Chapter 10 He would never leave me.

Once Asher was asleep, Flora switched the lamp to nightlight mode and slipped quietly out of the room. Unable to sleep herself, she stood on the balcony smoking. Halfway through the cigarette, the phone in her pocket vibrated again.

It was Professor Max, the one to whom she'd submitted her competition entry. Flora's heart leapt, expecting good news, but after listening to the call, her eyes grew colder and colder.

She gritted her teeth and immediately dialled Otis. He answered instantly, almost as if he'd been waiting for her call.

When he picked up, she roared, "Otis, this was your doing, wasn't it?!"

Otis chuckled calmly. "Calling me in the middle of the night just to interrogate me?"

"Stop bullshitting me!" Flora snapped, gripping the phone so tightly that the veins stood out on the back of her hand. "Admit it. Did you do it or not?"

"Yes, it was me," Otis admitted shamelessly. "I just want you to be a little more obedient. Come home, marry Derek, and I'll help you get justice."

Flora laughed, a furious, broken sound. Her eyes were bloodshot, murderous. She spat out each word, "You despicable bastard!"

Otis seemed to relish the insult. "Flora," he said smoothly, "I don't have much patience. You have two days, Flora. Don't test me."

She ended the call with a sharp tap, eyes burning with fury.

"We'll see who obeys who in the end," she muttered, crushing the cigarette underfoot.

Flora couldn't sleep that night. Right at seven, she changed clothes and headed to the university.

Max was staring pensively out the window when she arrived at the office. Seeing her, he said, "Come, sit down."

Flora looked at the sculpture on the table, clenching her fists. Her hatred for Otis surged again.

She stood before Max and stated firmly, "Professor, I assure you, this piece is mine. I didn't copy anyone."

She'd spent three months completing it, sleeping only four hours a night. She had pinned all her hopes on it; if it won an award, she and Asher wouldn't have to worry for the next few months, and it was her chance for direct acceptance into the art institute. But now, her dream had been crushed by Otis's dirty hands.

In the world of creative arts, even a single accusation of plagiarism could annihilate an artist's reputation.

By doing this, Otis meant to push her into a corner, to force her to submit to his arrangements obediently.

"As your professor, I know your character," Max said, rubbing his temples, looking weary. "But right now, things look bad for you. Flora, do you have any proof this is your work?"

He had discovered Flora's talent and had quietly mentored her for two years. He didn't believe for a second that Flora would plagiarize. But belief wasn't enough; what mattered was evidence.

The competition had two identical entries; the other belonged to someone reasonably well-known online who had also apparently proven her inspiration came from the sea near her hometown.

"Of course I do. I'm not just going to swallow this," Flora said, picking up her sculpture. She asked, "Do you have a marker?"

Max looked at her curiously, then pulled open a drawer and handed her a red marker.

Flora bit the cap off and began drawing something Max didn't recognize. After a moment, she turned the sculpture around. The back still depicted the vast sea, but the front now prominently displayed the name 'Asher' in large letters.

"This..." Max was utterly astonished. He even had to put on his glasses to see clearly.

"I intended to enter the competition first, then give it to someone I cherish. This wave is Asher's name. The sea is his favourite place," Flora said, her expression impassive. "Professor, please ask the committee to let me stay in the competition. I'll show up on the day and prove myself. I won't allow anyone to wrong me, and I won't let you regret trusting me."

Max broke into a smile, a weight seeming to lift from his chest. "Flora," he said excitedly, "you never cease to amaze me. To be dealt such a dirty trick, and yet you still found a way to turn it around."

A shadow flickered in her gaze. She smiled, but there was no warmth in it.

"Of course, I took precautions. If I hadn't, I'd be dead by now."

"Alright. I'll take this to the committee, explain everything clearly, and demand justice for you." Max stood up at once. He couldn't wait; he had to go right away.

Watching his haste, Flora smiled faintly and didn't forget to remind him, "Professor, could you wipe off the ink mark, please?"

Max looked blank for a moment, then burst out laughing. "Ah, right. Getting old and careless." He took a small cloth and meticulously wiped the sculpture clean.

Sometimes, people with no blood ties treated you better than those who shared your blood. Flora found it bitterly ironic-how unlucky was she to be born Otis's daughter? If she'd had a father like Max, how much better her life would have been?

Leaving the university, Flora stopped by the supermarket to buy groceries for lunch. Carrying several bags, she returned home to find another pair of expensive leather shoes suddenly outside her door. Flora frowned. Stepping inside, she saw Derek lounging on the sofa, scrolling through his phone.

Hearing the noise, he craned his neck slightly, making himself completely at home. "Oh, you're back?"

For some reason, he chuckled shamelessly, saying, "You look just like a capable little housewife right now."

Ignoring his teasing, Flora put the groceries on the table and asked, "Why are you here?"

"For lunch. Your cooking is delicious." That genuinely surprised Derek. Judging by her rebellious appearance, he'd never imagined she knew how to cook. Yesterday, when he heard she was heading into the kitchen, he'd braced for disaster, but her food had been so good Derek was still thinking about that boiled crab when he got home.

Too lazy to bother with him, Flora tied her hair up and hurried to finish cooking before Asher woke up.

Derek glanced towards the still-closed bedroom door and sneered, "You spoil that guy way too much. Aren't you afraid he won't appreciate it and leave you one day?"

Flora's hand, rinsing tomatoes, froze. She looked at him coldly, her tone deadly serious. "He would never leave me."

That's right, she thought. Even if the whole world turned its back on her and betrayed her, Asher would still be by her side.