After Divorce I Married a Tycoon-Chapter 183: Are You Threatening Me?

Claire Mercer saw Benny’s resolute posture, his unwavering certainty that she was a plagiarist...

A deeply sarcastic sneer tugged at the corner of her lips.

As an original designer.

A famous, high-profile designer with a respectable standing in the industry.

’He’d actually conspire with a scoundrel like Joel Jennings to frame and slander me?’

’Just as he’d asked moments ago, why would he slander me?’

’What possible reason could he have to slander me?’

’Since the competition began, I’ve never gone out of my way to make enemies.’

’Aside from Scarlett Jewel, I’ve been nothing but polite to everyone else.’

’Even when Joel Jennings looked at me like I owed him a million bucks, I never paid it any mind.’

’I couldn’t be bothered to argue, nor would I ever try to suck up to anyone.’

’But now, Joel Jennings had actually managed to persuade Benny to join him in this frame-up...’

Aside from being completely baffled, she was also incredibly "flattered."

She let out a cold scoff, holding her ground as she questioned him rationally.

"You’re ready to convict me of plagiarism based on nothing more than your and Joel Jennings’s word, so why don’t you dare show me the evidence?"

"On the grounds that I am a judge invited by the event organizers, and your senior in the fashion industry."

Claire Mercer remained composed, her arguments clear and logical as she fought for herself.

"You’re a judge, but so are the other five judges."

"If you won’t show me this so-called evidence, you should at least let the other judges examine it carefully before reaching a verdict, shouldn’t you?"

"By rushing to a conclusion like this, are you showing any respect for the other judges?"

"Is it just because you have more seniority than the other judges? Because you think you have a higher standing in the industry, you can just ignore their opinions and be the one to make the final call?"

"You and the other judges are equals here. What gives you the right to be so tyrannical?"

Claire Mercer’s words were undoubtedly meant to turn the others against Benny.

’Since he was shamelessly conspiring with Joel Jennings to frame me anyway...’

’...if I didn’t fight back, I’d be doing a disservice to all the effort they put into scheming against me.’

Sure enough, as soon as she’d said her piece, Benny saw the gazes of the four domestic judges—all except the one from abroad—turn increasingly cold and resentful.

"Quite the sharp tongue. You’re certainly eloquent, a real silver-tongued devil. But it’s all just useless sophistry."

After a cold snort, Benny added with a sneer.

"I never knew that in addition to being a plagiarist and a sophist, you were also so adept at sowing discord. Deliberately turning the other judges against me... you’re quite the schemer."

Benny was seething with rage at Claire Mercer’s retort.

’In all his years in the business, this was the first time a newcomer had ever challenged him like this.’

’She looked at him as if he weren’t her senior at all, showing him not a shred of respect.’

’To call him tyrannical in public?’

’His status in the design world might not be at the absolute peak...’

’...but many designers still had to respectfully call him Mr. Benny.’

’In his position, what was wrong with being a little tyrannical?’ 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"Scheming? Sowing discord?" Claire Mercer’s lips curled into a mocking smile as she spoke coolly.

"You’re a designer yourself. You know how devastating it is for a creator to be branded a plagiarist."

"And yet, you’ve betrayed your own conscience to conspire with Joel Jennings, to frame me and slander me, all to ruin my career in fashion design."

"As a designer and a judge, where is your conscience? Do you think you’re worthy of your status? Worthy of the respect we contestants have shown you? Worthy of your own professional ethics?"

"I call you Mr. Benny out of respect for your seniority in the design world."

"But your actions today are unworthy of that respect."

"And let’s be clear. This is a competition, not your personal soapbox."

"Even in a court of law, both sides get to present their arguments."

"You refuse to even show us this so-called evidence, yet you expect to just slap a plagiarist label on me."

"Hah... Sorry, but I refuse to accept that."

After hearing Claire Mercer’s speech, Benny was completely stunned.

’He knew perfectly well whether Claire Mercer had plagiarized or not.’

’But since he had already promised that person he would help her...’

’...he certainly wasn’t going to break his promise.’

’But for Claire Mercer to disrespect him so thoroughly, it seemed she had no intention of surviving in the design world.’

He chuckled, but a sinister smile twisted his lips.

"Do you know who you’re speaking to? Have you considered the consequences?"

"I know who you are," Claire Mercer retorted with a derisive smile. "So, are you threatening me now?"

The threat in his words was unmistakable.

’She knew he did indeed hold some sway in the domestic design industry.’

’If he decided to target her, her career in design would become incredibly difficult.’

’But she had been publicly and baselessly accused of plagiarism. She had to fight for her innocence.’

’Even if Benny used his connections to obstruct her career path, she had to fight with all her might to clear her name.’

’If she just let them slander her and brand her a plagiarist, she’d have no future in the industry anyway.’

’Better to offend a shameless scoundrel like Benny than be branded a plagiarist.’

’Besides, if she could prove they conspired to frame her, Benny’s reputation would be utterly ruined.’

’A senior, a veteran designer, conspiring with another contestant to frame a newcomer.’

’Such behavior was despicable.’

’Once his reputation was shot, his status and connections would naturally suffer.’

’With such a scandal to his name, brands seeking to collaborate with him would have second thoughts.’

’What’s more, there were major figures from the international fashion scene on the judging panel.’

’By ignoring and disrespecting everyone, he was disgracing all the designers from their country.’

Benny was so incensed by Claire Mercer’s retorts that he was momentarily speechless. "..."

’But he truly hadn’t expected Claire Mercer to be so difficult to handle.’

’Even when accused of plagiarism in front of a national audience and several authoritative figures from the design world...’

’...she remained completely composed, her emotions stable and her expression calm.’

’Even her rebuttals were clear-headed and systematic.’

’Any other newcomer would have been standing on stage, completely lost.’

The calmer Claire Mercer appeared, the more agitated he became.

’He just wanted to end this segment quickly. He didn’t want to get tangled up with Claire Mercer any further.’

’Otherwise, there was no telling what might happen.’

With that thought, Benny waved a hand at Claire Mercer with extreme impatience.

"There’s no need to cause a scene. The rules of this competition are perfectly clear: plagiarists are to be eliminated immediately."

"As a plagiarist, you no longer have the right to speak with me, and I don’t need to waste any more words on you."

"As a judge, I demand that the organizers remove Claire Mercer from the competition immediately."

"If the organizers don’t expel her, then I’ll leave right now."

"I refuse to be associated with a competition that tolerates a plagiarist."

With that, Benny shot to his feet, kicked his chair back, and made to leave.

He spoke with such sanctimonious righteousness, as if he himself were the embodiment of justice.