NovelEnglishChapter 180: Confronted with Lorna's question, Virgil replied, "Mrs. Lorna Daniels, with all due respect, your invoice is a fraud." "How could it possibly be a fraud?” Lorna snapped, brandishing the document. "It clearly states it's from the Sarth Group!" Neil took the invoice from her, scrutinizing every detail before confirming, "This is indeed fake." He then turned to Virgil, his eyes narrowing. “Mr. Hanson, your company is renowned worldwide. How can you justify deceiving customers like this? Are you prepared to defend this in court?" Lorna chimed in, her voice laced with accusation, "The Sarth Group took thirty million dollars from us, yet you've delivered a fake dress along with a bogus invoice. How can you justify such deceit?" Neil glanced at Connor, frustration evident. "Connor, our family is being wronged. Won't you stand up for us?" Virgil exhaled, a weary gesture. “I understand your frustration at feeling duped, but let's approach this calmly and think it through. The Sarth Group is valued at over ten billion dollars and caters to an elite clientele without any financial instability. It makes no sense for us to tarnish our reputation over thirty million dollars." He gestured towards the dress draped on Melinda, his tone turning instructive. "Anyone with a keen eye for design would immediately spot the discrepancies-the misaligned logo, the unfitting rabbit, the coarse stitching. None of these errors would pass muster at Sara's hands.” Then, fixing his gaze back on Neil and Lorna, he continued, "If you indeed paid Sarth Group thirty million for the Purple Angel dress, there should be a transaction record. Would you mind presenting that?" Neil's eyes flicked to Lorna instantly. "You handled the purchase, Lorna. Show him the proof." Lorna wrestled with a sense of guilt. Recently, their family had earned a significant sum by streaming merchandise sales online. Eager to impress Aelfric, they decided to invest thirty million in the Purple Angel dress designed by Sara, hoping it would dazzle their social circle. Neil had suggested she handle the purchase, but thinking it was a good opportunity for Derek to gain sexperience, she delegated the task to him. Now, she suspected that Derek might have pocketed the money However, exposing Derek was not an option for Lorna. She knew Neil's capacity for cruelty-he didn't even hesitate to kill his own kin. Fearing Derek might face dire consequences, she chose to protect him So, she crafted a lie. "Neil, to secure the Purple Angel quickly, I engaged a broker and paid in cash. Sadly, there's no record of the transaction. I'm beginning to think the broker fooled me." "Fooled!?" Neil's anger was palpable. He clenched his jaw, furious enough to pin Lorna to the floor and reprimand her severely. Thirty million dollars squandered on a counterfeit-such a humiliation. Just then, Derek arrived Seizing the moment, Lorna quickly pulled him aside and murmured, "Son, don't let your father find out about the embezzlement. He won't forgive you." Derek felt a cold sweat on his back, gripped by fear. The truth, he realized, had cout far sooner than he anticipated. Just two days earlier, Melinda had uploaded photos of her dress online, igniting Derek's fear that his deception might be discovered. Nothing had occurred immediately, and Derek had slowly begun to relax. Yet, unexpectedly, the issue surfaced during the engagement party
Luckily, Lorna was helping him cover it up. After scontemplation, Derek approached Neil and explained, "Dad, Mom's been overwhelmed with the party preparations. She got fooled by a crooked broker. But it's only thirty million. Just let it slide. I'll earn it back soon."
Earning thirty million wasn't a daunting task for a top intecelebrity like him. Neil convinced of Neil Derek's ability to amass wealth, decided not to delve further. He turned his attention to Melinda and said, "Melinda, Lorna's oversight has caused you distress."
Melinda, realizing she was wearing a fake dress, couldn't hold back her tears. Yet, she stubbornly believed that if her dress was a fake, then w Marissa's must be as well. Pointing at Marissa, she questioned Virgil, "Her dress is a fake too, right?"
Visit our social media platform to read fascinating stories every day and connect with the community!
