Chapter 320
Another said, “If I were you, I’d keep my head down every time I saw anyone from the art world. How do you have the nerve to walk around here in a dress like you own the place?”
Emily honestly couldn’t be bothered with these people.
In her eyes, they were just like those Bennett Family hangers-on-whenever it came to Lydia, their brains went out the window and they turned into her puppets, doing whatever she wanted without a second thought.
But Emily knew that if she didn’t say something, there was no way these people would let her go.
So she said, “I came in through the main entrance, fair and square. If you want to know how I got in, just go ask the security at the door. If it turns out I snuck in, feel free to have them throw me out.”
She said it so straightforwardly, not a hint of guilt on her face, that even the crowd who’d been dead certain she was crashing the party started to hesitate.
That was when Lydia stepped in. She put on her sweetest, most innocent face as she looked at Emily and said, “Don’t be upset, Emily. Everyone just really hates copycats, that’s all. They’re not trying to single you out on purpose.”
Emily gave Lydia a half-smile and sneered, “Copycats really are disgusting. Whoever’s done something that shady is bound to get hit with karma sooner or later, wouldn’t you agree, Lydia?”
Lydia caught Emily’s meaning, but she couldn’t care less. She thought, ‘As far as everyone is concerned, that peacock painting is mine. Who cares if Emily knows the truth? Back then, she made a fuss about it, but no one bought what she said.’
With that thought, Lydia lifted her chin proudly and said, “Emily, I’ve already forgiven you for that plagiarism incident from back then. You really don’t have to go around cursing yourself just to make everyone believe you.
“If this were any other occasion, since we’re sisters, maybe I’d ask the organizers to let you stay. But this is Amy’s birthday
party.
“Amy is the person I respect most, and I really can’t just stand by and watch you make a scene at her birthday celebration.”
Seeing how kind Lydia was being, the people around her immediately jumped in to defend her.
One said, “Lydia, you’re just too soft-hearted. That’s why people always walk all over you. If I were you, I’d make sure everyone knew what a fraud this copycat is and ruin her for good.”
Another chimed in, “Exactly. She’s already been nailed to the wall as a plagiarist, and she still has the guts to show up here at Amy’s birthday party? Seriously, some people have no shame.”
Lydia was feeling smug inside, but on the outside, she put on her most understanding look as she walked over to Emily.
She said, “Emily, maybe you should leave first? I swear, your secret’s safe with me. I won’t let Amy find out you snuck in.
As she spoke, she reached out to take Emily’s hand, but Emily dodged her, staying on alert.
Because of all the drama, more and more people were starting to notice and were drifting over to see what was happening.
Emily didn’t want things to blow up-she was worried about causing trouble for Amy on her birthday, and she didn’t want anything to jeopardize her plan to quietly get Lydia’s DNA today.
After thinking it over, Emily took the invitation out of her purse and said, “Want to know if I snuck in? See for yourselves— here’s my invitation.”
Lydia wasn’t surprised at all when Emily pulled out her invitation—she knew Emily would never do something as shady as
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sneaking into someone else’s birthday party.
But all the invitations looked exactly the same, with nothing to set them apart. Even if Emily had a legit one, Lydia could easily just say she stole it anyway. Framing Emily like this? Lydia had done it plenty of times before.
Lydia was beaming as she opened the invitation, but the moment she saw what was inside, her entire smile froze on her
face.
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