Chapter 1291:


    By now, Richie was close to settling on his own conclusion—the woman standing before him truly seemed to be the founder of Annie Crystal.


    “Yes. I’ll admit it. I’ve never met Anti before—not even once,” Richie said, his deep voice carrying through the hall.


    A wave ofmotion swept across the audience once again.


    Kiley fought back a grin, her gazending on Maia with a trace of sympathy that barely hid her amusement.


    Was that really all Maia was capable of? Had her strength and intellect, once seen as unmatched, amounted to nothing more than this? Or perhaps she had never imagined that the web of lies she spun so carefully would one day unravel before everyone?


    For years, the world saw Maia through a grand illusion. She wore every title with poise—aposer, a fashion designer, a painter, a prodigy, a heroine, and the woman admired by the elusive Mr. M.


    But the mask was never meant tost. Kiley had never trusted such perfection. The first time she heard about Maia’s long list of talents, she already suspected that everything about her was staged. In her eyes, Maia was nothing more than a puppet performing for unseen masters. Those same masters, Kiley believed, had their eyes set on something far greater—the entire Cooper Group.


    It was time, she decided, for the truth toe out—Maia was not a genius or an icon, but a mere pawn moved by powerful hands from the shadows.


    “I didn’t expect that you were aware of that,” Maia said, her calm gaze shing with cold resolve. “Then you must also be aware that Richie and I have only evermunicated through emails.”


    Her tone hardened as she continued. “If that’s true, you should be able to name both of our addresses—the real one belonging to Richie and the other to Anti.”


    The hall erupted once more the moment her words left her lips.


    “Unbelievable! Is Maia really still pretending?”


    “Right? How could the real Anti be clueless about something like that? This has to be a bad joke!”


    “I’ve got to hand it to her, though. She’s holding herself together like a pro, even with everyone watching.”


    Even Richie’s patience began to thin, though he held himself back from saying anything.


    Being the CEO of Annie Crystal required more than sharp intelligence and influence. It also demanded restraint.


    Meanwhile, Anti’s pulse pounded in her ears as her breathing grew uneven. The calm expression she had practiced for years was starting to crack—no seventeen-year-old could hold it for long.


    Over and over, she tried to calm down. She had to keep herselfposed.


    “You’re Anti,” she said to herself fiercely. “Don’t lose control. No one’s ever exposed you before, and they won’t start today.”


    Anti clenched her teeth as she repeated those words in her head, forcing herself to believe them.


    The hall fell silent at once, as though the entire audience had stopped breathing.


    A heartbeatter, the livestream exploded across the screen.


    “Oh wow—Anti’s presence is insane.”


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