Chapter 517 Stealing Ideas
Chapter 517 Stealing Ideas
Noah and Max were interested in knowing the entire story. Therefore, Anne told them everything, making sure not to miss any details. The two men listened with rapt attention. Their anger intensified with every word she uttered.
Listening to her side of the story made them understand Kim better.
The man was in love with Anne. In the beginning, he had dealt with Kevin for money. Later, he ended up doing everything for Anne.
Kim was crazy about her. However, he couldn't win Anne's love. Therefore, he turned into an evil man.
Kim had made unforgivable mistakes in the past. But one couldn't help but admire his courage. He was an intense man who never shied to express love or hatred.
"I'm sure Kim must have been the one who had fired the gun. I also saw him on our terrace, but we lost track of him. I am afraid that he is hiding in the dark, waiting to attack us at any time."
Anne massaged her temples and sighed. "Kim is a crazy man. He would do anything to have what he wants. I also think he is responsible for what happened to Kevin."
Noah and Max nodded. They had to be more vigilant now.
"Kim is..." Noah shook his head in frustration. He tried finding the words to describe the vindictive man but couldn't.
"Kim is a reckless man. If he is still alive, he should have chosen a safe place to live, where no one can find him. First, he made the mistake of coming back. Now, he has gone a step ahead and caused trouble. He is digging his own grave!" Max growled, running his fingers through his hair.
The police risked their lives to ensure justice for all. They couldn't let evil prevail.
Anne nodded. Kim shouldn't have come back, but he was already here, wreaking havoc in their lives. What could they do now?
In the evening, Kevin returned home from the police station. Everyone gathered around him to find what had happened. "Kevin, how is everything going?" Selma asked worriedly.
"The police believe that Kim is still alive. They have tightened the security around the city." Kevin smiled reassuringly. "However, I don't have any evidence to prove that I'm not the one in the video, so it is a little tricky."
Anne dropped her gaze to the ground. She thought the same.
Selma snorted in disdain. "The police are responsible for finding the evidence. They can't give reasons to justify their inefficiency."
Max and Noah looked at each other. Selma's words irked them, but she was an elder. They had no choice but to hold back their anger.
Kevin was aware of his mother's temper. Therefore, he chose to remain silent. His biggest worry was dealing with Kim. The man was back in A City. He knew that the man would not let him get away so easily. There probably would be bigger problems waiting for him. Kevin had to think of a plan. He had to make sure Anne and the children were safe.
Finding Kim was the only solution to the problem. However, after showing up in front of them once, the man had disappeared without leaving a trace.
The days passed in a blur. It was the day of the runway fashion show conducted by the LF Group.
Many people had gathered to witness the prestigious event. Kevin instructed all the guards to take their positions across the building. Noah and Max were standing at the main entrance. They didn't leave a
chance for Kim to sneak in.
Although they had gone overboard, Kevin didn't think it mattered as long as his family was safe.
Kevin's eyes were fixed on the computer screen as he checked the footage of every surveillance video. He finally heaved a sigh of relief as everything seemed normal.
'What on earth does Kim want to do? Why hasn't he shown up yet?' he mused, massaging his temples.
If Kim wanted to hurt Kevin and Anne, the runway fashion show was the best opportunity to execute his plans.
However, the man hadn't come. Kevin had checked every surveillance footage but didn't see anything suspicious. He didn't think that Kim would miss such a great opportunity.
"Kim is a cunning man. No one can guess his moves. He probably knows what we are thinking. He isn't stupid to present himself before a live audience." Anne shook her head, smiling. "He won't show up today." She was wearing a white dress, looking like an angel.
Kevin smiled in return without saying anything. He had also thought the same. But if Kim was an unpredictable man, as Anne said, who would know his true intention? However, regardless of whether the man came or not, Kevin had taken the necessary precautions to protect his family.
"It's time. Let's go downstairs," Anne suggested, glancing at her clock. The show was about to begin.
Kevin nodded, rose to his feet, and straightened his suit. He was a tall, handsome man who looked better than most popular male actors in the film industry. He stretched his arms and smiled. Anne took the hint and stepped closer to him. Their eyes locked as they laughed happily.
Kevin and Anne were married for a long time and had three children. Although they weren't as passionate as they were during the early days of marriage, their love had blossomed into something
more beautiful. Their love for the children had knit them closer than ever.
They would never let go of each other's hand regardless of what happened. The problems in their life only brought them closer, making them realize how important they were to each other. © NôvelDrama.Org - All rights reserved.
Rose and Mark smiled as they saw Anne and Kevin walk hand in hand.
Emily wanted to be there too. But she was going to give birth to the baby soon. She had to stay at home and get ample rest.
Although Emily was disappointed, she knew that it wasn't appropriate to attend such events when the baby was due this month.
"We are greatly honored to have your gracious presence. I thank each and every one who has come today." As the CEO of the LF Group and the top designer in the city, Anne made the speech.
The audience listened to her without causing any commotion. Although the video had stirred many doubts and speculation, the public security department had confirmed that the man in the footage wasn't Kevin. However, it didn't matter whether the people believed it or not. Everyone knew that Kevin held an unshakable position in A City.
"All right, I won't waste your time anymore. You have come to watch the show, not listen to my boring speech. So without any further ado, let's start the show." The lights went off as the spotlight of the stage turned on.
The audience broke into thunderous applause. Anne walked down the stage with a contented smile.
Kevin was waiting for her with a glass of champagne. Anne smiled and took a sip of the drink; her stomach churned with uneasiness. She tugged onto Kevin's shirt and leaned closer to him. "I have a nasty feeling," Anne whispered.
The bodyguards had surrounded the building. Noah and Max were equipped with guns.
However, Anne couldn't shake off the eerie feeling residing in the pit of her stomach. She felt as if someone was watching her; she could sense danger. The poisonous aura made her weak. Anne felt as if she were in a dark room with the enemy preying on her, waiting for the right time to attack.
Only Kim's presence would make her tremble with fear.
"Has Kim managed to sneak in? Maybe he is here, hiding among the crowd?" Anne's face had turned pale.
Rose and her husband sensed her fear. "What's wrong?" she asked, holding Anne's arm.
Kevin knew Anne better than anyone else. He held Anne's hand before turning to look at Rose and Mark. "You stay here and make sure everything goes well."
Rose and Mark exchanged glances. They couldn't figure out what was going on. However, Kevin had instructed them to take care of the event, so they had to listen to him.
Kevin ascended the stairs with Anne, making sure not to leave her hand even for a moment. He could calm down only if she was by his side.
The two walked into the office. Kevin pulled a chair for Anne to sit before checking every surveillance footage. But there were no traces of Kim.
A frown lined Anne's forehead as she had a sense of foreboding. She knew that something was wrong but couldn't figure out what it was.
Anne's phone rang, breaking her reverie. Even the usually pleasant ringtone sounded eerie at this moment.
She breathed a sigh of relief after seeing the name on the screen. "Emily, what's wrong? Is everything all right?"
"Anne, has the show started?" Emily asked. The panic was evident in her voice.
"Yes. It has," ' answered Anne.
Emily sucked in a big breath before speaking. "Something happened!"
Anne's breath caught in her throat. "Well, I saw a runway fashion show on TV last night. It was a wonderful show. But their designs were very similar to yours.
I had asked Rose to send pictures. Their clothes are exactly the same as the ones you have designed."
Anne's body stiffened. She could barely hear Emily's voice as countless thoughts swarmed in her head.
How could this be possible?
She had designed the clothes by herself, paying attention to every detail. Anne and her designers had worked day and night to complete the designs. The outfits were a product of her imagination and creativity.
How could someone else steal her hard work?
"Well, they have launched their products ahead of us. People are already watching the show, so if we don't prove that this is our idea, people will blame us for copying them," Kevin said, studying Anne's expression.
The woman's face had reddened with rage. She took a deep breath to hold her temper.
"We worked day and night without eating and sleeping properly for the show. I can't watch our efforts go waste!"
Anne understood what her husband meant, but she couldn't accept defeat when they were the original creators. Her heart sank as she looked at the computer monitor. The dainty models were sashaying towards the audience with pride. The clothes emanated a majestic aura, symbolizing the fantasies of young women.
She had invested a lot of time in designing the dress she was wearing as well. It had taken two whole weeks for her to finish the outfit. White was the color theme of the event. It symbolized simplicity and indomitability.
So she would not easily give in.
"It is not my fault. This is our idea! Why should we change it?" Anne clenched her fists. "Anyway, we cannot stop the show now," she hissed through her teeth.
Kevin arched his brows and smiled. His wife's reaction didn't surprise him the least.
He knew Anne very well. She would never accept defeat without fighting back.
Kevin leaned closer and clasped her hand, intertwining their fingers. "Let's go down and watch the show!"
Anne nodded and followed him. Kevin's support gave her the confidence to deal with the problem.
The two had already witnessed the surprised looks on the reporters' faces while watching the surveillance video. Anne knew that they knew what had gone wrong and were waiting to hear her explanation.
As expected, Rose ran to her as soon as she stepped out of the elevator. "Anne, we have a huge problem. Our designs are just the same as the outfits the models had worn in yesterday's fashion show held by some other company," she panicked.
Anne nodded. "I know."
"What do we do now? Shall we stop the event right away?" Rose asked. The damages could be minimized if they stopped the show right away.
Although their ideas were original and they hadn't copied anyone's design, the situation was unfavorable for them. They didn't have any evidence to prove their statement.
"Calm down, Rose. We didn't make any mistakes, so there is no reason for us to panic and stop the show. Not only us but our designers, too, have devoted their time and energy to this fashion show. We both are designers, so we are more aware of what people want from us. The show will go on! We will not back off for any reason. Our reputation is more important than anything else. I will not let our hard work go waste!" Anne remarked, staring into Rose's eyes.