Monde was very protective of his reputation.

He wouldn’t engage in school disputes personally; his wife handled such matters.

Directly confronting an architecture student wasn’t Monde’s style; he preferred manipulating from behind… When things got out of control, he’d cut his losses and push forward his pawns as shields.

His correct assessment in court was to protect his professional reputation; he couldn’t admit to being petty and deliberately retaliating against Xia Xiaolan.

Of course, this wouldn’t earn Xia Xiaolan’s gratitude; they were still enemies.

As for how Xia Xiaolan would retaliate, she’d already said it – if she couldn’t surpass him professionally at 22, there were still 32, 42—heh, Monde wasn’t afraid of Xia Xiaolan, he pitied himself.

His daughter’s talent was too poor!

A new crescent moon was slowly rising, destined to illuminate the entire night sky, while Heidi was merely one of the countless stars, fated to be a mere accompaniment to the bright moon.

This thought tormented Monde endlessly.

Xia Xiaolan would one day challenge him regardless of age difference; she was trained by others. Heidi was his daughter, yet he couldn’t transform her into the moon of the night sky! This mocked his abilities; God had played the cruelest joke, giving him such a mediocre successor—no, he absolutely wouldn’t admit defeat.

“Get ready to participate in next year’s AIA Rising Star Architect selection. You must have presentable works within a year!”

Heidi’s palms were sweating.

Presentable works?

Like Xia Xiaolan’s theater renovation level?

She felt it impossible.

But she dared not refuse her father’s demands, only nodding stiffly.

Monde returned to his studio.

Lisa had been waiting early, seeing Monde return, she anxiously said:

“Mr. Monde…”

“Pack your things quickly, and complete resignation procedures. I hope you’ll have left the studio before the verdict is published. My studio can’t keep a thief who steals others’ work.”

Monde was cold and ruthless.

Lisa had anticipated this outcome but hadn’t expected Monde to show absolutely no consideration.

After leaving Dawson Studio, where could she go?

Soon the news would break, the entire circle would know she lost the case, and no good firms would hire her. She couldn’t return to GMP; Kissinger would viciously retaliate!

Unable to find new work, she still faced $250,000 in compensation.

Although Lisa had worked at GMP for years, she rarely led independent projects. Her income wasn’t low, but wasn’t high either.

America encouraged advanced consumption, but her savings weren’t much. Producing $250,000 at once would mean selling her mortgaged apartment!

After years of struggle, she ended up with nothing and lost her future.

Lisa was unwilling.

She could have worked well at GMP, waiting for her breakthrough, why did she claim Xia Xiaolan’s work as her own? It was Monde Dawson who gave her this idea! Monde tempted her to fall, Monde destroyed her peaceful life!

“You can’t treat me like this.”

Lisa shrieked, “I’ll tell everyone the truth. I’m not a thief, I just followed your words, I just worked for you!”

Monde stopped walking.

“Oh? What did I say? You heard in court today, that I merely happened to meet you at the theater, chatted with you, then mentioned you to the AIA jury. Unexpectedly, after they contacted you, you insisted it was your work. Lisa, you offended GMP’s partner, I pitied you, and let you work at Dawson Studio. As a kind employer, seeing you sued, I even introduced you to a reliable lawyer!”

Had he said anything?

Not.

Such a fool, no wonder she lost the case.

Monde directly denied Lisa and had her personal belongings cleared from the studio. When Lisa wouldn’t resign, he fired her!

It was late, but Lisa was forced out of the studio carrying a cardboard box.

Trembling, she stopped at a phone booth to call Myers.

“I want to appeal, I must appeal, I’m not a thief, I can’t end like this!”

Myers’ voice came through the phone, still calm:

“But Mr. Monde doesn’t want you to continue appealing. He hopes this matter can settle quickly.”

Further appeals would only boost Xia Xiaolan’s fame.

Repeatedly promoting a newly victorious, emerging architect through ongoing lawsuits? No, Monde absolutely wouldn’t do such losing business.

Lisa laughed bitterly in angry humiliation: “Monde says this has nothing to do with him. I want to appeal, he can’t control that!”

Myers quite agreed:

“Of course, you have that freedom, Ms. Lisa. I hope you can pay my fees quickly. I fear after paying the court-ordered compensation, you won’t have the means to pay attorney fees—”

Lisa hung up directly.

Right, Myers was introduced by Monde, he’d only listen to Monde.

Myers thought an appeal had little chance of success, and feared she’d go bankrupt after paying compensation, so he was chasing her for legal fees.

Hah.

Win or lose, lawyers must be paid.

Plus court costs.

Plus $250,000 in compensation.

Lisa’s box fell to the ground, contents scattering everywhere.

Strangely, her greatest hatred now wasn’t for Xia Xiaolan, nor the straightforward lawyer Myers, but for Monde Dawson!

Everything of hers was destroyed; she absolutely wouldn’t let Monde Dawson off!

…

While Lisa was in despair, Xia Xiaolan’s side was jubilant.

Harold’s return to America to testify was very face-giving to her. The golf club was operating well after opening, Harold was networking in Pengcheng as the club owner, investing so much in the golf course, now was harvest time.

Xia Xiaolan wanted to thank Harold privately but didn’t want more gossip. This case would certainly stay hot for days, so it would have to wait until back in China.

Having won the case, she was willing to accept Domus magazine’s interview.

That evening, AIA headquarters contacted her, naturally congratulating her on winning the case and proving her innocence. They apologized for the previous “misunderstanding,” saying they would restore Xia Xiaolan’s “AIA Rising Star Architect” selection eligibility, but she refused:

“This year’s selection has passed the application deadline, reaching the final stage, right? My joining now would raise outside doubts and be unfair to other finalists.”

Restoring her eligibility now, while she was trending, plus AIA’s previous “misunderstanding” hurting Xia Xiaolan’s feelings, AIA wanting to recover their image before the public and architectural circle, the award would likely go directly to Xia Xiaolan—Xia Xiaolan was unwilling to take such advantage. If she were to receive “AIA Rising Star Architect,” she preferred it without any additional influencing factors.

Skip this work.

Use the next work, the museum design proposal, to prove herself!