All Chapters of Read My Mind, Pay the Price: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

"Could you explain what's going on here, Clara?" The judge's stern voice rang in my ears. I, Clara Gardner, snapped back to reality and scanned the entire venue. Instinctively, I wrapped my arms tightly around my chest because just a second ago, that wretched old man had tortured me to death.My fiance, Caleb Fairchild, demanded, "Well, what are you waiting for? Say something! What's with that posture? Are you afraid? You're representing my company as the chief designer, and this is how you embarrass me?" That was when it hit me. I had been reborn. The very next second, my half-sister, Sophie Gardner, smiled sweetly and linked her arm through mine. "I know you don't want to admit that your younger sister is better than you, Clara. It's honestly my fault as well. I shouldn't have stolen your spotlight."Why don't we do this instead? Let's both explain our design concepts. If yours sounds better than mine, I'll admit I plagiarized your work. Deal?"Before I could respond, she pi

Chapter 2

Caleb pointed right at my nose. "Do you think everyone is as filthy as you are?"I snorted. "It's pretty impressive of you to date someone that disgusting for three years.""Clara Gardner!"The audience caught on and immediately erupted into murmurs. "Hold on, she's right. If she were that kind of person, how could Mr. Fairchild have dated her for three years without noticing? There must be some kind of misunderstanding.""Yeah. Clara has a point. Perhaps she and her sister hired the same ghost designer. That would explain why their designs overlapped."As doubts spread, I curled my lips into a faint smile.Sophie's brows drew together almost imperceptibly before she plastered a gentle smile on my face and took my hand. "Clara, if you're indignant, why don't we compete in front of everyone? I don't want your reputation ruined. I'd feel terrible if that happened."My father and stepmother both sighed. "After everything your sister's done to you, you're still indulging her. You're

Chapter 3

Soon, two easels were set up on the stage, and we stood facing each other.The same thing happened again. I deliberately drew at snail speed and even made several mistakes. Halfway through, I stopped drawing and looked up to study Sophie's expression. To my surprise, she stood up again and handed in her work. "I'm done."Her hand-drawn piece was slightly different from what I had put on paper, yet it matched exactly what I had envisioned in my mind."This piece is shaped like a lighthouse, with a dazzling diamond set at the top. It tells a story about my best friend and me. I was once stranded at a harbor in an unfamiliar city. My phone had no signal, and it was raining cats and dogs."The light from a distant lighthouse cut through the storm and guided me to shelter. Later, I found out my best friend had stayed up all night at her computer, using satellite tracking to locate me. Then, she contacted the harbor manager and had the lighthouse turned on just for me."My heart sank.

Chapter 4

However, when I looked at Sophie, she suddenly touched her ear and cried out, "Oh my, what's this? There's something round in my earring. I'm sure it wasn't there when I bought it."The judges immediately came forward to inspect it. "It's a miniature camera!" they gasped.The very next second, something occurred to Caleb. He stormed onto the stage and violently ripped off my glasses. Pain shot through my temple as my skin split open, and warm blood trickled down my cheek. "Oh, now I get it! I gifted you a pair of high-tech glasses because your eyesight is bad. I never imagined you'd use them to cheat!" Ivy leaned in and whispered, "Holy shit. Did she use that to steal your work?"I shook my head, as I wasn't sure. "Probably not."I hadn't worn glasses in the final round of the competition in my previous life. Yet, she still submitted a design that was identical to mine.The audience instantly caught on and started hurling coffee and water bottles at me, leaving me drenched and

Chapter 5

I asked someone for a pen and paper and personally wrote two statements before signing them. The first was a declaration to terminate the engagement. When I handed it to Caleb, he shot me a disdainful look, signed it without hesitation, and turned to Olivia. "My engagement's been called off, Grandma. Can I marry Sophie now?"To my surprise, Olivia's gaze hardened. "Let's discuss this another time." That caught everyone on the stage off guard, including my father.The second document was a declaration to cut all ties between us, and I handed it to my father. He hesitated and refused to take it. "After all these years I raised you, this is how you repay me, you ungrateful brat?"I was well aware of what he was afraid of. If Sophie failed to secure Caleb, I could still serve as a backup.Just then, Caleb urged, "Sign it, Mr. Gardner. A daughter who lies through her teeth and does nothing but harm others isn't worth keeping around. "Besides, you still have Sophie. Once Sophie a

Chapter 6

After leaving the venue with Ivy, I filled my lungs with fresh air and finally felt reborn. Ivy accompanied me home, helped me pack all my belongings, and settled into the old house my grandmother had left behind.Ivy stayed the night and slept with me. "It's been forever since the two of us shared a bed. Back when your mom was still around, I used to come over all the time and stay for days."My eyes misted over as I caressed the pendant at my neck. When my mother was still alive, I had a family. My father had treated me well too.My mother was a jewelry designer. This pendant was designed and handcrafted by her for me. I had shown exceptional talent in this field from a young age.Sophie's mother, on the other hand, was a bar girl back in the day. Sophie went to a mediocre college and barely passed her classes. There was no way she could design something that elaborate out of nowhere. Only an idiot like Caleb would believe a lie that obvious."What's going on, Clara? Are you

Chapter 7

That evening, Ivy helped me look into what had happened in the finals.Millie Brown had suddenly fallen ill, and the design they turned in was extremely rough. Sophie's design, on the other hand, won the gold award outright.I took one look at her design and recognized the style. It looked a lot like something my senior, Hugo Merritt, would create.Hence, I called him right away. I didn't believe for a second that Hugo would ever be bought off. He came from a long line of emerald craftsmen and had never been short on money.He picked up the phone with a hearty laugh. "Well, what do you think, Cleo? My design's pretty solid, right? I'd say it's more than enough to get you first place.""I never asked you for a design, Hugo. Besides, I withdrew from that competition yesterday.""What? That can't be right. Your sister came to me in person. She said you weren't feeling well and couldn't draw, but this competition meant a lot to you. So, she asked me to help behind your back. "I fig

Chapter 8

Half a month later, I walked into Fairchild Group and discovered that my father and stepmother had been given idle positions by Caleb. The moment they saw me, they blocked me at the entrance. "What are you doing here?"I snorted. "This company isn't yours, Mr. Gardner. Since when do I need your approval to walk in?""What did you just call me?"Just then, Sophie sashayed over and grasped my hand. "It's been so long, Clara. I've missed you so much! Oh, I heard you opened a design studio. "Are you working with small clients now? That must not give you room to shine. I have some major clients I can introduce to you. Their expectations are quite high, though. I'll contact them for you right now!"I immediately turned her down. "That won't be necessary. I can't compete with a chief designer like you. You should keep those clients for yourself.""Don't say that, Clara. We're family, after all…"Right then, Caleb walked over and yanked Sophie into his arms. "What are you doing here,

Chapter 9

Just then, a clear, easygoing voice sounded from the doorway of the conference room. Hugo walked in with a grin, with rosary beads looped around his hand. "You flatter me; you really do! I didn't help Clara with this set at all. However, Sophie's award-winning design was completely drawn by me."Sophie was dumbstruck. Her whole body trembled as she snarled, "Bullshit! I designed it!"Hugo chuckled and placed a lawyer's letter in front of her. "Oh, is that so? We'll let the judge decide then. I've already filed a lawsuit against you."Caleb still chose to believe Sophie. Pointing right at my nose, he bellowed, "You did this on purpose, didn't you? You deliberately found someone to frame Sophie. Can't you stop clinging to me like the simp you are? I will never, ever fall in love with you again!"Olivia slapped him hard across the face. "I worked on this design proposal with Clara for two whole weeks! It's 100% hers. Have you lost your mind, Caleb?"Just then, Ivy and Sage walked in.

Chapter 10

Caleb kicked Sophie in the stomach, sending her flying several feet across the floor. "You bitch! You lied to me. I hate being lied to more than anything in my life!"Clutching her stomach, she curled up on the floor and trembled. "It hurts, Caleb! How could you lay such a heavy hand on your child?""Good. I hope it hurts like hell! You don't deserve to carry my child."Guards, I want you to go to the Gardner residence right now and throw all of their belongings out of the villa. That house was my gift to Clara. They have no right to live there."Also, freeze all the cards I gave them. File a lawsuit and claw back every cent they took from me!"My father immediately changed his tune. "I'm your biological father, Clara. I know I messed up. Please forgive me just this once! I'll divorce your stepmother and sever all ties with them!"I snorted and took out the declaration that severed our relationship. "Mr. Gardner, you stopped being my father a long time ago. We're strangers now.

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