Chapter 243

Chapter 243

"I..."

Scarlett was left speechless by Liam's words, her face instantly turning bright red as if she'd been slapped hard across the face. All her doubts and defenses got stuck in her throat, unable to utter a single word.

Yes, Victoria got into the Starlight Project Team through real ability—this was something she couldn't deny.

Liam stopped paying attention to the devastated Scarlett and turned his cold gaze back to the crumbling Veda, his tone carrying an ultimatum: "Veda, I'm asking you—the place where you found that design draft, wasn't it right by that public trash can not far from home?"

Veda's whole body shook violently as her last line of psychological defense completely collapsed.

She had indeed taken a chance back then. When she discovered the sketch of an extremely exquisite ruby bracelet, she thought it was a discarded draft from some passerby or neighbor. She never imagined it was actually Victoria's work! Actually Vico's discarded original!

Veda stood frozen in place, her lips trembling, unable to say another word of defense.

Her expression, as if she'd seen a ghost, already said everything.

And Hayden, sitting in his chair, was now completely stunned.

His face was filled with extreme shock and some indescribable complex emotions.

That Victoria he'd only brought back to ward off disaster, that daughter he'd barely given any attention or fatherly love to, was actually the internationally renowned jewelry designer Vico? And a major shareholder of a luxury company?

This was like something out of a fairy tale!

Enormous shock and a belated, indescribable regret began spreading through Hayden's heart.

Looking at the devastated Veda and the shocked, speechless Hayden before him, Liam felt no satisfaction, only a heavy exhaustion.

He coldly announced his decision: "The situation is very clear, the evidence is solid. Tomorrow, the Gonzalez Jewelry Company will issue an official statement on its website and all social media platforms, admitting the plagiarism, formally apologizing to Victoria, and voluntarily withdrawing Veda's competition eligibility."

"Veda, you also need to record a video publicly apologizing to Victoria online, admitting your wrongdoing. Additionally, the company will provide financial compensation to Victoria for this matter."

"No! I don't agree!"

Before Veda could recover from the massive blow, Hayden was the first to object.

He furrowed his brow tightly, his face showing the calculations and concerns of a family head: "Liam, do you know the consequences of doing this? Once we publicly apologize and admit plagiarism, where does that leave the Gonzalez Jewelry Company's reputation? What about our credibility? This will have such a negative impact on the company! The stock price will drop!"

Hayden tried to pressure him with family interests, his tone somewhat self-righteous: "Victoria, no matter what, she's still part of the Gonzalez family, she's my daughter! We're family—what can't be discussed behind closed doors? Do we have to make a scene and let outsiders laugh at us?"

"Call her, I'll talk to her! She'll understand! We can give compensation privately. Apologize? What apology? We shouldn't air our dirty laundry in public!"

Watching Hayden try to smooth things over and even hint at morally blackmailing Victoria, Liam found it utterly ironic.

He pulled at the corner of his mouth, revealing a smile without any warmth: "Dad, do you think a daughter who was sent to the countryside at birth, ignored for twenty years, and only brought back to ward off disaster—do you think she has any sense of belonging to the Gonzalez family? Would she care about the Gonzalez Jewelry Company's reputation?"

Liam's words were like a needle, ruthlessly piercing through Hayden's facade of fake fatherly love and family righteousness.

Hayden's expression instantly turned extremely ugly.

Liam continued: "Go ahead and try calling her. See if Victoria will agree to your request to sweep this under the rug for the sake of being 'family.' If she actually agrees, that would be really strange."

With that, he didn't spare another glance at the ashen-faced Hayden or the deathly pale Veda. He turned around and walked upstairs with heavy steps.

He'd taken in too much information tonight—he needed to be alone for a while.

In the living room, only the devastated Veda, the grim-faced Hayden, and Scarlett standing by the stairs with a complex expression mixed with jealousy and fear remained.

Hayden was silent for a long while. His gaze finally fell on Veda, who was slumped by the sofa with empty eyes, and a fury of disappointment surged in his heart.

He let out a heavy sigh, his tone full of disappointment and severity: "Veda! You've really let me down!"

"Back at the orphanage, I chose you because you were well-behaved, sensible, and clever. I brought you back, gave you the best life, the best education! I expected you to bring honor to the Gonzalez family, not disgrace it!"

"You actually did this sneaky, plagiarizing, stealing thing! And you targeted Victoria! Do you know how much trouble you've caused?"

The more Hayden spoke, the angrier he got, his pointing finger trembling slightly: "Starting tomorrow, you don't need to go to the company anymore! You don't need to stay in the design department either! I don't think you have any design talent—going there is just wasting company resources! Stay home and reflect on what you've done!"

These words, like a final verdict, completely crushed Veda.

She suddenly looked up at Hayden, her eyes filled with disbelief and the despair of being abandoned.

Not go to the company? Then what position would she have in the Gonzalez family?

She'd worked so hard for so many years—was it all going to be lost because of this one "mistake"?

Enormous resentment grew like poisonous weeds in Veda's heart.

She hated Victoria! Hated that she was Vico! Hated that she threw the sketch in the trash! Hated Liam's ruthlessness! And hated Hayden's cold-heartedness and easy abandonment even more!

Veda's expression became even uglier than before, twisted, with a cold and venomous light flickering deep in her eyes.

Hayden sat alone in the living room for a long time, the cold touch on his fingertips seeming to seep into his heart.

Liam's resolute back, Veda's pale and desperate face, and that truth that exploded like thunder—Victoria was Vico—all of it left him confused, his face burning as if he'd been invisibly slapped countless times.

Hayden ultimately couldn't accept airing the family's dirty laundry and letting the Gonzalez Jewelry Company become a laughingstock. After much thought, holding onto one last shred of hope, he picked up his phone and found the number he'd almost never actively dialed—Victoria.

The phone rang a few times before being answered. Victoria's cool, calm voice came through, revealing no emotion.

It was already late at night in Avalonia. Victoria had just finished a call with Thalia and was preparing to rest.

Seeing Hayden's caller ID, she already understood his intention.