Chapter 248: What Do You Want

Chapter 248: What Do You Want

George's knuckles went white around his phone, the air around him turning oppressive in an instant.

He bit out through clenched teeth, his voice cold as ice, "Find them. Find out immediately who dared spread this!"

David's voice came through the line, about to respond.

Charlotte suddenly spoke up.

"Don't bother."

Her voice was calm, betraying no emotion.

George froze, turning to look at her.

At the same time, David's voice came through the phone, carrying a note of disbelief, "Mr. Summers! It's Jennifer!"

"It's Jennifer."

Both voices spoke simultaneously.

George's pupils contracted sharply.

Charlotte turned her phone toward him, screen facing out.

A video was playing on the screen.

In the video, Jennifer wore clothes washed to a dull gray, her hair disheveled, eyes red and swollen as she wept pitifully at the camera.

"I know no one will believe me now," Jennifer sobbed, her voice breaking. "But those Fabric Flowers design drafts—I drew them years ago!"

"I'd kept the sketches at George's villa. I never thought Charlotte would steal them! Now she's using my designs to become some internationally renowned designer, stealing my position. I have nowhere left to turn."

The comments below had exploded—all cursing Charlotte for plagiarism, people calling for boycotts of all Elysian Designs products, demanding she be driven out of the design world.

George watched the video, his face draining of color instantly.

He turned to Charlotte, his eyes filled with guilt.

His mouth opened and closed, unable to form words.

Charlotte's expression remained neutral as she looked at him quietly.

After a long moment, George finally spoke, his voice hoarse and strained.

He addressed David on the phone, barely suppressing his fury, "Jennifer? Isn't she supposed to be in prison? Who let her out?"

"Didn't I make myself clear? No reduced sentences, no bail! How the hell is she out!"

George's voice grew louder, veins bulging at his temples.

He was truly furious.

David sounded panicked on the other end, "Mr. Summers, I have no idea! I'll look into it right now! I'll find out who dared release her without authorization!"

"Find them! I want a thorough investigation!" George ground out. "I don't care who it is—anyone involved in this, drag them all out! I'll make them pay!"

"Enough."

Charlotte suddenly reached out, tugging at George's arm.

She looked at him, her tone calm, "Hang up first."

George paused, seeing her composed face. The anger at the tip of his tongue forcibly died down.

He spoke into the phone in a low voice, "Find Jennifer's whereabouts first. Report to me the second you locate her!"

With that, he hung up directly.

The bedroom fell silent instantly.

Miranda was still bouncing on the bed, oblivious to the tension between the adults, waving her stuffed toy and calling out, "Daddy, Mommy, come play with me!"

Charlotte put away her phone, turning to smile at Miranda, "Be good, sweetheart. Play by yourself for a bit. Mommy and Daddy need to talk."

Miranda nodded obediently, hugging her toy and sitting on the bed, playing house with herself.

George stood frozen, looking at Charlotte, not knowing what to do with his hands.

Like a child who'd done something wrong, he lowered his eyes, his voice full of guilt, "Charlotte, I'm sorry."

Charlotte looked up at him, a self-mocking smile playing at her lips, "Sorry? Are you apologizing on Jennifer's behalf?"

"Of course not!" George rejected the idea without thinking. "How could I apologize for her!"

How could he possibly apologize for Jennifer?

What was she to him anyway!

Thinking of his past foolishness made George feel awkward.

"I'm apologizing to you. Jennifer targeting you—it's all because of me."

"If I hadn't been so blind before, letting her stay by my side for so long, she never would've had the chance to get near that villa, never would've been able to come after you."

"It's all my fault."

More than that, Jennifer was supposed to be in prison.

What she'd done to the company—he'd never forget.

George felt worse with every word.

He truly hated his past self.

If only he hadn't believed Jennifer back then, hadn't kept her around, Charlotte wouldn't have suffered so much.

George looked up at Charlotte.

They'd just reconciled last night. Would Charlotte regret it?

At that thought, he nervously grasped Charlotte's hand.

Charlotte watched his self-reproach and smiled, "I'm fine."

"This kind of drama? I've seen it all before."

She acted as if the whole thing didn't faze her at all.

George looked at her, feeling even worse.

He was about to say something more when Charlotte's phone suddenly rang.

An unsaved number.

Charlotte raised an eyebrow and answered, casually putting it on speaker.

The moment the call connected, Jennifer's triumphant, venomous laughter came through.

"Charlotte, didn't see that coming, did you?" Jennifer's voice dripped with mockery. "I'm out."

"You thought throwing me in prison meant you could rest easy? Think again!"

"This time, I'm going to destroy your reputation! I'll make everyone know you're nothing but a thief! A plagiarist who stole someone else's work! I'll make sure you can never work in design again!"

Jennifer's voice was shrill and malicious, making George's brow furrow instantly.

Charlotte remained calm.

She leaned against the closet, her tone completely flat, "What do you want?"

Jennifer paused, then laughed even more brazenly, "What do I want? Charlotte, weren't you so high and mighty before? Didn't you act like I was nothing just because George favored you? Finally scared now?"

"Weren't you so capable? Keep up that attitude! Let's see how you stay proud now that everyone's calling you a plagiarist!"

She seemed to already envision Charlotte begging on her knees.

George couldn't take it anymore.

He snatched Charlotte's phone, his voice cold, "Jennifer."

Jennifer froze at George's voice.

She hadn't expected to hear the voice she'd longed for.

A wave of longing hit her.

Then she remembered what he'd done to her.

Jennifer's heart hardened.

She laughed lightly, a hint of grievance in her tone, "George, of course you're with her."

"Even now, you're still protecting her."

"Didn't it hurt even once when you sent me to prison?"

"Don't forget—you promised my mother you'd take care of me!"