The Cosmos News Center was completely full. As soon as word got out that Chloe was holding a press conference, reporters rushed in. Right behind them came fans and curious bystanders. Landon stood by the large window, looking down at the crowd of media below. He checked his watch again. Less than three minutes to go. "Mr. Voss, still no word from Bruce. Mr. Rosewood and Ms. Lewis aren't here yet," Darin said behind him. He sounded worried. Eugene couldn't be reached. Chloe wasn't picking up her phone. The conference was supposed to start now. The media was all set up. The live stream had been running for a while, and the number of viewers was closing in on one million. With this many people watching, if Chloe didn't show up, netizens who didn't know the truth would make a lot of unfounded guesses. They would take all the rumors as truth. A staff member opened the door. "It's time." Darin looked at Landon, his face tense. Everyone was watching—domestic investors and top executives. If they messed this up, Cosmos Group's reputation here could be ruined. LOVE just started independent operations. A scandal like this at the start would kill its chances. "Get ready. I'll release Chloe's original drafts myself," Landon said, turning to go. As the head of Cosmos Group, he was part of this problem. He couldn't let Chloe take all the blame. Down at the venue, half the cameras were aimed at the empty stage. The rest were focused on the other side of the story—Tranquil Vision's manager, Lonny, and their lead designer, Linda. They had come too. Linda stood in front of the cameras, cool and sharp. While Lonny played the victim and asked his supporters for help, Linda just stood there, looking sure of herself. She seemed ready to take down Cosmos Group and the Four Seasons collection right then. Every hard time she'd had before—today, she was here to get payback. Soon, Cosmos Group staff came out. Landon was with them. He walked up to the microphone and spoke calmly. "Next, I will respond to the online accusations about the Four Seasons collection." "Linda's designs came out first, and then suddenly they're Cosmos Group's Four Seasons collection. It's clear who copied whom. What is there to explain? Make the plagiarist come out and apologize! You said the designer, Chloe, would come in person. Time's up. So where is she?" Before Landon could go on, Lisa, standing next to Linda, shouted into the cameras. Her words hung in the air. Under the bright media lights, Landon stood alone. There was no sign of Chloe."Don't tell us she's hiding because she's guilty!" "Cosmos Group sets a time and the designer doesn't show? Are you making fools of us?" "Is this a trick? Let Chloe run? She's Mr. Voss's woman—just throw money at it and she gets off easy." People threw out sneers and accusations. The place was getting out of control. Cosmos Group security moved in, trying to hold the line. Linda watched with a smug smile. Chloe not coming was even better. Her own work was more complete. Chloe didn't have the guts to face her. Lonny caught Linda's eye, then yelled to the crowd, "Everyone, plagiarists hurt every real designer who works hard! What, you think money lets you control the story and treat us like idiots?" He stared right at Landon as he spoke, his voice full of challenge. His words set the crowd off. More and more people spoke up for the "original artist." A plagiarist shouldn't act proud. They wanted the real person behind it dragged out to apologize—publicly shamed. To them, Landon was Chloe's "protector." Him standing up for her now was asking for trouble. Chloe was a plagiarist, hiding behind powerful people. That kind of dirty game betrayed everyone who had supported Four Seasons and Cosmos Group. As the company's face here, Landon shielding her was wrong. He should step down and say sorry. They demanded Cosmos Group look into it and make things right. "We've waited long enough. You're just stringing us along! Did you even consider what'll happen next?" "Yeah. Over two million people are watching online. Cosmos Group is huge, but if you ignore the public, your stocks will drop when the market opens. Hope you go broke!"