Chapter 363: Chapter 363

Moreover, Penson’s official statement said they would hold her accountable. The lawyer’s letter was already drafted, and she should wait for the court summons.

Many people commented under her Weibo, telling her to apologize to Paige Sterling.

No, why should she go out and apologize? She didn’t plagiarize Paige Sterling; she only drew inspiration, just inspiration.

Just like the current films and TV series, many have drawn from legendary folktales, like The Legend of the White Snake, Liang Zhu. How is that plagiarism?

Why does Paige Sterling accuse her of plagiarism because she was inspired? And even wants to sue her?

How could this woman be so vicious, wanting to ruin her?

There was also talk of a court summons.

She would never accept a court summons. She deluded herself into thinking that as long as she didn’t accept the court summons, she would be fine and that the court wouldn’t accept Paige Sterling’s unilateral lawsuit.

But that’s just self-comfort; she couldn’t just sit there and wait to be accused by Paige.

Paige Sterling originally envied her, and given this opportunity, she would definitely ruin her.

What should she do now?

Rose Payne suddenly thought of her mentor, Samuel Lee.

Yes, she still had her mentor, who was so famous. As long as he was willing to help her, she would definitely be able to get out of this; Paige Sterling wouldn’t be able to do anything to her.

She was confident that Paige Sterling admired her talent and wouldn’t stand by and do nothing.

So she called Samuel Lee.

The phone rang for a long time before Samuel Lee answered. She cried out, "Master, Master, you must help me!"

"Things are already , what do you want me to do to help you?"

Samuel Lee’s voice was cold, but Rose Payne didn’t notice anything wrong.

"Master, Paige Sterling said she wants to sue me and hold me accountable. I can’t let her sue me, Master, please help me..."

Samuel Lee asked, "So you admit that you plagiarized?"

Samuel Lee interrupted Rose Payne’s explanation, "Do you know what kind of person I hate the most?"

Rose Payne finally realized something was wrong with Samuel Lee’s tone and didn’t dare to speak.

Then she heard Samuel Lee say, "I hate people who have no knowledge but pretend to know everything. Rose Payne, you have truly disappointed me."

Rose opened her mouth, knowing that arguing was useless now. If Samuel Lee didn’t care about her anymore, she would be finished.

She could only adopt a posture of admitting her mistake.

"Master, I didn’t mean it, I just thought that painting was so beautiful, I wanted everyone to see it..."

Oh, so now everyone should thank you?

For the first time, I’ve seen someone describe plagiarism and stealing others’ work as refreshingly as you have.

Samuel Lee didn’t hear a bit of admission of guilt from Rose Payne’s words. Instead, she kept making excuses for her plagiarism, and in the end, she felt that Paige Sterling’s lawsuit was too much.

Samuel Lee chuckled coldly. He had valued the work too much and ignored the character assessment, leading him to impulsively take Rose Payne as his student, which ruined his later years.

Now, Rose Payne even expected him to step out and settle this matter for her?

Did she have a hole in her head, thinking others were as gullible?

Even he had apologized to Paige Sterling for the previous incident, so why did Rose Payne think she could do nothing and be forgiven?

He was thoroughly disappointed in Rose Payne and didn’t want to waste words on her, "Take care of yourself."

Then he hung up the phone.

When Rose called back, she couldn’t get through no matter what.

Samuel Lee publicly broke off relations with Rose Payne, and not only that, the person who bought Rose Payne’s painting also sued her.

So Rose received two court summonses and was taken away by the prosecution.

The situation had blown up so much that Rose Payne’s parents couldn’t possibly not know, and now, only they could save her.

So they went to find Paige Sterling.

The shame of their daughter’s actions weighed on them, but she was still their daughter. They couldn’t just let her go to jail.

"Miss Sterling, I apologize on behalf of my daughter, and we’re willing to compensate for your losses, but she is still a child and only made this mistake because she didn’t understand its seriousness. Now that she knows her mistake, please be lenient and forgive her this once."

Paige Sterling, "...?"

A child in her twenties?

"If she truly knew she was wrong, why didn’t she dare come herself?"

She made a mistake without a word of apology and sent her parents instead. This Rose Payne is truly a filial daughter of Veridia, enough to make her parents proud.

Rose Payne’s parents’ faces stiffened slightly, "She’s too ashamed to face Miss Sterling and doesn’t dare come."

"If she can’t even manage a basic face-to-face apology, why do you think I am magnanimous enough to forgive such a person?"

When benefiting, Rose Payne took all she could, and when trouble arose, she pushed others forward to apologize humbly. Everything was handed to others, as if she hadn’t done anything wrong.

Does she think everyone will indulge her?

Seeing that Paige Sterling was unmoved and unwilling to reconcile, Rose Payne’s parents were genuinely frightened.

They only had this one daughter. How could Paige Sterling be so cruel as to watch their only daughter’s support go to jail?

"Miss Sterling, you have everything, haven’t these little things not affected you too much? My daughter’s reputation is ruined now, and she’s been cyberbullied, which is already a price she’s paid. Why can’t you be more generous?"

Ha, when they said that, did they forget that Paige Sterling had also suffered online insults and reputational damage?

This is what Rose Payne deserves, and the price she should pay is far more than this for it to be fair.

These parents feel that their daughter’s self-spun disaster being reflected back at her is enough to settle it with Paige Sterling?

"Mr. and Mrs. Payne, what do you think would be considered magnanimous on my part?"

Mrs. Payne immediately said, "Can’t you not sue Rose? And publicly state to the media that you actually authorized Rose to use the painting? That way, the media won’t keep hounding Rose, and she can live a normal life..."

Paige Sterling, "..."

Mrs. Payne wiped her tears, "Our Rose is still so young, and as her mother, I really can’t bear to watch her future being destroyed and have her go to jail..."

Paige Sterling, looking indifferent, "Oh, and what does that have to do with me? I’m not her mother?"

Mrs. Payne’s face stiffened again, "Miss Sterling, to forgive when possible, why are you so hung up on this small matter, acting no better than those who engage in online violence?"

Paige Sterling, "Your daughter was also an instigator of online violence. During an avalanche, not a single snowflake feels responsible."

Mr. Payne pulled Mrs. Payne back. He seemed much more amiable, "Miss Sterling, what will it take for you to let my daughter go?" Follow current novels on 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩✶𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚✶𝕟𝕖𝕥

Paige Sterling relented a bit, "An out-of-court settlement isn’t out of the question. My financial losses and damage to reputation, let’s settle that."

Mrs. Payne immediately said, "How much do you want? As long as you agree to overlook this, we are willing to pay!"

Paige Sterling looked at her secretary, "Calculate the value of my reputation and Penson’s, oh, and the painting..."

The secretary clicked away on the calculator.

Mr. and Mrs. Payne watched the numbers exceed what the calculator could display. Their expressions turned extremely grim.

"Miss Sterling, how is this different from extortion?"

The secretary said, "Mrs. Payne, please watch your words. Do you know how much wealth our President Sterling generates for society an hour, how many talents she cultivates? Do you know how much tax Penson pays each month? The impact your daughter’s actions have on our President Sterling and Penson is immeasurable. We are willing to provide you with a precise number; what more do you want?"

Mr. and Mrs. Payne’s faces turned green. Based on Paige Sterling’s calculations, they might as well let Rose go to jail.

"Miss Sterling, you know we don’t have that kind of money, aren’t you doing this on purpose?"

"Oh? On purpose? Did I make your daughter steal my painting? Did I make her falsely accuse me? Did I force her to smear me?"

If you don’t have the money, how come you didn’t make sure your daughter didn’t recklessly provoke someone she couldn’t afford to?

Mr. and Mrs. Payne were speechless, calming down quickly.

Mr. Payne said, "Miss Sterling, you are someone who enjoys painting, you surely can..."

Paige Sterling rudely interrupted Mr. Payne’s carefully prepared plea, "No, I don’t like painting at all."

Paige Sterling, "Alright, you can talk to the judicial authorities. Maybe they’ll be moved by your deep parental love and bend the law to let your daughter go."

Mr. and Mrs. Payne, "..."