Chapter 1301:


    Rosanna’s nails dug into her palms. Her eyes darted around the stage in a frenzy. She desperately hoped for a miracle; she needed the tables to turn somehow.


    The very next moment, though, a figure crashed through the security barrier. Someone jumped onto the stage. It was Richie’s assistant.


    She was gasping for air, but her voice boomed out anyway. “Listen up, everyone! You’re all being deceived! Maia Watson actually founded our Annie Crystal!”


    Her phone was raised high. Its screen showed a social media post that Catherine Jones had just published. “Catherine Jones made an announcement moments ago. She’s the other Annie Crystal founder. She’s confirmed on social media that Maia is Anti.”


    Something inside Rosanna broke. The tiny spark of hope she’d been clinging to had just beenpletely extinguished. She stared nkly at Maia as if her soul had just been ripped away.


    Then came even more bombshell revtions. The full extent of Aurielle’s bribery and designer suppression was exposed before them.


    A sudden chorus of buzzing phones shattered the hall’s electric euphoria. The sound drew every gaze downward in unison.


    Identical alerts glowed on screens. “International Jewelry Design Association President Aurielle Margaret stands used of bribery and stifling emerging talent.”


    An anonymous sender had unleashed damning proof. The evidence included email chains, bank transfers, and ndestine meeting recordings. It rendered denial futile.


    Before shock could settle, a second wave vibrated through devices. The alert exposed the counterfeit Anti. “Impostor unmasked. Father: chronic alcoholic; Mother:plicit in fraud; Daughter: expelled for academic dishonesty.”


    Online fury detonated instantly.


    “Drunk dad, doormat mom, scam-artist kid. What a family disaster,” one post sneered.


    “Oscar-worthy performance. Who knew Annie Crystal’s ‘founder’ was a teen fraud?” another mocked.


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    “I fell for a seventeen-year-old con. Lock her up,” a third demanded.


    The venue erupted in chaos.


    Chris’s lips curved in faint satisfaction at the first st. ST’s hack into local cell towers had executed wlessly. Yet the follow-up notification twisted his triumph into unease. This wasn’t ST’s signature. Another yer lurked. Who, and why?


    Attention swiveled to Aurielle and Anti. Whispers hissed like venom. usatory stares pierced.


    Aurielle fumbled for her phone. Color drained as truth red back. She staggered. The microphone ttered to the stage with a hollow thud.


    “This isn’t real,” she stammered. Her voice fractured. Wild eyes locked on Maia. “You orchestrated this! I never harmed you. Why ruin me?”


    Maia embodied serene steel. “I am Maia Watson. I am also Anti, the true founder of Annie Crystal.”


    Richie seized the chaos. Credibility crumbled around Aurielle like fragile ss, and Richie’s fear of her influence evaporated. He nted his towering frame to block her advance. Hismand rang out—resonant and final. “Step back.”


    Aurielle red upward. Contempt zed. “Move!”


    A shrill scream sliced the tension from behind. “No!”


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