Chapter 332

The audience erupted in applause, but Shirley remained seated, her neck craned as she scanned the crowd, curious about who was really there. She still resented Miss Y. During the Pere design competition, Miss Y had unexpectedly accused Shirley of plagiarism, a humiliating experience.

Shirley thought, If not for Miss Y's interference, I might have won the grand prize at the Pillere Design Competition. My life wouldn't have taken this downturn. My downfall began with Miss Y. Therefore, Shirley had been avoiding Miss Y internationally. She didn't want to. Miss Y was too mysterious and influential; Shirley could only endure the situation.

She'd never imagined encountering Miss Y again, let alone at the same event. Shirley wanted to see this legendary genius in person. Amidst the thunderous applause, Cynthia rose and calmly made her way to the stage. Shirley thought, What is Cynthia doing?

A possibility struck Shirley: Is she? Doubt gnawed at her as she eyed the large venue. Everyone was surprised, murmurs rippling through the crowd. Whispers spread among the attendees.

"I hear she won the Golden Coronet Award at the Million Dirigent Awards. You might not recognize" The fragmented whispers continued.

"But is Miss Y?" Questions buzzed throughout the room.

A trending topic appeared on social media, hashtagged: #TheFakeHeiressCynthiaTurnsOutToBeJewelryMasterMissY. It instantly topped the trending list, crashing Twitter servers.

Shirley was dumbfounded. She couldn't believe it. Cynthia is the famous Miss Y? No way! That's absurd! Despite the heated online discussions, she refused to accept it. How could Cynthia, a fake heiress who stole my identity, be Miss Y? She should be in the slums, not on the world's stage receiving praise! She doesn't deserve it! The plagiarism incident, including Miss Y's lawsuit against Velorix, further fueled her disbelief. How is this possible? If she's Miss Y, she practically destroyed Velorix! Shirley suspected the truth but refused to acknowledge it.

Seeing Cynthia on stage was unbearable. Shirley rushed forward, shouting, "No way! She's an imposter! She can't be Miss Y!"

The uproar ensued. People mocked Shirley's rudeness, but the atmosphere stilled. Shirley continued to accuse Cynthia, while Whitney, who also disliked Shirley, secretly hoped this disruption would benefit her. Whitney knew Cynthia was Miss Y, and she sensed a formidable rival in the making—a rival she wouldn't let grow unchecked. Even if it meant using Shirley, she intended to eliminate this threat. However, Cynthia proved stronger than anticipated.

Shirley continued her tirade: "She's an imposter! Her greatest talent is impersonation! She pretended to be me to become a Jones heiress, and now she's pretending to be Miss Y. She's a liar! Don't believe her!"

Shirley's shrill cries and red eyes swayed some onlookers, who cast doubtful glances at Cynthia. Since no one had ever seen Miss Y, Shirley's accusations held weight; Cynthia couldn't instantly prove her identity. Whether Cynthia was truly Miss Y or not, Shirley aimed to discredit her, associating her face with deception.

Cynthia remained unfazed, calmly calling out to a man in the shadows, "Simon."