After Prison I Rushed into Marriage with a Comatose Tycoon-Chapter 141: Eliza Sutton, You’re Finished

’Calm down.’

’Calm down.’

’After all, it was a design from Eliza Sutton—the person she hated most.’

’Even if she did like it, she had to maintain her dignity as the young lady of the house.’

Pearl Lockwood forced the design from her thoughts. "Brenda, is something wrong? Why are you calling me so late?"

"Yes, it’s about the dress for your coming-of-age ceremony. I never thought Eliza Sutton would be so unscrupulous. Sigh, she’s really gone too far. Doesn’t she realize this could ruin your reputation if it gets out?"

Brenda Preston’s evasive words piqued Pearl Lockwood’s curiosity. "What on earth is going on?"

"Pearl, it’s not that I don’t want to tell you. It’s just that no one knows about this yet. If I’m the first to speak up, it’ll look like I’m trying to stir up trouble. But I’m also worried you’ll be humiliated..."

The more Brenda spoke like this, the more curious Pearl grew. "Brenda, just tell me! If you see me as a true friend, don’t keep secrets from me. If you do, then we can’t be friends anymore."

"Sigh, you’re too much for me." With a look of resignation, Brenda swiftly sent over Innis’s design. "Pearl, see for yourself."

Pearl Lockwood opened WeChat, and her expression instantly changed as she looked at the image Brenda had sent.

"Brenda, whose work is this?"

"Innis. It’s a piece he did four years ago. I stumbled upon it online. Pearl, try not to be angry. I’m sure Eliza Sutton didn’t do it on purpose."

Pearl Lockwood’s expression was terrifying. "Not on purpose? Then that means she did it intentionally! That woman is despicable! She not only wants to ruin me, but she also wants to drag the Lockwood Group’s reputation down with her! I won’t let her get away with this!"

Hearing Pearl Lockwood’s vicious words, Brenda Preston’s lips curled into a triumphant smile.

’Eliza Sutton, you’re finished.’

...

「The Lockwood Group, President’s Office」

Erik Irvine was giving a report when a commotion erupted outside the door.

"Miss Lockwood, President Lockwood is busy. You can’t go in."

"Who do you think you are? How dare you stand in my way? Move!"

Shane Lockwood frowned, his expression darkening with displeasure.

Erik Irvine immediately said, "I’ll go see what’s happening."

Just as Erik reached the office door, Pearl Lockwood burst in, with Brenda Preston and a group of the Lockwood Group’s senior executives in tow.

"Miss Lockwood..."

Pearl Lockwood shot Erik a sidelong glare. "Do you really think you can stop me? Get out of the way."

Pearl Lockwood shoved Erik aside and strode right up to Shane Lockwood.

Shane Lockwood scowled at her. "Pearl Lockwood, what is the meaning of this? Who gave you the nerve to barge into the President’s Office?"

Pearl Lockwood flinched but then defiantly jutted out her chin. "Fine, it was wrong of me to storm into the President’s Office. But is it right for you to protect a plagiarist? It’s a good thing Brenda noticed something was wrong with this design ahead of time. Otherwise, I would have shown up to my own coming-of-age ceremony wearing a piece from some plagiarist hack, and I’d have become a total laughingstock!"

As she spoke, Pearl Lockwood slapped two design sketches down on the desk.

Brenda Preston added, "Eliza Sutton has some real nerve. It’s one thing if she can’t produce a good design, but to resort to plagiarism, and from Innis of all people... This time, it’s not just her who’s finished; the Lockwood Group’s reputation will suffer too. It was so reckless of her."

Brenda sighed with a look of pity, but inwardly, she was blooming with joy.

’I thought I was going to be stuck working under that ex-convict Eliza Sutton forever. I never expected such a shocking turn of events.’

’She had the audacity to plagiarize Innis’s work. Once Innis takes legal action, Eliza Sutton will probably rot in prison for good this time.’

Shane Lockwood’s gaze swept over the two designs, and his brow furrowed slightly.

The two sketches were indeed very similar, not only in the elements used but also in their design concepts.

The difference was that Eliza Sutton’s design was more fashionable and bold. Its overall aesthetic was lighter and more ethereal, better suited for someone Pearl Lockwood’s age.

But that didn’t change the fact that Eliza Sutton’s design was derived from Innis’s.

To put it bluntly, she had plagiarized Innis’s design.

Seeing Shane Lockwood’s dark expression, Pearl immediately said, "Brother, you must see it too. You should be well aware of the consequences. If Innis files a lawsuit, not only will Eliza Sutton be sent back to prison for plagiarism, but our Lockwood Group’s reputation will also hit rock bottom, and our relationship with Innis will be completely ruined."

Shane Lockwood looked up. "I understand the situation. You may leave now."

Pearl stared in disbelief. "Eliza Sutton did something this despicable, and you’re not going to punish her? Brother, if that’s your decision, I won’t stand for it!"

Shane Lockwood’s expression turned cold. "Pearl Lockwood, are you trying to interfere with the company’s operations?"

"No, that’s not what I mean. I just think that if this isn’t handled properly, it will leave a bad taste in everyone’s mouth. Brother, you understand a simple principle like that better than I do."

"I said I am aware of the situation, and I will handle it."

"Fine. I’ll trust you this once. Brenda, let’s go."

Pearl Lockwood left with Brenda Preston.

Erik Irvine looked at the sketches on Shane Lockwood’s desk and couldn’t help but comment, "So Designer Sutton really did plagiarize. And she plagiarized Innis’s work, no less. Saul Reynolds is a mad dog; if word of this gets out, he’ll raise hell. President Lockwood, how do you plan to handle this?"

"What do you suggest?"

"The best solution is to have Designer Sutton resign and then issue a gag order internally. After all, the design hasn’t gone into production yet, so we can easily minimize the fallout."

Shane Lockwood’s brow furrowed deeply, his expression displeased. "What? The only solution you can come up with is to sacrifice one of our own?"

Erik muttered, "But it *is* the best way to handle it."

"What did you say?"

"I was just saying that my proposed solution is indeed terrible. We should wait for President Lockwood to suggest a proper course of action."

Shane Lockwood was silent for a moment before saying, "Hold off on sending out the notice for the Chief Designer appointment. Tell Eliza Sutton to submit a new design within three days. And tell her it has to be a design worthy of the Chief Designer title. Otherwise, not even I will be able to protect her!"

Hearing this, Erik Irvine stared at his boss in utter astonishment.

’It’s true,’ he thought. ’Just like Master Ellington said, the boss has really fallen for her.’

’He’s fallen right into Eliza Sutton’s hands.’

’And this was a man who was utterly uncompromising when it came to business.’

’The perfect example was Reina Miles.’

’She plagiarized Eliza Sutton’s work and was not only kicked out of the Lockwood Group but also blacklisted from the entire industry, her future completely ruined.’

’But now that it was Eliza Sutton’s turn, all he was doing was making her submit a new design.’

’Sure, he was demanding a design worthy of the Chief Designer title, which sounded like he was making things difficult for her, but anyone with half a brain could see he was actually protecting her.’

’I mean, he couldn’t even bring himself to take back her appointment as Chief Designer.’

Shane Lockwood frowned. "Are there any other questions?"

Erik Irvine shook his head vigorously. "None at all. I’ll get on it right away."