CEO's Regret After I Divorced-Chapter 366 Checkmate

Serena’s POV

I glanced up from the footage playing on my phone, satisfied as the plan unfolded perfectly. Handing the device to Sally, I couldn’t help but smile.

"I was right. Sophie would come back for these sketches," I said, watching Claire’s betrayal play out in crystal clear resolution.

Sally clicked her tongue, shaking her head in disgust. "This Claire is really a backstabber. No wonder Vivi wanted to slap her that day."

My expression hardened as I thought about the bigger picture. "Now we just wait for ART to release similar sketches, then our legal team can sue them for plagiarism immediately." I crossed my arms, my voice dropping lower. "And we can’t let the previous leak go unpunished either."

With a dismissive gesture, I tossed aside the sketches I’d just taken from Claire’s desk. They were never meant for production anyway—just bait for our trap.

"She did work diligently," I admitted, "but disloyalty can’t be tolerated. Elegant Realm can’t keep someone like this."

Sally nodded in agreement. "Let’s proceed as you suggested—wait for Sophie to make her move, then counter."

"Good," I replied, already moving on mentally. "How are our actual sketches coming along?"

"Don’t worry," Sally assured me with confidence. "They’re nearly complete. Your three most capable designers are on it—how could they not deliver?"

I felt a wave of relief wash over me. "We can start preparing the pieces, then."

After discussing further arrangements, I returned to my office alone, settling into my chair with a sense of calm anticipation. Though my office had no official surveillance system, I’d installed hidden cameras connected directly to my phone throughout the space. Of course the room with the most confidential files would have security measures—I wasn’t born yesterday.

A few days later, when ART released their new collection, I couldn’t help the satisfied smile that spread across my face. The fish had taken the bait, hook and all.

"We can file the lawsuit now," I instructed coldly.

My assistant immediately contacted our lawyers, and within thirty minutes, news of Elegant Realm suing ART Design Company for plagiarism was trending everywhere.

Author’s POV

When Sophie saw the news, she was absolutely livid. "What’s going on? Serena already had these designs certified? These aren’t her Fashion Week pieces!"

Only then would she realize she’d been played. Serena had deliberately given those sketches to Claire for refinement, ensuring the information would find its way directly to Sophie.

"Mrs. Anderson, I’ve contacted lawyers about the lawsuit. Don’t worry, only one sketch is involved in the plagiarism claim. For the previous batch, there’s no evidence."

Sophie would have slammed her fist on the desk. "You understand nothing! You don’t know this bitch—she definitely has another card to play!"

And right she was. Serena soon released the security footage from her office on her personal account, where Claire’s voice came through crystal clear. Anyone watching immediately understood that Claire was Elegant Realm’s mole, stealing designs for ART.

This revelation put both ART and Claire in the eye of the storm.

When Claire saw the news, her world must have crumbled. Her colleagues’ glances turned to disgust and contempt. Nobody likes a backstabber, especially not at Elegant Realm.

Vivi returned to the studio with her bag in hand. She marched straight to Claire’s desk and yanked her up from her seat.

"The evidence is clear now. What else can you possibly deny?" Vivi spat out. "I never imagined you’d be this malicious, even pushing all the blame onto me!"

Before anyone could react, Vivi’s hand connected with Claire’s cheek in a resounding slap. The sharp sound froze everyone in place.

Claire’s cheek reddened instantly, but she didn’t dare fight back.

"You ungrateful snake," Vivi continued. "After this, who would ever hire someone like you?"

"If you have any sense left, go resign right now!"

Claire bit her lip, finally looking up to glare at Vivi. "And you’re so much better? You dump all your work on others and bully newcomers! If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have done this!"

"You’re my assistant! I gave you those tasks to train you!" Vivi was fuming. "Ask any designer here—didn’t they all start as assistants? If everyone thought like you, we’d all be ungrateful traitors!"

"Claire, you’re such a disappointment. That sketch project? I went out on a limb to include you new employees!"

"Otherwise, did you really think you’d be qualified to participate?"

The truth hit Claire like a slap, leaving her stunned. "What?"

Vivi snorted. "Someone like you is destined to remain an assistant forever! Anyway, I’m done wasting my breath. Go handle your resignation and try to keep some dignity."

She sat down at her workstation, dismissing Claire completely.

Claire stood frozen, Vivi’s words cutting deep. The realization of her own foolishness washed over her, though she clung to her last hope—ART would still take her.

With a cold huff, she grabbed her things and stormed out without even filing resignation paperwork.

Once outside Elegant Realm, she immediately called Sophie. There was no need for secrecy anymore—everyone knew she was the traitor.

"Mrs. Anderson, I did everything you asked regarding those sketches. I’ve quit now. When can I start at ART?" Her voice betrayed her desperation, the bitterness finally surfacing.

But the voice on the other end wasn’t as welcoming as before. Instead, it was ice-cold.

"Claire, did you and Serena Lancaster team up to trick me?"

Claire frowned, immediately getting defensive. "Mrs. Anderson, how can you say that? Why would I ever work with Mrs. Lancaster?"

"If she knew I stole those sketches, do you think she’d let me off so easily?"

Sophie let out a cold laugh. "Exactly. She wouldn’t let it go. So she must have bought you off, giving you pre-certified designs to pass to me."

"That way, I’d fall right into her trap, correct?"

Claire panicked, denying everything frantically. "Mrs. Anderson, you’ve got it all wrong! I have no idea when Mrs. Lancaster figured things out. These sketches were genuinely given to me by her for refinement!"

"What’s happening now was never part of my plan! I’ve only been following your instructions!" 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Sophie was grinding her teeth, finally understanding that Serena had played them both. This Claire was truly useless—causing more harm than good.

After a long silence that made Claire’s heart pound with fear, she finally asked, "Mrs. Anderson, you promised I’d be a department manager at ART."

"You won’t go back on your word, right?"

Sophie snorted. "Of course not. Once this blows over and we win the lawsuit, you can start."

"And if... you don’t win?"

With Serena having pre-certified those designs before ART released them, the plagiarism accusations were practically confirmed.

Claire didn’t get a clear answer—Sophie simply hung up.

Only then did Claire truly understand that she should never have made a deal with the devil. After what she’d done, if ART abandoned her, her career was finished.