Chapter 544: Blinded by Greed for Power

Fiona Vaughn’s eyes brimmed with tears as she looked painfully at Cecilia Vaughn.

"Sister, although I understand your desire to win everyone’s love and recognition, don’t you feel guilty for hastily plagiarizing someone else’s work?!"

When Rosalind White raised her doubts, people around them were already speculating whether Cecilia Vaughn had hired a ghostwriter to compose her music.

Now, with Cecilia Vaughn’s half-sister stepping forward to denounce her, the crowd erupted in disbelief, looking incredulously at the girl who had stepped off the stage.

"Miss Cecilia Vaughn, can you answer? Did you plagiarize someone else’s music?"

"Cecilia Vaughn, please don’t destroy the reputation of Stellerton University’s century-old prestigious name for your temporary fame and fortune!"

"Exactly! Miss Vaughn, if this piece truly is yours, can you provide some evidence?!"

...

Cecilia Vaughn looked amusingly at those who questioned her, as the great hall was filled with journalists due to the recent friendly meeting between universities from Veridia and America, all drawn like cats to the scent of fish, converging with their cameras towards Cecilia Vaughn.

Cecilia Vaughn subtly smirked.

"What if I say, no comment!?"

"What? You’re not going to explain?"

This response made even those originally supporting Cecilia Vaughn waver in their belief; initially, people thought that it was unlikely anyone else could possess such a despairing state of mind coupled with the courage to overcome it. Cecilia Vaughn’s past of being imprisoned, betrayed by her first love, and her subsequent rebirth seemed to align with the tone of the music.

But upon reconsideration, they thought that if these experiences could inspire a master composer, perhaps someone else could have created such a masterpiece, with inspiration merely drawn from Cecilia Vaughn’s life.

With Cecilia Vaughn unwilling to provide evidence, could it be a sign of a guilty conscience?

This thought led to more people standing with Fiona Vaughn and Rosalind White.

...

The journalists looking at Cecilia Vaughn gradually grew impatient.

"Miss Cecilia Vaughn, your pride is misplaced; with everyone’s doubt casting shadows on your integrity, shouldn’t you stand up and explain?"

Cecilia Vaughn raised her eyebrows in mockery, just about to retort when Adrian Law strode over, pulling her into his embrace.

"Cecilia, are you tired from playing the zither earlier?"

The man’s eyes and heart were entirely focused on his young wife, and he grasped Cecilia Vaughn’s pale fingers. Unlike the Ancient Zither, which has picks, the piece Cecilia played was intense and rapid, causing her delicate fingers to redden, which made Adrian Law feel distress.

He gently caressed the redness on her fingers and bent down with heartfelt tenderness to blow on them.

"Next time, don’t hurt yourself for those who don’t understand the music; they don’t truly appreciate you anyway."

Cecilia Vaughn shook her head with a smile, nestling into his embrace comfortably.

"It doesn’t hurt, moreover, you know who I played for."

Besides Adrian Law, it was Professor Desmond Fletcher.

Adrian Law understood, of course.

A zither finds its true audience, and in some ways, Professor Desmond Fletcher connected even more than Adrian Law himself.

Yet Adrian Law didn’t feel jealous.

Because the song "Life" narrates Cecilia Vaughn’s past story, Adrian Law even resents not finding her earlier, wishing Cecilia had less extraordinary talent and skill instead of enduring hardships that led to the creation of such a powerful song.

Adrian’s mother, Susan Roswell, once laughed and told him that being a girl, a sister should be different from him, growing up cherished by millions. Apart from his sister, he should treat his future wife and daughter well when he marries and has children.

Adrian Law has kept this teaching close to his heart.

Sadly, his mother and sister’s lives were short, and Adrian Law hopes to protect the one he loves dearly and have a lovely daughter together, sharing a lifelong commitment.

...

Why does it seem as though these two are oblivious to anyone else in the world?

"..."

The journalists surrounding Cecilia Vaughn exchanged glances, inexplicably feeling implicated without cause.

Despite the indirect scolding, witnessing Adrian Law’s loving treatment of his wife seemed to strike a deeper chord somehow.

Is this really the time for flaunting affection?

...

"Adrian... Young Master Law..."

Others initially had the courage to question Cecilia Vaughn, but witnessing Adrian Law’s protective stance made them hesitate.

Only Rosalind White, with a delicate face portraying heartbreak, stepped forward weakly.

"Adrian, surely you won’t protect your sister-in-law too? While I understand you protecting her due to shared marital ties, surely if she’s committed a shameful act frowned upon by society, you wouldn’t blindly support her, would you?"

Adrian Law only just seemed to notice Rosalind White, brushing his sleeve in disdain, his expression composed and serene.

"I recall that Veridia’s regulations stipulate that whoever makes a claim, provides the proof, right?"

"..."

"???"

The crowd looked at Adrian Law in confusion, then turned to Rosalind White.

Rosalind White paused, comprehending Adrian Law’s implication, then cautiously tugged Fiona Vaughn’s sleeve.

"Fiona, I trust you implicitly—you wouldn’t falsely accuse someone without reason. So... you claim your sister plagiarized someone else’s work, do you have any evidence?"

Reporters and numerous Stellar University alumni showed interest, all looking towards Fiona Vaughn, the instigator.

As she stood in the spotlight, Fiona Vaughn felt rather proud under their scrutiny, raising her chin assertively, though her question expressed the same distress as before.

"Sister, stop the pointless struggle; actually, I know that the person who composed this piece is here, but it’s not you!"

The audience swallowed with shocked breaths.

"The original composer is here?"

Fiona Vaughn wiped her tears and nodded.

"Indeed!"

Her eyes fixated on the panel from Veridia with deep disappointment.

"Professor Desmond Fletcher, will you continue to pretend?"

"I never imagined that to climb social ladders with my sister or Mr. Law, you would lower yourself to praise a person plagiarizing your work!"

"Clearly, the ’There are Branches on the Mountain’ film crew released this song an hour ago, titled ’Life’! With you as the credited composer!"