Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 657: Regaining his nerve, Vance quickly backed him up. "That's right! Ms. Byrd's collection went public first. All you have are some sketches you just whipped up - what do they even mean?" Despite his words, Vance felt a chill of uncertainty deep down. His years in the industry left him floored by the artistry Maia displayed. Whatever else she was - thief or not - Maia's designs revealed a mastery of the craft that couldn't be denied.

Alice initially scanned the sketches with icy indifference, but as her gaze caught the minute details and signature, the confidence on her face began to fade. Shock widened her eyes, disbelief washing over her features. Drawn as if by an invisible force, she reached out, lifting the drafts from the table with trembling hands, her eyes locked on every line and shade Maia had sketched. Her gaze roved across each intricate detail, and a breathless whisper escaped her lips.

"How is it possible for designs to be this extraordinary?" As her attention drifted to the bottom right corner of the page, her entire body seemed to freeze. Hidden in plain sight, a delicate signature nestled at the hem-a detail so subtle it would have been easy to miss. One word stood out now, clear as day-Salina. Utter disbelief filled her expression as she lifted her gaze to Maia, her voice quivering with uncertainty. "You're Salina?" A faint smile played on Maia's lips as she watched the realization dawn. "So you remember after all. Yes, I am Eileen-and Salina.

That was the name I signed to my earliest drafts." After a brief pause, Maia continued evenly, "Three years ago, someone picked up my discarded sketches, telling me a friend in the industry wanted to take a look. I'm guessing that friend was you. You took those designs and used them for inspiration, but you never dared submit the original version, did you? Instead, you displayed it at the Royal Academy, which is how Larkin got his so-called evidence. Later, the piece you adapted from my work won you the design award that year.

Isn't that right?" After another pause, Maia fixed Alice with a steady look. "So, between the two of us, who is the real plagiarist? Who should be offering an apology?" Her words rippled through the room, plunging the hall into stunned silence. Speechless, Alice stared at Maia, her disbelief slowly shifting into something almost like awe. Three years ago, Alice's creativity had hit rock bottom-every design attempt left her dissatisfied and restless.

It was during that creative drought that a friend presented her with a draft titled "Summer," a spark that soon ignited the acclaimed "Black Swan" series she would later unveil in Otruitho. gⱯlnσνℓs．c, a world of tales For years afterward, Alice hunted for any sign of the mysterious Salina, only to come up empty-handed. Curiously, Morse Rayne, the friend who had handed over the sketches, never revealed their true author. Now, the answer finally dawned on Alice: Salina's identity had remained hidden because, at the time, she had been behind bars.

Only two people had known the truth-Morse, who had passed away from illness the previous year, and Alice herself. If there was a third, it could only be the artist behind those remarkable drafts-Salina. . . .