Chapter 115
Manuel was stunned. He recalled Selina's seaside confession—that she was Angel. The current scandal stirred a maelstrom of emotions. If Selina hadn't clarified, it implied deception; if she had, her identity as Angel would be exposed. How should he feel?
Ashley, feigning concern, asked, "Daddy, Mommy, could Selina be in trouble?" Secretly, however, she contacted marketing accounts, pushing the plagiarism allegations onto trending searches across TikTok, Snapchat, and other apps, relentlessly fueling the controversy.
Quinton scoffed, "Having married into the Brady family with Trevon's support, what trouble could she possibly face? It's embarrassing. I suspected something was amiss. How could she have won the design competition? It was all plagiarism." Selina's disgrace extended beyond her, tarnishing the entire Harvey family's reputation.
Sara, equally disheartened, added, "The comparison images are too striking. Even without proven plagiarism, the stain will be indelible." She turned to Manuel, "What's your opinion? You understand plagiarism in jewelry design best."
Manuel shook his head. "Selina didn't plagiarize. Her style imitated Angel, but the design elements differ. Even if Angel pursued it, nothing substantial would result." Angel herself seemed unconcerned, only reacting to blatant copying or structural plagiarism. Imitation was unavoidable; he'd even started his career emulating Angel's style.
"Isn't imitation a form of copying? A leopard never changes its spots," Quinton blurted, his words causing Manuel's expression to darken slightly. Sara coughed, subtly tugging at his shirt. While Sara respected her children's career choices, she knew Manuel, who unlike his siblings, remained in Sokovis. His pursuit of jewelry design stemmed from Angel, influencing his style. Quinton's remark insulted both Selina and Manuel.
Quinton, regret evident, apologized, "I'm sorry, Manuel. I didn't mean that."
"Dad, it's alright. But Selina didn't plagiarize. Accusing her is unfair," Manuel declared. His statement sent a shockwave through the room.
Ashley felt alarm surge. Manuel was oblivious to the impact of his words, asking, "What's going on? Why are you all looking at me like that?"
Quinton, concerned for Manuel's feelings, explained, "Manuel, you no longer despise Selina? She betrayed the Harvey family, married Trevon, leaving us vulnerable with the Clarks, and even got you jailed!" He'd been cautious, mindful of Manuel's past hurts inflicted by Selina. The once-shining star had repeatedly stumbled because of her.
Manuel lowered his gaze. "These are separate matters, Dad. In my profession, I won't mix personal feelings with dishonesty."
Sara, relieved, said, "That's good. That's all that matters." She saw her son's moral compass remained true.
Ashley's thoughts raced. Manuel was defending Selina. Before the betrayal, he always sided with her, ensuring her favored status. Now, after Selina severed ties with the Harveys and harmed Manuel, he was defending her. What had transpired?
Seeking to maintain her favored position, Ashley said softly, "That's wonderful, Manuel. I worried about the altercation Selina caused with Mrs. Clark at the airport. Now, it seems I needn't worry."
"What did you say?" Manuel and Quinton asked, surprised.
Ashley, feigning confusion, replied, "Did I say something wrong?" Sara asked, "Ashley, how did you know about that?" Sara hadn't shared the information. Quinton assumed the injury was an accident.
Ashley explained, "Mom, I'm sorry. I let it slip. I thought everyone knew. Mrs. Clark told me." Her innocence was convincing. Sara facepalmed. Cora, despite warnings, had told Ashley.
Quinton, angered, asked, "Honey, did Selina hurt you? Tell me the truth."
Sara intervened, "It was an accident, not Selina's fault. Cora exaggerates. I met Selina at the airport picking up Cora." She tried to de-escalate the situation, but Quinton insisted, "Even if Cora exaggerates, Selina isn't blameless. If she defied her parents and sent Manuel to jail, what else is she capable of?"