Chapter 328 - 315: Don’t Want to Let Go Yet (1)

At the very least, she needed to get a few things straight.

Two days later, Chloe Gardner came to pick up Hannah Gardner, saying they were leaving for another city. Their plane tickets were already booked.

’They were in such a hurry. Something must have happened.’

Georgia Thorne personally saw the mother and child off at the airport, reluctantly leaving after saying her goodbyes.

While waiting for a car at an intersection, she saw a familiar figure get into a vehicle.

She hurried over and peered through a gap in the window. Seeing the face of the man in the driver’s seat only strengthened her conviction.

’They really do know each other!’

「A few days later」

Georgia Thorne was still job hunting, but no company was willing to hire her.

One day, after spending the entire day job hunting, she dragged her exhausted body home just as a call came in from Erin Irving.

She glanced at the screen, pretended she hadn’t heard it, and shoved her phone under the pillow, burying her face in it.

The phone rang twice before she slowly answered. "President Irving, how can I help you?"

She put on a sweet, saccharine voice.

"Have you considered the proposal I made last time?"

"That depends on your sincerity, President Irving, doesn’t it?" Georgia Thorne sat up in bed. "Even if you open a studio for me, who would want to hire a designer with a plagiarist label?"

"You don’t need to worry about that. I have my ways."

"Is that so? Then how about you handle that matter first, President Irving? We can discuss our partnership after that."

"Is that a deal?"

"If you want me to work for you, you have to sweeten the pot first, don’t you?"

"You have a deal!"

Erin Irving was a man of his word. True to his promise, he quickly delivered on that incentive for Georgia Thorne.

Thanks to the plagiarism scandal involving Georgia Thorne, Yulia Upton had suddenly become the most celebrated designer in Portmire. She frequently attended fashion events and gave interviews to reporters.

Georgia Thorne stared thoughtfully at the man standing behind Yulia Upton. ’Back then, only one person was able to get that close to me.’

On the screen, a reporter suddenly asked Yulia Upton a question that went against the prevailing narrative. "Miss Upton, do you know a designer from Archetype Company by the name of Georgia Thorne?"

Yulia Upton listened as the man behind her translated, then gave an affirmative answer. "I do. Setting aside the fact that she plagiarized my work, I actually admire her very much. She’s a talented woman. If she hadn’t gone down this crooked path, I believe she would have had a much brighter future!"

Her words were so sanctimonious.

"Yulia Upton, everyone believes Georgia Thorne plagiarized your work, but a recent rumor claims that you were the one who stole Georgia Thorne’s design. Is there any truth to that?"

The question was a sudden bombshell. No one had expected a reporter to turn the tables and accuse Yulia Upton of being the plagiarist.

After all, everyone knew that Georgia Thorne’s designs were based on Yulia Upton’s work. Even though their styles differed, a single glance was supposedly enough to tell who was copying whom.

It was supposed to be an open-and-shut case!

The reporter held up a photo. "Miss Upton, as I understand it, the original image for the series you published in the magazine was this one. You also showed off the original manuscript, drawn on yellow kraft paper. This is a photo of that manuscript, correct?"

"I’m sorry, you’re holding it a bit too far away. I can’t see it clearly."

"Then let me bring it closer. Please, Miss Upton, take a good, clear look. And I invite my colleagues in the press to look closely as well. Is this or is this not the original manuscript for Yulia Upton’s work!"

Yulia Upton examined the photo in the reporter’s hand and stated confidently, "That is my work!"

"Are you certain?"

"Of course, I’m certain. I drew that design meticulously, stroke by stroke. How could I not be?" Yulia Upton replied confidently, then added for emphasis in deliberate Mandarin, "It is mine!"

"You’re mistaken," the reporter said with a triumphant smile. "This picture wasn’t clipped from the magazine. It was saved from Georgia Thorne’s social media page, and it still has the watermark at the bottom." The reporter had anticipated Yulia Upton’s response and was ready with a follow-up.

She moved her thumb, revealing the watermark to the other reporters. "If anyone doubts the authenticity of this photo, you can check Georgia Thorne’s social media page for yourselves. This picture was posted last March. Your work, Miss Upton, was published in the magazine in July. That’s a four-month gap. I’d like to ask, what exactly happened in that time?"

Everyone knew that Yulia Upton had shot to fame last year on the back of a cherry blossom-themed series published in a magazine, and she hadn’t produced any new work since.

And now, it seemed Georgia Thorne, the accused, was actually the victim. Yulia Upton had not only plagiarized Georgia’s work but had also pre-emptively accused her to cover her own tracks.

The smile on Yulia Upton’s face faltered, her expression turning sour. "I’m sorry, I don’t understand what you’re saying!"

It didn’t matter if Yulia Upton understood; what mattered was that the pack of reporters around her certainly did.

Reporters immediately pulled up Georgia Thorne’s social media page and scrolled through her photo album. Sure enough, they found a picture identical to one of the designs in Yulia Upton’s published collection.

"Yulia Upton, did you really steal Georgia Thorne’s design?"

"So, does this mean Georgia Thorne is innocent, and you’re the real plagiarist?"

"Miss Upton, please give us an answer! Why is your design identical to Georgia Thorne’s?"

"I’m sorry, this interview is over. We’ll talk again when we have time!" The man behind her stepped forward, shielding Yulia Upton and trying to escort her away.

Just as they had done during Georgia Thorne’s interview, the reporters were not about to let such a huge scoop get away. They swarmed forward, and the scene instantly descended into chaos.

Yulia Upton’s composure completely evaporated, replaced by panic. She kept muttering apologies in Japanese.

The plagiarism story, which had just started to die down, erupted once again with this new development.

This time, the "plagiarist" label was firmly attached to Yulia Upton, and the online debate raged on.

In a single afternoon, Georgia Thorne gained several thousand new social media followers. The same people who had been cursing her out were now sending messages of encouragement. Her direct messages were flooded, and traffic to her profile page exploded.

After Georgia Thorne finished watching the news, a call came from Erin Irving. "So, was that incentive sweet enough for you?"

"Thank you, President Irving," Georgia Thorne said, looking out the window. "So, what are your plans for the studio?"

Georgia Thorne chose the restaurant for her meeting with Erin Irving.

She chose Ethan Fletcher’s restaurant. Georgia Thorne had just settled into the private room when Erin Irving arrived.

"Miss Thorne, sorry to keep you waiting."

Georgia Thorne smiled. "Let’s order."

Erin Irving had brought his secretary along to facilitate their business discussion later.

After they ate, the secretary took a document out of a briefcase and placed it in front of her. "Miss Thorne, please look over the contract. If there are any clauses you’re unhappy with, we can renegotiate."

Georgia Thorne gave it a cursory glance before signing her name on the final page.

"Signing so quickly? You’re not going to have Byron Shaw look it over?" Erin Irving took the contract and added his own signature.

"You seem to know a lot about me, President Irving. You even know about my connection to Byron Shaw?"

"That’s because I’m very interested in you," Erin Irving said, making no effort to hide his intentions. "But I only know the surface you. If you were willing to let me get to know the real you, Miss Thorne..."

"Let’s stick to business, President Irving."

Georgia Thorne cut him off, her smile vanishing. Her lips pressed into a thin line as she bit out the last two words with emphasis.

Erin Irving raised an eyebrow. "Of course. I’m delighted we’re partners."

"Likewise."

After dinner, Erin Irving asked curiously, "You seemed to despise me before. Why the sudden change of heart? What made you decide to partner with me?"

"You did me a huge favor, President Irving. It’s only right that I repay you."

"I hope we’ll have a good partnership."

"Of course."

Erin Irving dropped Georgia Thorne off at her apartment building. Just as she got out of the car, they ran into Byron Shaw, who was returning home.

"Why are you with him?" Byron Shaw asked, his brow furrowed and his expression grim.

"We had some work matters to discuss."

"Attorney Shaw, long time no see!" Erin Irving got out of his car and greeted the man standing before Georgia Thorne.

Byron Shaw’s face was taut. "Hello."

"Attorney Shaw, we should have dinner sometime. Thanks again for your help with my lawsuit."

"Don’t mention it. Defending my clients is my duty," Byron Shaw said in a flat tone.

"Get some rest, Georgia. I’ll see you on Monday."

"Okay," Georgia Thorne replied. Byron added, "Drive safe, Mr. Irving."

Only after Erin Irving had driven away did the tension in Byron Shaw’s face finally ease.

He questioned Georgia Thorne like a scolding elder. "What’s going on between you and Erin Irving? How did you two get involved?"

"I’m starting work at his company this Monday. We were just discussing the partnership today."

"A partnership?"

"Yes. I couldn’t find a job, and Erin Irving offered to set up a studio for me. I think it’s a great idea, don’t you?"

"Opening your own studio is a great idea, but you don’t have to do it with him. You could have come to me, or even Elliot Sheridan!"

Georgia Thorne lowered her head, her gaze fixed on the tips of her shoes. "You know he has a child with another woman. Besides, with my memory gone, I don’t feel the same way about him as I used to. I don’t think there’s a future for us."

"Georgia, you..."

"Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing."

Georgia Thorne gave him a reassuring look before heading into her apartment.

Opening a studio was no simple task, but for someone like Erin Irving, it was child’s play.

In the wake of Yulia Upton’s disastrous interview, a cascade of problems came to light. She canceled nearly all of her engagements in the country. On the rare occasion she did attend an event, she refused all interviews and would make a hasty exit under the protection of her agent the moment it was over.