Sixteen
Contains spoilersOverview
Adele exposes Mother Witch’s plagiarized opening with corroborated evidence, triggering a fresh pile-on and professional isolation for June. Eden chooses containment: revise the paragraph, issue a statement, and go quiet while sales paradoxically rise. Patricia Liu refuses Adele access to Athena’s notebooks, and June clings to denial.
Summary
Adele Sparks-Sato publishes a post proving Mother Witch opens with lines from an Athena Liu workshop story, complete with dated screenshots and witness endorsements. Stunned but resigned, June shuts down devices, drinks, and braces for the inevitable fallout.
Overnight, June hemorrhages followers, deletes Twitter, privates Instagram, and watches her Wikipedia page update. Industry peers expel or ghost her, Eden’s Angels ignore her, and mentee Emmy Cho terminates their mentorship through the program coordinator.
On a Zoom with Eden, Daniella, Jessica, Emily, and legal counsel Todd Byrne press June for the truth. June denies plagiarism of The Last Front and admits only that Mother Witch’s opening came from Athena. Legal confirms Athena’s mother won’t sue and that changing the first paragraph contains liability. Publicity instructs June to stay offline and focus on a new project.
Afterward, Brett tells June controversy is boosting sales via right-wing culture-war attention, likely netting her a bonus. June, relieved, plans to revise the opening and draft pitches, reassured that Eden prioritizes cash flow.
That night, Patricia Liu calls: Adele asked to see Athena’s notebooks to verify The Last Front. June considers confessing but doubles down, urging recognition of both writers’ talent. Patricia refuses Adele access, effectively preserving June’s secret, then icily says Athena would never have written something like Mother Witch.
Who Appears
- June Hayward (Juniper Song)
Protagonist; accused again, retreats offline, denies theft, agrees to revise, clings to her lie.
- Adele Sparks-Sato
Critic who publishes proof Mother Witch’s opening was Athena’s; contacts Patricia about Athena’s notebooks.
- Daniella Woodhouse
Editor; confronts June, pushes for clarity, favors containment and a low-profile strategy.
- Brett Adams
Agent; defends June, relays sales boost from culture-war coverage, urges new project pitches.
- Patricia Liu
Athena’s mother; refuses Adele access to notebooks, implicitly challenges June, declines to sue.
- Todd Byrne
Eden legal; confirms limited liability, advises rewriting Mother Witch’s opening and providing statements.
- Emily
Eden colleague; recommends June stay off social media and announce a new project.
- Jessica
Eden colleague; cites Adele’s conclusive proof during the meeting with June.
- Emmy Cho
Mentee; ends their mentorship via coordinator, requests no further contact.
- Marnie
Eden’s Angels member; replies late and offers no support as June spirals.
- Jen
Eden’s Angels organizer; does not respond to June’s pleas for help.
- Rory
Friend; checks on June after Brett alerts him she isn’t responding.