Chapter 31: Daphne is exposed.

Daphne stood there numbly. Her hands were shaking.

Theron leaned back in his chair as Elowen walked toward the screen.

Two designs were displayed side by side—the original design from her laptop and the one Daphne had presented.

They looked almost identical.

"This is my original design, the complete one," she started. "But Daphne’s design is incomplete."

Murmurs descended in the room.

"What is she talking about? Incomplete?"

"But everything looks just fine to me."

The lines were clean. The layout looked balanced. The penthouse appeared spacious and luxurious. Nothing seemed wrong.

People around the table were shocked and confused.

Daphne snorted. "You have lost your mind. You can’t prove anything."

Elowen didn’t even look at her. "Daphne took my unfinished design and tried to patch it up."

She zoomed in on the screen. "This section was incomplete in my original drawing. Yesterday, I couldn’t complete the design because I had to rush to my daughter’s school. I left my design drawing on my desk. Daphne stole it while I was away."

She pointed at a particular section of Daphne’s design. "This is where she added."

Everyone leaned forward, trying to see the difference.

"Look at this support line." She enlarged a small connection between the upper floor and the main support structure.

"Daphne connected it to the wrong load-bearing point."

Theron’s eyes narrowed.

"This penthouse has an extended glass section here," Elowen continued as she pointed toward the terrace. "It needs proper support."

She switched back to Daphne’s version.

"But this support doesn’t do that. It looks correct at first glance because the line connects the structure. But it doesn’t transfer the weight properly.

She switched to the original drawing.

"In my design, the support continues through this section and connects directly to the main structure column. But Daphne simply drew a short support across it to make the design look complete."

Silence stretched. No one opened their mouths. Their eyes were fixated on the screen.

Daphne’s fingers curled tightly together.

"Without strong support, the load will be placed on the wrong section," Elowen went on. "Over time, the structure will weaken, and the terrace could collapse."

Daphne’s face paled.

Elowen continued, "But Daphne didn’t pay attention to it. She didn’t miss it. In truth, she doesn’t know that basic thing."

Murmurs rippled through the room.

She looked at Daphne. "You couldn’t see it because you didn’t design it. You believed in my incomplete design and presented it casually."

"You are lying," Daphne yelled. "This is my design. I drew it. You copied it. And now you are spreading lies just to make it look yours."

"Is that so?" Elowen found it amusing. "Then explain why you left the extended terrace without support. Didn’t it cross your mind it might collapse?"

Daphne’s lips trembled. She desperately looked at Theron. "Mr. Knox, please believe me. I created this design. She might have changed those things after stealing it from me. And now, she is desperately trying to prove my design is faulty."

Theron’s expression remained unreadable. His eyes stayed fixed on the screen as he looked at the structural detail Elowen had pointed out.

It was a small thing, easy to overlook. But it was crucial to the entire structure. Without that support, the terrace would not be safe.

Someone who had designed it would never miss such an important detail.

’How did I miss it?’

He had looked through hundreds of architectural designs. He knew how important the structural details were. Still, that small detail had escaped his attention.

"Mr. Knox, you can’t let her accuse me of something I didn’t do." Daphne’s voice pulled him to the present. "She is trying to frame me so I can’t get the chief designer’s position. She knows I am more experienced than her. She is doing everything she can to get rid of me."

"Miss Daphne." His tone was cold. "You know what exactly you did."

Daphne’s breathing became uneven.

"You missed that small detail because you didn’t create it. You never knew it was necessary."

"Sir, please..."

Theron lifted a hand.

Daphne immediately stopped talking.

"Architecture isn’t just drawing lines. Every line has a purpose. Every support has a reason. If you have designed this, you should have known every small detail."

Daphne opened her mouth. But no answer came. The confidence she had carried was gone.

"You stole the design. Admit it."

Daphne’s face lost all color. She lowered her head.

"I am waiting."

"I-I..." Daphne’s eyes darted around the room. "Maybe I overlooked the detail. But that doesn’t prove I stole the design."

She still refused to admit it. Instead, she accused Elowen.

"Elowen is the one who plagiarized. She probably added a small portion just to make everyone believe that the design was hers."

"You won’t admit it. Fine." Theron raised his eyes at the man standing beside him. "Antony, check the surveillance."

Antony nodded and walked out of the room.

Daphne’s face turned deadly pale.

’Surveillance cameras!’

Panic surged through her mind.

Her pulse hammered against her throat. The possibility of being exposed sent a cold shiver through her.

Antony came back after some time and handed him his tablet, showing the footage first.

Theron’s expression barely changed as he watched the footage. But a fleeting glint of irritation betrayed his reaction.

"Show it to everyone." Theron returned the tablet to him.

Antony connected the tablet to the large screen.

The footage started to play.

Daphne appeared on the screen. She stood by Elowen’s desk, taking pictures of the design drawings scattered across it.

The shocked voices broke through.

"Oh, my God. She really stole the design."

"This is shameful. She stole it, but she kept saying she didn’t. Such a liar."

"She kept saying Elowen copied her design. Now we all know who the thief is."

The words hit Daphne one after another.

Her lies were exposed. Her reputation had been shattered. She couldn’t lift her head.

"Alright, everyone," Theron said, silencing the murmurs. "It’s clear now who the thief is."

His gaze settled on Daphne.

"You stole Elowen’s unfinished design, altered it without understanding the details, and presented it as your own."

"Mr. Knox," Daphne tried to explain.

But he cut her off sharply, "I am not finished."

She swallowed the rest of the words.

"You are fired, effective immediately."

"No..." Daphne covered her mouth.

Daphne panicked instantly. "No, Mr. Knox. Please... don’t do this to me. I can explain."

"You had your chance to explain. But you couldn’t."

Daphne’s legs weakened. She rushed toward him and knelt.

"Please, don’t fire me."

She reached out for his hand.

Theron shoved her hand away, feeling disgusted by her touch.

Daphne didn’t care. Her entire focus was on keeping her job.

"I am the only earning member in this family," she added desperately. "My mother’s treatment, my sister’s school fees, and all my family expenses depend on me."

She broke into sobs.

"I can’t lose this job."

She clasped her hands together. "Please forgive me. I know my mistakes. I will never do anything like this."

She sobbed desperately. "Please give me a chance. I swear I’ll do anything you say. Just spare me this time."

Theron watched her quietly. He had no sympathy for her. But he also knew her family shouldn’t be punished for her actions.

"I won’t put your family into a difficult position because of your mistakes."

A flicker of hope crossed her eyes. Her shoulder relaxed slightly.

"Thank you. Thank you so much, Mr. Knox."

"What? She won’t be fired."

"Unbelievable."

Everyone started murmuring to each other in disbelief.

"This is outrageous." Vera couldn’t hold herself back. "Her lies are exposed. But the CEO won’t fire her just because she told him an emotional story. Who knows whether she is telling the truth?"

Elowen tugged at her sleeve. "Vera." She gave her a warning look. "Stay quiet."

While everyone was displeased by Theron’s decision, Daphne was happy. But that happiness didn’t last long.

"However, I won’t allow you to continue working as a designer," Theron said, silencing everyone. "You will be demoted."