When fate plays its hand

Chapter 0654

Edith had dozens of such authors under her wing!

“Wow! So that’s how it works? Are those authors clueless? Doesn’t selling the rights require the author’s consent and signature?”

Claire scoffed, “With all those contracts passing through your hands daily, have you never looked closely at the fine print?”

“What do you mean?”

“Mrs. Jiver signs authors while also locking down the exclusive rights to all their other works. She doesn’t need to notify them or get their signature. Once she finalizes a deal, the studio stamps it, and it’s done.

“If a signature is required, anyone here can sign; it’s not like the buyer checks with the author.”

“Wow–se Mrs. Jiver even skips giving them royalties? The author doesn’t know, so she pockets all the cash, and no one says a word.”

Claire sipped her coffee. “Of course! How else do you think she affords luxury cars, a mansion, and designer everything? Her handbag alone costs a fortune–tens of thousands, I heard.”

“True. They’re Hermès.”

“Exactly…” Claire shook her head with a mix of awe and envy. “Word is, the author who’s lost the most from this is a mystery writer.

“Two of their books exploded in popularity years ago, and all the licensing

hr went to Mrs. Jiver. Sing then, she’s sold even more rights, and the royalties from that author alone bring in at least five figures every month.”

“A mystery author? Who? Well, there’s this mystery writer who’s insanely popular right now. She wrote Seven Days, and it’s become a huge phenomenon. The author’s name is… Mindy, I think!”

“M–Mindy?” Claire looked shocked. “The author who got completely milked dry by Mrs. Jiver was named something like that, too.”

“Could it be the same person?”

“Doubt it. No way Mrs. Jiver would help her publish something new.” Claire breathed a sigh of relief.

“True.” Her coworker nodded, but her hand slipped quietly under the desk to press a button, ending the recording.

“Thanks for the coffee, Lulu. The line at this place is always insane, and the drinks are always hard to get.”

“As long as you liked it, Claire! And keep those juicy stories coming.” said Lucia Hawk.

“Absolutely!”

–

Meanwhile, Edith was living the good life in Ausward, with sunshine, beaches, surfing, and dancing. As usual, she planned to stay until spring, returning only when the weather warmed back home.

This year was no different–until, during a casual day out shopping, she wandered into a bookstore and spotted an Danglish version of “Seven Days“.

The entire cover was in Danglish, except for one thing that stood out. It was the author’s name, written in Hebranian–Mindy Harrison!

At first, Edith thought it was a coincidence. But then, she took out her phone, logged into her social media back home, and searched for “Seven Days“.

What she found wasn’t a coincidence at all–it was an outright betrayal.

Admittedly, she’d ignored everything happening back home since coming to Ausward, barely glancing at her accounts. If she had been checking in, she wouldn’t be finding out so late.

Mindy Harrison, that sly fox!

Edith booked a flight back that very night. As soon as she landed, she boarded a high–speed train straight to Lumberville.

She knew Mindy had moved, so she spent some money to get the address of Mindy’s new place on her way there. Now, standing before an expensive–looking villa, Edith let out a cold laugh.

It looked like Mindy really cashed in behind her back, huh? She was even living in a villa now!