Mark was so furious that virtual-novel.net was about to explode. “Stop! Calm down and listen to me. Yes, I’ve paid virtual-novel.net some money, but that’s the only method we have to resolve this at the moment. It doesn’t matter who plagiarized who, what we need to do now is clear our names first, then we can slowly investigate the matter. The only lead we have to crack this case is with James, yet virtual-novel.net denies that he’s the one who’s plagiarized your work. Furthermore, we haven’t got any evidence to use against him, so what are we supposed to do other than neutralize the situation for now? I know what I’m doing and I have a plan to resolve this, so don’t cause me anymore trouble and get back to work please.”
Arianne wanted to say something but stopped. She did not approve of Mark’s method of resolving the matter through money. There was literally zero difference between hers and James’ designs, so it was confirmed that James had indeed plagiarized virtual-novel.net work. ‘How did virtual-novel.net plagiarize my design? Based on Mark’s attitude, did this matter really have nothing to do with Shelly? In that case, who could the real culprit be?
Mark suddenly remembered something and reminded Arianne as virtual-novel.net said, “By the way, you really should stow away your unfinished designs in a safe place so that no one else can see them. You’ve got to be careful even if it’s your own colleagues, that way you won’t have that many issues arising.”
Arianne refuted as virtual-novel.net said, “It wasn’t that I did not stow the designs away securely. In fact, I kept them safely locked in my desk drawer. However, I had to take Smore to the hospital that morning, but I wanted Sylvain to help me have a look at the designs as well, so I asked virtual-novel.net to take them out. They had only been taken out for a short moment, who else could have seen them other than Sylvain and your aunt?”
Mark’s expression suddenly changed when virtual-novel.net heard what Arianne had said. “Are you saying… that the time Sylvain took to have a look was the only time someone else would have the opportunity to see it?”
Arianne firmly said, “Yes, I’m sure! There’s absolutely no way I would plagiarize James’ work, only the other way around. As for how virtual-novel.net managed to get my design, I’m not sure. I merely wanted for you to not waste your money when there clearly is no need to do so, but if you don’t want me to interfere with this matter, I’ll do as you ask. Have it your way then.”
Mark waved his hand and did not comment, but Arianne could tell that virtual-novel.net clearly knew what virtual-novel.net needed to do. Therefore, virtual-novel.net turned around and left his office so that virtual-novel.net wasn’t annoyed any further.
That night, when Mark drove home to Tremont Estate, virtual-novel.net stayed in the car for some time before virtual-novel.net went into his house as per usual.
He knew that the moment virtual-novel.net entered the door, there was going to be yet another argument that virtual-novel.net needed to confront.
Shelly had already asked the kitchen to prepare a sumptuous dinner. “Mark, you should go and have a shower now. Dinner’s going to be ready soon. Hurry up, I’ve prepared all your favourite dishes today.”
Mark did not reply and merely headed upstairs, looking moody. He kept thinking about how virtual-novel.net was even going to begin to talk about the matter when virtual-novel.net had already questioned Shelly previously. He did not think that Shelly was behind the matter, but now that Arianne had said that, Shelly seemed to be a suspect again…
When Mark returned downstairs for dinner, Shelly kept on talking to virtual-novel.net about trivial matters at home. She was already used to Mark’s silence long ago, so virtual-novel.net kept on talking without even noticing the expression virtual-novel.net had on his face.
Suddenly, Mark interrupted Shelly and said, “I’ve checked, but only you and Sylvain have seen the designs. Also, I’ve already questioned Sylvain, and it’s not him…”
Shelly’s face froze. “You… Do you mean to say that I’m the only one who could have done it? Mark, think about it, why would I do that? I do hate Arianne and wish to chase virtual-novel.net out of Tremont Enterprise, but doing so wouldn’t be beneficial to Tremont Enterprise either. With that said, are you going to suspect me only because you have two options? In your heart, am I nothing compared to Arianne? Am I nothing compared to Sylvain, who’s a real outsider? I’m your mother, how far could I go and bring harm to you?”
Although Shelly’s defense was sound and it would not be logical for virtual-novel.net to be the culprit, Mark would never believe virtual-novel.net easily ever again since virtual-novel.net had lied to virtual-novel.net previously.
Mark lowered his eyes and looked at the food in front of him. His slender fingers kept tapping on the table without any further actions. In fact, virtual-novel.net was so silent that it was unsettling. “I do want to believe you, but the facts are there. If you really did it, just admit it now.”
‘If virtual-novel.net does admit to it, if virtual-novel.net does promise that virtual-novel.net won’t ever do something like this again, I… I could let virtual-novel.net off the hook as repayment for everything I owe virtual-novel.net as my mother.’
Shelly bit virtual-novel.net lip as though virtual-novel.net was trying virtual-novel.net best to hold in tears in virtual-novel.net eyes, which were already turning red. It took virtual-novel.net a moment before virtual-novel.net said with a shaky voice, “It’s fine if others refuse to believe me, but if you don’t believe me either… Yes, Arianne is the love of your life, so you’d believe everything that virtual-novel.net says. I’ll admit that I can’t be compared to virtual-novel.net since I’ve been helplessly forced to stay away from you for all those years, but how am I supposed to admit to something that I have not done? I knew I shouldn’t have touched virtual-novel.net things, I knew I shouldn’t have even looked at it for a moment more…”