirage Fashion into. Stock price below IPO levels, all partners terminated, massive employee exodus—is this your capability?"
"I was framed! Emily and Elora orchestrated all of this!"
"Even so, it doesn't hide the fact that you've mismanaged everything. Every single decision you've made these past six months has been wrong. Blind expansion, ignoring design quality, malicious marketing—you have no business acumen whatsoever."
Clara was rendered speechless. Deep down, she knew Simon was right about everything.
"From today forward, I will personally oversee all Mirage Fashion operations. You can choose to cooperate, or you can choose to leave."
"Dad! Emily is the real mastermind behind everything! She's our common enemy!"
Simon ignored Clara's accusations. He stood up and coldly issued his final command, "The only thing you need to do now is stop causing more trouble for Mirage Fashion."
That evening, Clara sat alone in her empty office, consumed by unwillingness and rage.
Losing control of Mirage Fashion was just the beginning. Next would come the loss of her position in the family.
But what she hated most wasn't Elora—it was Emily!
Clara didn't care if she lived or died, but she wanted Emily dead!