Desmond paused, then gave agulfer laugh. “How naive! you’re probably the only one thinking that way.” Margaret fell silent, her tears welling up again. “You’re good at everything except liking me ”
Desmond sat down on the floor, silent for a moment. “As I said, I came to apologize ”
Margaret turned away and wiped her tears.
Desmond continued, “This whole matter, from beginning to end, is my fault. I shouldn’t have let the video fall into your hands. I failed to safeguard my own files.”
“I stole it. It had nothing to do with you.”
“I allowed it to happen. I’m sorry to you, and I’m sorry to Rebecca. This is my fault.”
Mentioning Rebecca ignited Margaret’s anger once again.
“Why does she keep coming up? You know I can’t stand you being nice to other girls! I can’t stand you being with anyone else! Do you know how heartbroken I was when you got together with her?” Margaret huffed.
She jabbed a finger at her own chest. “When she tormented you until you came back looking broken? Do you know how much pain I felt here? I couldn’t even stay mad at you for one bit. What makes her think she can treat you like that?”
She burst into loud, heart–wrenching sobs. Desmond was stunned. It took him a while to react and offer her tissies.
She slapped them away. “I wanted to ruin her! I wanted
She stole you and then failed you!”
Tiffany tried to persuade her. “Sweetheart, you’ve been one–sided for so long. If he doesn’t cherish you, he won’t.”
“No! He’s not that bad. He took all the blame on himself.” Margaret shook her head, showing her phone to her mother. Desmond had posted another statement regarding the Phoenix in Flight plagiarism allegations.
It read: [The choreography was created by Rebecca. I was once a member of her troupe. I knew the entire creative process and participated in the early rehearsals.
[After leaving the troupe for personal reasons and returning to the country, I passed the concept and choreography on to another troupe, where it was renamed Phoenix in Flight and performed both domestically and internationally.
[I hereby acknowledge that the plagiarism is true. All responsibility lies with me. I will bear all compensation and legal consequences. I sincerely apologize to everyone, especially to Ms. Perry.]

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