Chapter 156
Xavier Delmar’s brows knitted together in irritation.
Where had this audacious, unpolished young man come from, and how dare he challenge him so openly? Narrowing his eyes, Xavier leaned toward the security guard and hissed, “Why haven’t you removed this nuisance yet?” Before the guard could react, the media—guided by Isabella Sinclair’s unseen orchestration—surged past the barriers.
Cameras flashed, microphones thrust into Xavier’s face.
“He’s right, Mr. Delmar!” one reporter called out. “Prove your innocence! Sketch something right here, right now!”
“Exactly!” another chimed in. “Your fans came to see you draw live. Surely, you won’t refuse to silence these accusations?”
The crowd buzzed with anticipation, fans chanting in unison.
“Come on, Xavier! Show them what you’ve got!”
Gabriel Sterling, usually reserved and uncomfortable in the spotlight, felt his legs tremble as the energy of the crowd swelled. But he steeled himself and stepped forward.
“My mentor is the true creator of this comic. Xavier stole her discarded drafts and claimed them as his own. If you’re innocent, Xavier, then prove it.”
Artistry wasn’t just about raw talent—it was forged through relentless practice, something Xavier clearly lacked. Gabriel had noticed the absence of calluses on Xavier’s hands, the smoothness of fingers that had never endured the grind of creation. The injustice burned in his chest.
How could a fraud bask in stolen glory?
Isabella’s voice, calm and steady, whispered through his earpiece, guiding him forward.
“Mr. Blackwood,” Xavier snapped, flustered, glancing at Ethan Blackwood with barely concealed frustration as reporters closed in. “Care to explain why the media you invited—”
Ethan hadn’t anticipated this disaster. Moments ago, he and Sophia Kensington had silently agreed to take credit for the media presence, spinning it as a victory for the Blackwood Group. Now, it was unraveling spectacularly.
Forcing a confident smile, Ethan straightened. “Everyone, please—these accusations are baseless. I stand by Xavier as CEO of the Blackwood Group. The other side? Just lies from a woman desperate for attention.”
Seizing the moment, Sophia turned to Gabriel with a razor-sharp smile. “I know the mentor you’re talking about. She’s quite striking, isn’t she? Wasn’t she the one in that fitted blouse earlier?”
Gabriel’s stunned expression confirmed her hit.
“She’s divorced, isn’t she?” Sophia continued, feigning hesitation. “Recently tangled up with someone…” She blinked innocently, as if she’d said too much. “Young man, I understand if you admire her. But that’s no reason to slander Xavier.”
Gabriel’s face flushed with fury. “You’re twisting this! I’m standing up for the truth. My relationship with my teacher is strictly professional!”
Ethan, overhearing Sophia’s jab, clenched his jaw.
Isabella. Always Isabella.
How did she keep pulling men into her orbit? How was a woman like her—discarded, forgotten—still commanding such loyalty?
“Fine, Xavier,” Ethan muttered coldly. “Draw something. Shut them up.”
Xavier’s throat tightened. He stared at Ethan, wishing he could strangle him for his stupidity.
Sophia, sensing his panic, intervened smoothly. “Xavier doesn’t perform well under pressure. He thrives in solitude.”
Gabriel frowned, but Isabella’s voice steadied him. He repeated her words clearly: “Then tell us—what’s the theme of the thirtieth page of the comic?”
Xavier’s stomach dropped.
The thirtieth page…
He scrambled for an answer, but the details had long since slipped his mind. Distracted by the money, he’d never bothered to study the work he’d stolen.
“Romantic love,” he blurted.
Gabriel smirked. “Romantic love? That’s the title, but the scene is an homage to The Nature of Time. Love is just a metaphor. The real theme is friendship—symbolized by the topaz gemstone in the first panel.” His voice trembled with emotion. “If you were the real creator, how could you get that wrong?”
The crowd erupted in murmurs.
Xavier stood frozen, exposed.
Gabriel’s eyes burned with righteous fury. “Are you really going to insult everyone here by pretending you don’t know your own work?”
