Chapter 60
[What the hell? You’ve been fooling me this whole time! Are you crazy?!]}
The comment section exploded and the livestream’s audience surged from 20,000 to 100,000 in no time. The scene was nothing short of spectacular.
Kimberly’s mother, oblivious to what was happening, scrambled to explain, her hands trembling. But when she finally saw the video I posted, her face turned deathly pale.
To ensure everyone could clearly hear the argument, I had thoughtfully added subtitles to the clip.
As the video played through the livestream, the viewers‘ outrage grew louder.}
Kimberly quickly ended the livestream, but not before her phone call came through moments later.}
Seizing the opportunity, I created another new account and reposted the video. The same viewers who had once insulted me instantly switched sides, redirecting all their anger at Kimberly.
If you’re going to stage a performance, you might as well go all in. I even applied makeup to mimic the bruises from being beaten, my arms painted with fake purple and blue marks.
Furious, Kimberly sent me a private message, her anger practically leaping off the screen.
[Ruth! Have you lost your damn mind? Delete the video right now! If I find you, you’re finished!]}
Her mother, desperate, messaged me on Talk Us, offering to transfer one hundred fifty thousand dollars as hush money if I agreed to delete the video.
The two of them were a goldmine of content. I immediately took screenshots of their messages and uploaded them as well. Within minutes, the likes skyrocketed to hundreds of thousands.
Kimberly’s comment section was a chaotic battlefield. With so much hate pouring in, she had to urgently disable private messages and close the comments altogether. But that didn’t stop the backlash–angry users turned their attention to her book ratings, bombarding them with low scores.
The ratings plummeted rapidly.
Some of Kimberly’s diehard fans, unwilling to believe the truth, even showed up outside her building with banners, demanding answers. They blasted questions through loudspeakers on repeat until the security guards finally kicked them out.@
The property management group chat even tagged Kimberly’s family directly, warning them to stop causing trouble.}
The two of them were so terrified they didn’t dare to open the curtains, let alone leave the house. They hid in their rooms, completely paralyzed by fear.
Meanwhile, I scrolled through the online comments with great satisfaction, grinning slightly when I saw the platform’s official statement pop up.
Finally, the piracy site couldn’t sit still anymore.”
I clicked on a familiar profile picture and said, “The website can prepare for legal action now.”
The next morning, I received the official notification: Kimberly was sued.}
Our platform provided detailed evidence, including update logs and chronological timelines. The proof was airtight. Kimberly, on the other hand, failed to respond and couldn’t even produce a complete outline of the story.
If the plagiarism verdict was upheld, Kimberly would not only have to issue a public apology across all platforms but also compensate the website for damages, return all advance payments to the publisher and drama investors and pay additional breach–of–contract penalties.
The total sum could easily reach millions.
From what I knew, Kimberly’s family, while well–off and never lacking in food or comfort, wouldn’t be able to withstand a million–dollar compensation payout.
The thought of them losing everything made me so giddy I couldn’t help but feel lighter on my feet–even my steps while taking out the trash felt cheerful. But as soon as I reached the entrance of the building, I froze, startled by the person in front of me.
Kimberly emerged from the bushes, her disheveled figure dotted with bits of leaves. Her eyes were dull and lifeless, a clear sign that the whole ordeal had taken a massive toll on her.
“Ruth, you’ve been living right behind my house this whole time? You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you? You just want to watch me fall apart
Her mother stepped out from behind her, clutching Kimberly’s hand tightly. Putting on a gentle, pleading expression, she said, “Ruth, we’re neighbors, aren’t we? Let’s talk this out calmly. There’s no need to be so ruthless online.”
“Just look at her–she’s already been destroyed by all the backlash. Please, be reasonable. Withdraw the legal notice, okay? Let’s end this here.”
Even now, watching their pitiful act only made my stomach churn £
I crossed my arms, giving them a cold, sharp look. With a sneer, I said, “What were you thinking when you stole someone else’s work? Cashing in and then running away? Dream on!”
12:53 PM
