When their eyes met, Claire felt an unexpected sense of calm settle over her.
The room, which had been buzzing with accusations moments ago, quieted slightly under the imposing presence of Richard. His arrival was enough to subdue the restless crowd.
Claire's anger was evident as she shot a sharp look at Ruby, whose tear-filled eyes made her appear pitiful as she tried to move closer to Richard. Determined, Claire's tone grew even firmer.
"Claims of plagiarism are absolutely baseless," she declared, her voice strong and unwavering. "I have no idea how the original artwork I poured my heart into creating suddenly became Ruby's. Even more puzzling is how the account where I've consistently uploaded my work somehow appears on her phone now."
Ruby had orchestrated quite the spectacle. Yet,
