“You…” Isabel, overwhelmed with fury, struggled to find words. Sadie gently tugged at Alex’s sleeve, signaling him with a shake of her head.
She was tired of the endless disputes with these two women.
“Let’s leave,” she whispered softly.
Alex gave her a meaningful look but remained silent, escorting her as they turned to depart.
Kyla’s gaze followed them, a fleeting glint of malice in her eyes quickly giving way to an expression of feigned vulnerability.
“Who would have thought, after three years, Alex is still by Sadie’s side?” Kyla said pointedly, stressing “three years” as if to insinuate something deeper.
Isabel, already irate from Sadie’s resistance, felt her anger intensify at Kyla’s insinuation. She turned sharply, her tone accusatory. “Kyla, what are you implying? Was Alex… already involved with her three years ago?”
Isabel struggled to grasp the notion that the seemingly unassuming Sadie had been connected with Alex even back then.
To Isabel, Sadie was merely a gold digger who had married Noah for his wealth, and now, she suspected infidelity. Kyla cast her eyes downward, her long lashes concealing the cunning thoughts brewing within. She nibbled on her lip, appearing as though she was wrestling with whether to divulge more.
“Tell me! What’s really going on?”
“Mrs. Wall, I heard… Three years ago, Alex frequently visited Sadie and seemed to often take care of her…”
“Care? What kind of care? When a man and a woman are alone, what could they be doing?!” Isabel erupted, her anger spilling over. “Noah must divorce her!”
Outside the mall, Alex’s concern was evident. “Sadie, are you alright?”
Sadie inhaled deeply, steadying herself, and mustered a weak smile. “I’m fine.”
They walked in silence until Sadie broke it. “How did you find me here?”
Alex paused, then chose honesty. “I saw the news about your studio’s designs being leaked online. I was concerned about you, so I came to see if you were alright. Your assistant mentioned you were at Hermes… What happened?”
Sadie chuckled dryly. “The usual schemes. But I won’t be brought down so easily.”
Isabel’s words echoed in her mind, causing a sharp pain in her heart. “Get in the car. I’ll take you home,” Alex offered softly, pulling Sadie from her reverie.
Sadie nodded, slipped into the car, and closed the door behind her. The ride home was quiet.
Breaking the silence, Sadie suddenly asked, “Alex, do you know where Mrs. Lawrence often goes?”
Alex blinked, surprised by the question. “Mrs. Lawrence? The wife of the Lawrence Group CEO?” Sadie nodded in confirmation.
“I heard she’s quite fond of limited-edition handbags, and I happen to have one she’s been searching for. I thought I’d try my luck and see if I can meet with her.”
“I do know a few of her favorite spots…” Alex shared a list of places, which Sadie noted carefully.
Over the next few days, Sadie embarked on a thorough quest, visiting each venue Alex mentioned, hoping for a chance encounter. Her determination paid off. At a high-end art gallery, she finally crossed paths with Leanna.
“Mrs. Lawrence, hello. I’m Sadie,” Sadie introduced herself with polite assertiveness.
Leanna gave her a brief look, her response brusque. “I know who you are, the one whose designs have been leaked. If this is about work, you should speak with my husband.”
Her voice was frosty, signaling her lack of interest in further discussion. Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, Sadie produced the Hermes bag.
“I heard you appreciate this style, so I brought it for you.”
Leanna’s attention shifted to the bag, her expression revealing a hint of surprise, though she quickly masked it. She checked her watch.
“I’ll give you five minutes.”
Sadie’s excitement grew.
“Mrs. Lawrence, in addition to this bag, I have another gift for you,” Sadie continued with composure, retrieving a design portfolio from her bag.
“I’m truly sorry about the leak. To rectify that and to demonstrate my sincerity, I’ve created new drafts and also crafted an extra set…” She paused, gauging Leanna’s reaction. Seeing no interruption, she continued. “I understand that your ten-year wedding anniversary with Mr. Lawrence is approaching, and I’ve taken the liberty of designing a special collection to mark the occasion. I hope these can serve as a token of my apologies and goodwill from my studio.”
Leanna finally showed some interest. She picked up the portfolio and began flipping through its pages. With each page turned, Sadie’s heart raced faster.
The portfolio was the culmination of her tireless efforts over the past few days. When Leanna finished, she placed the portfolio back on the table, her expression unreadable.
“Nice designs.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Lawrence.” A spark of hope ignited in Sadie’s chest.
“These designs not only fulfill Mr. Lawrence’s specifications, but I’ve also introduced some innovative ideas… They were inspired by the love story between you and Mr. Lawrence, symbolizing a decade of companionship and commitment. I hope they resonate as more than just jewelry, but as a testament to your journey together.”
For the first time, a shift appeared in Leanna’s composed demeanor. Her eyes lingered, and her fingers gently caressed the cover of the portfolio, as if touching a fond memory. “How… how did you know all this?”
Sadie gave a modest smile. “As a designer, understanding the stories behind my clients enriches my work. Your story with Mr. Lawrence, while not widely known, isn’t exactly hidden. I did some research.”
Leanna looked at Sadie more intently, her expression becoming more complex. The room’s atmosphere tensed.
After a significant pause, Leanna exhaled softly, a subtle but genuine smile appearing on her lips. “You’re very clever, and you’re very thoughtful.”
Relief washed over Sadie, calming her rapid heartbeat.
“Thank you for the compliment, Mrs. Lawrence.”
“I really like these designs.” Leanna’s expression softened, showing a hint of appreciation. “Considering your sincerity, I won’t hold the leak against you.”
“Thank you so much!” Sadie nearly leapt from her spot in excitement but quickly regained her composure.
“As for my husband…” Leanna continued. “I’ll speak to him. What happens next… well, that’s in the hands of fate.”
Leanna’s reassurance brought immense relief to Sadie. The encounter had gone smoother than she had anticipated, and the weight she had been carrying was finally lifted.
“Mrs. Lawrence, I won’t take up more of your time,” Sadie said as she stood, giving Leanna a respectful nod before leaving the VIP room. Upon her return to the studio, an employee approached immediately, her expression laden with worry. “Sadie, how did it go? What did Mr. Lawrence say?”
Sadie waved off the concern with a tired gesture and sank into a chair, pressing her fingers against her temples to ease the tension. “It’s resolved. Mrs. Lawrence won’t push the issue any further.”
Relief washed over the employees, smiles breaking across their faces. “That’s fantastic! Sadie, I knew you could handle it.” However, the sense of relief was short-lived.
Before Sadie could fully embrace her moment of respite, she felt a knot of anxiety tighten in her chest.
“This isn’t over yet,” she said gravely, dampening the brief jubilation around her.
“What? Sadie, didn’t Mrs. Lawrence say she’d drop it?”
“The issue with the design drafts is settled, but we can’t just let this slide,” Sadie said, massaging her forehead, visibly drained. “We need to find out who leaked the designs, or we’ll continue facing problems.” She stood and walked over to the window, lost in thought.
It had been days since she’d had a proper night’s sleep, leaving her physically and mentally exhausted. She had reported the incident to the police, but so far, they had no leads.
After a moment of contemplation, she picked up her phone and dialed a number.
“Hello, it’s me. I need to hire you for an investigation.”
A deep, reassuring voice responded from the other end, “Miss Hudson, please proceed.”
“It’s about the leak of my studio’s design drafts.”
Sadie detailed the situation. “I need you to find the source of the leak and identify the person responsible.”
“Please rest assured, Miss Hudson. We will conduct a thorough investigation and provide you with results as soon as possible.” After she ended the call, Sadie’s heart remained heavy.
Sadie hadn’t slept a wink that night, her thoughts dominated by the leak of the design drafts.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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