Chapter 182: Damian Gives Up His Dignity
"Bastards!"
The curse shattered the studio's silence.
Ryan strode in, followed by Professor Hayes, whose face was equally thunderous. "Those blind old fools! They'd throw away basic decency for their precious reputation?"
Professor Hayes walked to Evelyn and gripped her shoulder firmly.
"Don't panic. As long as I'm alive, no one gets to slander my student."
"I've already contacted some old friends. I even called the mayor's office directly. If they dare revoke your spot over these baseless accusations, I'll resign from the entire judging panel!"
"Professor..." Evelyn's eyes reddened, her voice breaking.
"No crying! Hold it in!" Hayes snapped. "You're a designer, not an actress. Your battlefield is on paper, not online. Go draw! When your work is stunning enough, every accusation becomes a slap in their faces!"
Ryan said nothing. He stepped forward and pulled her trembling body into his arms.
His embrace was warm and solid, shielding her from all the malice outside.
"Listen to the professor." His voice was low in her ear. "Leave this to me. Whether it's Valerie or Sienna, if they want to play, I'll show them what consequences really mean."
Evelyn leaned against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat. Her crumbling emotions finally found an anchor.
...
Damian Green stood outside Evelyn's studio, looking through the glass door.
He straightened his tie, though it was pointless. His once imperious face now showed only exhaustion and defeat.
Ryan's bodyguards blocked him, but Evelyn waved them off.
"If you're here to gloat over that crazy woman's accusations, save it." She didn't even look up.
"I'm here to make amends."
Damian walked to her desk. "Half of what Sienna has is real. The hotel records. But everything about you is fabricated."
He pulled a document from his briefcase and placed it on the table. It was a draft of testimony prepared by lawyers.
"Back then, I wasn't just a bastard. I was blind. I hurt you. I trampled on your trust. Every second I've lived since then has been filled with regret."
He looked at Evelyn, his eyes filled with a longing ground down to dust. "Now I want to do one thing right. I'll testify in court. I'll expose Sienna and reveal the truth about how Omni Group stole your designs."
Evelyn finally looked up. Those amber eyes held no gratitude, only scrutiny.
"Do you understand what that means, Damian? Omni Group will face massive lawsuits. Possibly bankruptcy. Your reputation will be destroyed."
"I owe you that." Damian smiled bitterly. "If it clears your name and protects you and Elias from that old lunatic Marcus, what's a little sacrifice?"
Evelyn was silent for a long moment.
"I'll accept your help because it's my fastest path to clearing my name."
Her voice remained cold, without a trace of warmth. "But this doesn't mean forgiveness. Damian, a broken mirror can be glued back together, but the cracks remain forever. There's no possibility for us. Ever. I just want to focus on the competition and give Elias a stable future. As for my origins, I'll investigate that myself."
The light in Damian's eyes flickered and died. He lowered his head to hide that flash of pain. "I know. I never expected to go back... I just want you to suffer less."
...
Three days later. Manhattan District Court.
What should have been a simple defamation hearing drew massive media attention because of the society scandal and the celebrity designer angle.
The courthouse entrance was mobbed.
Sienna Marlo appeared via video link from prison in her orange jumpsuit, wearing a victor's smile, certain Evelyn couldn't turn this around.
But when Damian Green took the witness stand, everything changed.
He didn't make a single excuse for himself. He simply spoke calmly into the microphone. "I am Damian Green. I hereby swear that every accusation Sienna Marlo made against Evelyn, also known as Sophia Bell, is fabricated."
The courtroom erupted. Camera flashes went wild.
Damian ignored his lawyer's frantic signals and continued. "Four years ago, I was the one who cheated during our marriage. I betrayed my family. Ms. Evelyn was never unfaithful. As for the so-called 'stolen trade secrets'..."
He paused, his gaze finding Evelyn at the back of the gallery.
"The truth is, every hit design Omni Group released over those three years was originally drafted by Evelyn. I exploited her trust, claimed her talent as my own, and put other people's names on her work. I am nothing but a thief."
The gavel pounded frantically as the judge tried to restore order, but the courtroom had already descended into chaos.
The livestream comments crashed. Omni Group's stock price plummeted in that single moment.
...
After the hearing, chaos spilled into the alley behind the courthouse.
Damian refused his bodyguards' escort and walked alone toward the parking garage.
He knew Marcus's men were nearby. They'd been watching him because of the diary. But the notebook he carried was actually a fake.
He had to play this part, draw Marcus's attention to himself.
"Mr. Green, I believe Mr. Marcus is very interested in what you're carrying."
Several men in black coats emerged from the shadows, wielding stun batons and folding knives, their eyes cold.
"Back off." Damian clutched the notebook to his chest, his back against the concrete wall, his expression resolute.
The leader gestured, and they rushed him.
Damian fought like a madman, shielding the fake diary with his body, letting fists and batons rain down on his back and head.
Blood blurred his vision. The crack of breaking ribs echoed through the alley.
"Don't... touch it!" Damian roared, biting down on one attacker's wrist so hard his teeth cracked, refusing to let go.
Just as a knife was about to plunge into his chest, several black Range Rovers screeched into the alley.
Vincent and Nova Group's elite security team jumped out and subdued the attackers instantly.
"Keep them alive. Take them back for questioning."
Vincent issued orders coldly, then hurried to the wall.
Damian lay crumpled in a pool of blood, still clutching the blood-soaked fake notebook, mumbling deliriously, "Evelyn... don't be scared..."