Return with My Kickass Triplets

Chapter 3 Publicly Exposing Plagiarism

As the host kicked off another round of bidding, Laura sat in the front row, but her mind was far from the glittering diamond on display.

Harrison was alive. Not only alive but back with a child in tow. And for what? To reclaim what Laura had fought tooth and nail to achieve?

No, she wouldn't let it happen.

Six years ago, she had driven the Weston family to ruin. If she did it once, she could do it again.

Her gaze flitted to the man sitting beside her. Spotting a faint lipstick mark on Simon's collar, her eyes narrowed. That shade—she'd just seen it on Laura.

Anxiety churned in her chest. Meanwhile, Laura seemed thoroughly amused, nonchalantly raising her paddle. To her, the numbers seemed as trivial as scribbles on paper.

"Madam," the host stammered, his forehead damp with sweat. "Bids exceeding 300,000 dollars must be honored. Failure to pay could lead to criminal charges. Are you certain about your bid for this diamond?"

"And why not?" Laura tilted her head, her lips curling into a slight smirk. Her eyes shimmered with playful disdain. "What do you think? I'm just here to give Mr. Morgan a hard time?"

The room fell silent. Every head turned toward Simon's stormy expression. It did feel like she was there to stir the pot.

Simon opened his mouth to raise the bid again, but Harrison, pale-faced, tugged at his sleeve. "Simon, I… I don't feel well."

He brushed her hand off, his irritation barely concealed.

The host repeated the amount twice, each word rattling like a warning. Simon hesitated, distracted by a sudden movement—a child. The boy's wide eyes locked with his, mischievous yet eerily familiar. The boy mouthed a phrase.

Before Simon could decipher it, the gavel came down.

Later, replaying the moment in his head, Simon realized the boy's lips had formed the words: "For your own good, don't bid."

The diamond sold for 3.2million dollars.

Laura lounged elegantly aboard the private jet, champagne in hand. Her polished demeanor had every onlooker captivated.

Whispers flitted through the cabin.

"Who is she? Which family does she belong to?"

"Never seen her before, but she's got the kind of money and class that screams old money."

She only smiled faintly. This was her stage, after all.

Back at the Azure Garden International Hotel, the auction program was reaching its c****x.

"In addition to the diamond, we have an exclusive unveiling," the host announced, his voice brimming with anticipation. "Morgan Group is debuting its newest gemstone necklace, followed by the signing of a groundbreaking partnership with the Nordis Group. Let's welcome Miss Harrison to showcase the masterpiece!"

"If you're feeling unwell, don't push yourself," Simon muttered tersely. "We can arrange someone else to present it."

Harrison clenched her fists, refusing to let this opportunity slip through her fingers. She adjusted the necklace backstage, ignoring the unease pooling in her stomach.

As the spotlight dimmed, she stepped onto the stage, her head held high. The necklace glittered like liquid starlight around her neck, drawing gasps of admiration.

"Stunning."

"Morgan Group never misses. Exquisite, elegant, timeless."

"It's breathtaking. Even Weston Group, in its heyday, couldn't top this."

Harrison soaked in the applause, her confidence swelling. Every compliment felt like a triumph, a reminder of the lies she'd fed about her connection to Simon.

However, Eliot, Laura's little boy, noticed his mom's subtle fury. As Harrison strutted past him, the boy innocently stuck out his foot, causing her to stumble.

Harrison crashed to the ground with a gasp. The delicate necklace snapped, the gemstones scattered on the floor. One landed at the feet of a striking figure in black heels—Laura.

Laura bent down gracefully, retrieving the broken necklace. Her fiery gaze fixed on Harrison, a smile laced with scorn tugging at her lips.

"This is Morgan Group's property," Harrison hissed, scrambling to her feet. "Are you trying to steal it in front of everyone?"

Laura twirled the necklace between her fingers as though it were a cheap trinket. Then, with deliberate indifference, she tossed it back at Harrison. "You've got some nerve flaunting plagiarized work. The name of this design is 'Muse's Tears,' isn't it?"

A ripple of confusion passed through the crowd, but Simon's face darkened. 'How did she know the design's name?’

Laura stepped closer, her voice as sharp as broken glass. "This design is credited to my late mother, but in reality, I sketched it when I was twelve. Let me guess—when you stole it, you didn't think I'd recognize it, did you? Too busy sucking up to men with stolen glory?"

"You're lying!" Harrison's voice cracked as she wiped nonexistent tears. "Sister, I know you hate me for what happened in the past, but is it worth ruining me in front of all these people? Your father ruined me once already. Can't you leave me a way out?"

The room erupted in murmurs.

"Wait… Is she saying Laura? From the Weston family?"

"The one who disappeared after the scandal six years ago?!"

Laura remained unfazed, her laugh cold and cutting. "You didn't leave me a way out six years ago. Actions have consequences, Harrison."

With that, she held up a laminated, notarized design sketch. "This design was patented ten years ago. Do I still need to explain who's lying?"

Simon's sharp gaze darted towards Harrison. Her silence spoke volumes. Without hesitation, he ripped the necklace from her hands and tossed it into the trash.

"Is that enough?"

"Not even close," Laura shot back, her tone calm but steely. "Plagiarism damages my reputation, and I intend to hold Morgan Group accountable. Compensation is due."

Turning to Eliot, she smiled. "Sweetheart, how much do you think Mommy should ask for?"

The boy beamed. "3.2 million dollars!"

Laura clapped her hands together. "Exactly what I was thinking." She pulled out a pre-prepared contract and filled in the amount.

Simon was both furious and impressed.

"So, this was your plan all along? To humiliate Morgan Group?"

Laura's grin widened as she pulled out a sleek badge and hung it around her neck.

"Perhaps you'd like to reconsider. As Mireland Group's Chief Designer, I'll be leading negotiations on our 300 million-dollar deal. Refuse me, and I'll make sure this partnership doesn't happen."

The stakes were clear.

Simon stared at her for a long moment, his lips curving into a slow, dangerous smile.

"Game on, Laura."