Hailey Gordon’s face flushed red, choked with indignation.
’How could that little monster, Aurora Sinclair, be Master Flora Guthrie’s apprentice?’ she thought, unable to believe it.
Stella Sinclair was so shocked by his words that she staggered back half a step. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Zane Guthrie, her frail body swaying slightly. She muttered, "No... it can’t be... It can’t be her..."
Seeing her still stubbornly refusing to face reality, Zane Guthrie said in disappointnt, "Stella Sinclair has demonstrated a lack of integrity. Effective today, she is expelled from the Kingsford Calligraphy and Painting Association. All awards for her works are hereby revoked..."
"Master..."
"Take them out—"
***
The news of Stella Sinclair’s plagiarism and expulsion from the Kingsford Calligraphy and Painting Association spread across the country as if it had grown wings.
Stella Sinclair’s na shot to the top of the charts on the biggest entertainnt gossip platform.
[CONFIRD! Kingsford’s "Prodigy" Stella Sinclair Faked It! Two Stunning Works Are Plagiarized! Now Expelled from the Kingsford Calligraphy and Painting Association!]
Major entertainnt and marketing accounts all reposted the news, completely shattering the "prodigy" image Stella Sinclair had cultivated for years.
The young ladies from the Great Families, whose own fa had been overshadowed by Stella Sinclair over the years, personally joined the fray, their mockery and ridicule creating quite a stir.
The socialites and daughters of the Great Families in Kingsford’s high society all blacklisted Stella Sinclair. Even Hailey Gordon was blacklisted by the circle of wealthy wives.
This ti, the Sinclair Family beca a complete laughingstock among the Great Families of Kingsford, an even bigger fiasco than the incident with Aurora Sinclair’s art school entrance exam.
The Sinclair Group, the largest of the Sinclair family’s businesses, saw its stock plumt over the past two days—the fastest drop in its history.
This sparked dissatisfaction among the major and minor shareholders of the Sinclair family’s businesses. An ergency shareholder eting was convened overnight, with so shareholders who couldn’t attend in person joining online.
Linton Sinclair, who had not yet left for the overseas division, beca the target of everyone’s criticism, so thoroughly berated that he couldn’t even lift his head.
"Mr. Sinclair, Stella Sinclair must make a public apology, or the reputation our family has built over all these years will be ruined," a major shareholder with significant influence said bluntly, his face as dark as thunder.
Hailey Gordon’s face turned ashen. ’That major shareholder used to be one of Thomas Sinclair’s n,’ she thought, ’but now he’s completely sided with Janet Sinclair.’
She imdiately shot a look at one of her supporters, who reluctantly spoke up. "Isn’t that a bit of an overreaction? Stella didn’t plagiarize a stranger’s work; she copied Aurora’s paintings. At the end of the day, it’s a family matter. It didn’t affect any outsiders, so is a grand public apology really necessary?"
Janet Sinclair let out a soft laugh. "I’ve never seen soone make excuses so shalessly. You’ve got so real talent!"
The man’s face flushed, and he didn’t dare to talk back.
Frustrated by his weakness, Hailey Gordon looked at another supporter. That man imdiately said, "Even if it is a PR crisis, we’re all family. There’s no need to kick her while she’s down. Since Aurora is Master Flora Guthrie’s apprentice, we should just announce that publicly. I believe with that news, we won’t even need a PR crisis team."
As soon as he said this, those who supported Linton Sinclair’s faction all nodded in agreent.
Tanner Sinclair flew into a rage, slamming his hand on the table as he shot to his feet. "I disagree! If anyone from the Sinclair family dares to release that news, don’t bla for getting nasty!"
Hailey Gordon’s eyes reddened. Dabbing her eyes with a tissue, she said, "Tanner, Stella has locked herself in her room for a whole day. Are you trying to drive her to her death?"
"Exactly, Miss Sinclair is already suffering enough. There’s no need to be so ruthless, is there?"
"Fourth Master, you don’t have children. You can’t understand a parent’s heart..."
Just as Tanner Sinclair was about to explode with rage, Butler Sinclair suddenly shouted, "Everyone, be quiet! The Family Head has an important announcent!"
The arguing gradually died down, and everyone turned to look at Master Sinclair.
They saw him raise a hand and beckon to Janet Sinclair.
The corners of Janet Sinclair’s lips curved up as she stood and walked toward him.
Hailey Gordon’s heart tightened, and her fingers clenched into a tight fist.
Master Sinclair took Janet Sinclair’s hand and patted it. "I’m getting old, and I don’t want to manage the company’s affairs anymore. Starting today, I’m handing this burden over to my daughter. As for Stella’s matter, Janet will have full authority to decide..."
"I disagree—"
Hailey Gordon finally couldn’t hold back any longer. She shot to her feet, glaring furiously at the two of them.
But Master Sinclair just shot her a fierce look and said to the Sinclair family bodyguards nearby, "Who allowed an irrelevant person into the shareholder eting?"
Hailey Gordon’s face went pale, and her body began to tremble slightly.
Only those with Sinclair shares were permitted to attend the shareholder eting. As a daughter-in-law who had married into the family, Hailey Gordon held no shares herself. For years, she had attended as the proxy for Stella Sinclair’s shares.
Out of respect for Linton Sinclair, Master Sinclair had always turned a blind eye to her presence. This ti, however, he showed no rcy, humiliating her in front of everyone.
"Get her out—"
The Sinclair family bodyguards imdiately stepped forward, pulled back her chair without ceremony, and gestured for Hailey Gordon to leave.
"Father, I’m Stella’s proxy! Father, you can’t do this—"
After catching a look from Janet Sinclair, the bodyguards grew forceful. Each grabbed one of her arms and hauled her to her feet.
Hailey Gordon scread and struggled nonstop, completely devoid of the dignified image expected of the wife of the Sinclair family’s eldest son.
Master Sinclair didn’t even glance at her. He slowly stood up and, supported by Butler Sinclair, yielded his seat to Janet Sinclair.
At this, the spirits of Janet Sinclair’s faction soared. Soone even sneered loudly, "It’s about ti! Since when does an outsider call the shots at a Sinclair family eting?"
"Exactly. She doesn’t even own any shares. What right does she have to boss everyone around?"
Janet Sinclair swept a cold gaze over Linton Sinclair’s supporters and stated bluntly, "Since Master Sinclair has placed his trust in , I will be the one to handle this matter. What Stella Sinclair did has had a huge impact. She has offended not only Master Flora Guthrie but also the entire Calligraphy Association. Therefore, I’ve decided to call a press conference imdiately and have Stella Sinclair apologize publicly to salvage our public image!"
***
anwhile, Stella Sinclair rushed into the art studio with a pair of scissors and shredded the paintings by Aurora Sinclair that were hidden in the secret compartnt.
This terrified Sue Quinn, who scrambled to stop her. Master Sinclair was asking for those very paintings!
"Miss Stella, stop cutting! Master Sinclair wants those paintings!"
"Get away from ! Let go—"
Stella Sinclair, acting like a madwoman, kept struggling against Sue Quinn’s grip. Suddenly, she swung the scissors backhanded with all her might.
Sue Quinn shrieked, "AHHH—my face—"
The sharp point of the scissors slashed across Sue Quinn’s cheek, and a bright red gash began to bleed.
Horrified, Stella Sinclair stumbled backward, the blood-stained scissors still in her hand. "I... I didn’t an to..."
Sue Quinn clutched her face and scread repeatedly, the blood covering her face a terrifying sight.
The maids rushed in at the sound of the commotion, only to see their mistress holding a pair of bloody scissors while Sue Quinn, her clothes and hands covered in blood, scread in pain, clutching her face.
"AHH—This is bad! Miss Stella is trying to kill soone—"
"I didn’t..."
But the maids were in a complete panic. Soone called an ambulance, soone else went to notify Linton Sinclair and Hailey Gordon, and another went straight to inform Master Sinclair.
The Sinclairs, who were in the middle of their eting, were forced to adjourn because of the incident.
Master Sinclair was so furious that he slapped Linton Sinclair across the face in front of everyone. "Look at the fine daughter you’ve raised—"
The Sinclair shareholders’ opinion of Stella Sinclair plumted. Even so of the people in Linton Sinclair’s faction began to have a change of heart.
Although she was taken to the hospital promptly, Sue Quinn was still left with a permanent scar on her face, both grueso and terrifying.
The doctor told Hailey Gordon that to completely remove the scar, her only option was to buy the new cell-regenerating beauty serum developed by the Warner Family. However, a single vial cost 500,000, and it wasn’t sothing you could get even if you had the money.
Hailey Gordon hesitated.
Sue Quinn, who knew her mistress’s character well, imdiately began to wail, "Madam, my face was ruined by Miss Stella! How am I supposed to face anyone ever again—"
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