Entangled with My Cousin's Fiancé

After Yolanda Greenwood went back, she told Lola Gold about the incident, and together they searched online and quickly found the so-called original works.

There were five paintings in total, and they were 95% similar to the five paintings Yolanda had sent to Baruy, each winning a grand prize that had high recognition in the art community.

Signed by Lindari.

Lola found it unbelievable, "Do you know who this Lindari person is?"

"I don't know," Yolanda shook her head, "It's probably not their real name."

"Right, as strange as it is, the thief who stole the paintings wouldn't be a foreigner." Lola then asked Yolanda, "Are your manuscripts at the Greenwood Family house?"

Yolanda nodded.

"Do you have photos of the manuscripts on your phone?"

"Yes!"

Lola was instantly overjoyed, "Then that's easy, we can just send the photos to the judges of those competitions and ask them to change the winner."

After a moment's thought, she added, "And post it on the major designer forums; maybe we can find out who the painting thief is."

As a veteran internet celebrity, she believed in the power of netizens.

"Okay," Yolanda said, as she went to look for evidence, "I need to go back once more to retrieve the manuscripts."

At that moment, she wouldn't feel at ease until she had the manuscripts in her hands.

"Alright, then send me the photos," Lola was more adept at posting online, "I'll handle the rest for you."

"Thank you, Lola, it's really good to have you," After Yolanda sent the stuff to Lola, she dashed back to the Greenwood Family house.

As soon as she entered, she saw Eliana Reed watching TV.

"I'm back to grab some things," Yolanda said as she headed upstairs to her own room.

"What are you taking?" Eliana immediately followed, as if afraid Yolanda was going to steal something.

"My own things." Yolanda entered her room and started rummaging through her belongings.

She had a small box under her bed where she kept all her drawings from her school days.

With her arms crossed and leaning against the door, Eliana clicked her tongue in disdain, "If you want this junk, take it all; if you don't, I'm going to throw it away."

After several searches, Yolanda couldn't find it; she looked up at Eliana, "Where are my drawings?"

"What drawings? How should I know?" Eliana glared.

Yolanda stood up, very certain, "All the drawings I made during school were in this box, where are they?"

"I don't know," Eliana turned and started to go downstairs.

Yolanda chased after her, blocking her way, "Where are the drawings?"

"Are you deaf, you little brat? I said I don't know, get out of my way!"

"How could you possibly not know? Who did you give them to?"

Now, Yolanda pretty much figured out what was happening.

Eliana must have given her drawings to someone, and that someone took the drawings to participate in international competitions and won awards, making her look like a plagiarist.

"Who did you give them to?" Yolanda's voice carried a sob; she really did not know how many more times she was going to be screwed over by her own mother.

"I've said I don't know, I didn't see, I didn't touch," Eliana asserted, hands on her hips.

"Who'd covet a few ruined paintings? They're like treasures to you," Eliana snorted.

"You suspect me, right? Then take all your junk and go; from now on, this family has nothing to do with you."

"Fine!" Yolanda couldn't take it anymore, "From now on, I have nothing to do with you, Eliana Reed; I don't have a mother like you."

She stormed back into her room, grabbed a bag, and stuffed it with whatever she wanted to take.

She was truly fed up with this family, with this mother.

"Good, great! Get lost!" Eliana almost clapped her hands in glee.

Yolanda packed her things and immediately took a taxi away.

On the taxi ride, her tears flowed without restraint.

She didn't know what she had done wrong to be treated like this even by her own mother.

She couldn't help but think, who exactly had Eliana given the paintings to?

Instantly, a name crossed her mind: Melissa Greenwood.

But quickly, Yolanda dismissed the thought.

Melissa would not do something so low, and her talent was far superior to Yolanda's own.

No matter who it was, she had to uncover the person responsible.

That same evening, the judging panels from the competitions responded with emails stating that the competitions were fair, impartial, and transparent, that all shortlisted works underwent strict screening, and there was no possibility of plagiarism, least of all with the final winning works.

The emails also had an attachment.

Yolanda downloaded the attachment and found it full of manuscript photos, more than the ones she had sent.

She had only taken a few photos of the manuscripts and had not photocopied them in their entirety.

In the forums, posts had been bumped up too, except they were all criticizing Yolanda for having no shame.

Many of them were fans of Lindari.

—Plagiarize you? Who do you think you are? Go take a piss and look at yourself.

—Want the manuscripts? I have more saved than you, stop your shameless scamming, get out of the circle.

—A person can be invincible if they have no shame.

...

Lola looked at Yolanda with pity and started to passionately argue online.

—Did you grow a brain just to appear taller?

—Are you so brazen because you think an animal protection agency covers you?

—Did you weigh your brain? Aren't you afraid it'll blow away in the wind if it's only a few grams?

She believed in Yolanda.

But now, without the manuscripts, how could they get justice?

On the ride back, Yolanda had guessed things would turn out this way and now she only wanted to find out who the person was.

"Lola, stop arguing with them," Yolanda said as she started scrolling through the posts and finally saw someone posting Lindari's CV.

She was utterly shocked.

Equally astonished was Lola, "This... isn't this Melissa Greenwood?"

Yolanda couldn't accept it.

Melissa had been her idol from a young age.

In her parents' eyes, her cousin was perfect in every way.

And Yolanda, like a little shadow, always strived quietly, aiming to be as excellent as Melissa.

But the truth was always so cruel; she just couldn't surpass Melissa, even the person she loved was to marry no one but Melissa.

How could Melissa have stolen her paintings?

No, she had to confront Melissa face to face and clear things up.

...

The very next day, Yolanda arranged to meet with her.

"Yolanda, is it about the divorce?" Melissa was as composed as ever, "Cooper has been on a business trip these days, but he said as soon as he's back, he'll go handle the paperwork with you."

Yolanda took out the photos of the paintings, "Cousin, these paintings..."

"Yolanda," Melissa suddenly burst into tears, "I'm sorry."

Yolanda felt her heart tighten, "So, cousin, you really stole these paintings? How could you..."

"Yolanda," Melissa looked at Yolanda through tear-filled eyes, "I was so angry at you back then, I wanted revenge. So I secretly contacted your mom and threatened her, making her send me the paintings."

She was visibly agitated, "Yolanda, your cousin wasn't thinking straight then."

Yolanda felt utterly drained; it seemed that fate had always been punishing her.

"Cousin," she sighed softly, "Let's forget it, I don't blame you, but you have to send an email to those competition judges and correct this situation."