Revenge is best served cold

As Elsa spoke, she pulled out her phone, seemingly ready to transfer money to Liliana.

Liliana stopped her with a quiet voice, saying, "I don't want your money anymore."

After hearing this, Elsa put her phone away. She frowned at Liliana. "Then what do you want?"

Liliana's gaze was firm. "I want you to admit to everyone that you plagiarized."

Elsa's face went pale in an instant. Without even thinking, she blurted out, "No way! I already paid you before. What more do you want? If it's not enough, I can give you more. But if you expect me to tell people that those designs were yours, forget it!"

Liliana let out a cold laugh. "So, you're admitting it, then? That all those award- winning designs were actually mine?"

Elsa lifted her chin, defiant. "So what if they were? I paid for them, didn't I? That makes them mine. What's wrong with me using what I bought?"

Watching her act so self-righteous, I turned to Jack, who stood to the side, his expression dark with anger. "So, this is the kind and upright little sister you've always talked about?"

The moment I finished speaking, I stepped out of the shadows, pulling Jack along with me.

I couldn't help but applaud. "Elsa, wow. I never would've guessed that you actually had to plagiarize just to win a competition at this level? Which makes me wonder..." I put on a look of exaggerated surprise. "All those designs you've done before... Don't tell me those were stolen too?"

Elsa hadn't expected me to show up with Jack, and the color drained completely from her face. She carefully inched toward him, her voice trembling as she tested the waters. "Jack..."

Seeing that Jack wasn't responding, she panicked and rushed to explain, saying, "Jack, I just had a moment of weakness. I didn't mean to do it. I just... I didn't want to disappoint Mom and Dad. I saw how stressed you all were lately, and I thought if I won, it might cheer you up."

I scoffed. "Oh, so this is how you make them happy? Your methods are truly ahead of their time."

Elsa glared at me, still trying to defend herself. "Jack, I paid for those pieces. I spent money on them."

I chuckled and corrected her, "Forced transactions don't count. Choose your words wisely."

"Enough!" Jack's voice erupted like a thunderclap.

His gaze dropped, shadowing his expression for a long moment, he said nothing. Then, when he finally looked up at me, his lips curled into a mocking smile. "So, this was your plan all along? You wanted me to see this for myself?"

I didn't respond. I simply held his gaze, silent and steady.

Elsa had coerced and manipulated. She had stolen, plagiarized, and deceived her

own family. And now, all of it was laid bare before Jack.

If he hadn't been blinded by her, everything that followed wouldn't have happened. He wouldn't have ended up in a coma, and our parents wouldn't have been heartbroken beyond repair.

I just wanted him to wake up and finally see the truth.

When I didn't answer, understanding flickered in Jack's eyes. He turned to Liliana,

pulled out a handkerchief and a pen, and handed them to her.

"Write down your bank account and your full name."

Liliana hesitated, instinctively glancing at me. I gave her a slow nod, and only thennoveldrama

did she lower her head and start writing.

Jack took the handkerchief back

and tucked it into his pocket. His voice was calm but firm. "By noon tomorrow, I'll transfer a hundred thousand dollars to your account. In return, I hope you'll keep quiet about this. This money should be enough for you to get back on your feet and start designing again."

As he spoke, relief slowly spread across Elsa's face.

But my brows furrowed. "Jack, what are you saying? Are you covering for her?"

He met my gaze, a flicker of hesitation crossing his eyes before he turned to Elsa with newfound determination.

"This is her first mistake," he said. "I think she deserves a chance."