\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 5\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
288 Vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 5\u00a0<\/p>\n
On the day of the Pennington Group launch event, my design was displayed prominently on the large screen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ophelia stood on the stage, calmly answering questions from reporters.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A sneer touched my lips as I watched her and Dominic.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The host asked, \u201cMs. Caldwell, this design is truly remarkable. Could you share the inspiration behind your creative concept?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ophelia, holding Dominic\u2019s arm, smiled graciously.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe inspiration comes from my love for Nick. I wanted to create a symbol of the warm home we are building together.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I had blended into the crowd of journalists, a baseball cap pulled low. I raised my hand.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMs. Caldwell, since this is your orig creation?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Purchase completed\u00a0<\/p>\n
cify the exact timeline of its\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere was the original design first conceived?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ophelia faltered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The question was basic yet pointedly specific.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Having no part in the actual creation, she could only offer a vague reply. \u201cApproximately six months ago, I created it in my study.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSix months ago?\u201d I allowed a slight smile.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYet the stylistic elements align more closely with trends from three years prior. Are you certain this is a recent piece?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ophelia\u2019s smile froze. She shot a panicked look at Dominic.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He narrowed his eyes, studying me with a flicker of recognition.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But with my sunglasses and mask, he dismissed it, assuming I was merely a difficult reporter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
0.00%\u00a0<\/p>\n
10:24\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 5\u00a0<\/p>\n
288 Vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe purpose\u00a0<\/p>\n
of today is the project launch. Let\u2019s keep questions relevant to the theme,\u201d Dominic stated coolly, taking the microphone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSecurity, please escort this troublemaker out.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Two security guards in dark suits immediately moved toward me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo need. I\u2019ll leave after I\u2019ve asked my questions.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I removed my sunglasses and mask.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dominic nearly dropped the microphone, his eyes widening in shock. \u201cMagnolia?!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ophelia paled visibly. \u201cYou\u2026 What are you doing here?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The reporters were momentarily puzzled, assuming I was a journalist planted by the family for the\u00a0<\/p>\n
event.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My open challenge caught them off guard.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I fixed my gaze on Ophelia, pressing forward with my questions. \u201cOphelia, if this is your design, explain the three primary gradients used in the tonal hierarchy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat was the reason behind orienting the master bedroom fifteen degrees west?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Beads of sweat formed on Ophelia\u2019s forehead. She couldn\u2019t utter a single word in response.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The journalists caught on. A wave of skeptical murmurs rippled through the crowd.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy isn\u2019t Ms. Caldwell answering?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe can\u2019t even answer the most basic questions. Did someone else do the work for her?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u0f0b\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIs there a possibility of plagiarism in the Pennington Group\u2019s flagship design?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ophelia panicked, but admitting to plagiarism was not an option.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In desperation, she pointed a trembling finger at me and raised her voice. \u201cDon\u2019t listen to her! She\u2019s not a reporter! She\u2019s the woman who seduced my husband!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The reporters were stunned by this dramatic turn.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seeing she had their attention, Ophelia cried out, \u201cThat woman is Magnolia Sherwood! My husband\u2019s company paid for her education.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt sorry for her and even found her a job.\u00a0<\/p>\n
42.25%\u00a0<\/p>\n
10:24\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 5\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd she repaid us by seducing him-right when we were focused on having a child\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s here today for revenge, asking these impossible questions just to humiliate m\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 8\u00a0<\/p>\n
1 2: Nouchers<\/p>\n
Joseph King is an editor and storyteller who ensures every chapter is clear, polished, and engaging for readers.<\/p>\n
Celebration Cut Short by Mark Twain 5 \u00a0 Chapter 5\u00a0 :\u00a0 288 Vouchers\u00a0 Chapter 5\u00a0 On the day of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[58],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23442","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-his-secret-vow-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23442","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23442"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23442\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23442"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23442"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23442"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}