Sadie’s heart skipped a beat.
“Jim?”
“It really is you, Sadie.” Jim’s voice was tinged with surprise and other emotions.
The nurse behind him looked curiously at Sadie, her expression intrigued.
“Yeah, it’s been a long time.” Sadie managed a smile.
Jim’s eyes then drifted to Averi on the bed.
The boy’s rosy cheeks and long eyelashes sparked a moment of recognition in Jim, but he quickly composed himself.
Jim hid the turmoil in his eyes as he looked away. The air thickened with tension for a brief moment.
“Let’s talk in the corridor,” suggested Sadie, breaking the silence.
Side by side, they walked to the corridor.
“Thank you for what you did three years ago. Without you, I don’t know what I would have done. Averi might have…” Sadie’s voice trailed off as her eyes shimmered with tears she fought to hold back. Jim saw her strained smile and felt a twinge in his heart.
Three years earlier, Sadie had appeared frail and despondent, her eyes brimming with despair. Now, she stood before him transformed, vibrant and full of life.
“How have you been these past three years?” he asked quietly.
Sadie replied with a smile, “I’ve been doing well. I’ve started my own business, and I’m staying with Averi. Life’s tough, but fulfilling.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“When Averi gets better, I’ll treat you to a meal to properly thank you,” Sadie promised earnestly.
Jim nodded. “Alright.”
He checked his watch. “I have other patients to attend to, so I should get going.”
“Okay, you go ahead,” Sadie said, watching him walk away. Her smile slowly faded.
Averi’s fever quickly subsided. Watching her son sleep peacefully, Sadie sighed deeply.
Once he was discharged, she returned to her studio without pausing to rest. With the opening looming, she threw herself into her work.
Managing with a small team, Sadie aimed for perfection in everything she did. Byrum proved to be a diligent worker, bringing in a batch of clients, which greatly reassured her.
“Miss Hudson, please take a look. I’ve contacted these clients and sorted out their requirements,” Byrum said respectfully, presenting a file to Sadie.
“Thank you for your hard work, Byrum.” Sadie glanced over the file quickly. “These clients have high demands. We’ll need to step up our game.”
“Yes, they are quite influential in the industry. Securing their orders would greatly benefit our studio’s development,” Byrum replied.
Sadie nodded her agreement. “I’ll finish the design drafts as soon as possible to ensure their satisfaction.”
In the subsequent days, Sadie practically sealed herself in the studio, laboring tirelessly both day and night.
“Miss Hudson, you haven’t slept for two days. You need to rest,” Byrum said, approaching Sadie with a glass of hot milk.
Sadie rubbed her eyes, weary from exhaustion, and managed a smile. “It’s okay. I can handle it. This is our studio’s first major project, and it needs to leave a strong impression.”
Finally, the day before the deadline, Sadie completed all the design drafts. She exhaled in relief and passed the drafts to Byrum.
“Byrum, I’ve been abroad for some time, so I’m not quite in tune with local tastes. Could you review these drafts and forward them to the clients? I need to rest,” Sadie said, her voice tinged with fatigue.
“Of course, Miss Hudson,” Byrum replied, his expression unreadable for a moment.
Sadie nodded and walked to the lounge. Overcome with exhaustion, she needed to sleep soundly.
As Sadie departed, Byrum’s lips twisted into a smirk. He pulled out his phone and made a call.
“Miss Wade, I have the drafts.”
“Good, proceed as planned,” came the cold reply from the other end. Byrum then anonymously uploaded Sadie’s design drafts to the internet.
Meanwhile, at Wall Group’s headquarters, Noah concluded his work and left his office. He rubbed his temples, preparing to end the day. Walking down the corridor, he stopped upon noticing Kyla by the window, her voice cold as she spoke on the phone.
Noah caught the name “Sadie” and frowned.
“Who are you talking to?” he inquired with a deep tone.
Kyla turned sharply, nearly dropping her phone at the sight of Noah. “Oh… it was… It was Mrs. Wall…”
Noah eyed her skeptically. “Mrs. Wall…?”
She took a deep breath to steady herself. “She just called, inquiring about Sadie,” Kyla explained. “She heard Sadie was back… and asked when you and I could visit Wall Manor for dinner.”
Kyla observed Noah’s reaction carefully, her anxiety palpable.
Noah’s expression remained impassive. After a brief pause, he responded indifferently, “Is that so?”
“Yes… yes, that’s right,” Kyla said, managing a forced smile.
Noah remained silent, giving her a penetrating look. “Go by yourself, then.”
He then turned and entered the elevator, not looking back. Kyla watched as the elevator doors closed slowly and let out a breath.
She gripped her phone tightly, her palms sweaty.
In the underground parking lot, Noah settled into the back seat of his Maybach.
“Mr. Wall,” Samuel said respectfully, handing over a set of documents. “Here’s the latest update on Miss Hudson’s studio.”
Noah skimmed through the documents casually. The studio’s location, staffing, and even details about the first batch of clients were all meticulously documented.
“She’s moving quite fast,” Noah observed.
“According to reliable sources, the first project of Miss Hudson’s studio is complete, and the client is very satisfied,” added Samuel.
Noah paused, his fingers resting on the page as his eyes landed on the words “Sadie’s Studio.”
“Keep an eye on it and report any developments immediately,” he commanded.
“Yes, Mr. Wall.”
Noah closed his eyes and massaged his temples. Sadie’s decisiveness was unsettling for him. He had expected her to cling to him after the divorce, pleading as she used to. But she hadn’t. She had left, as if he were merely a fleeting thought.
“Take me to Sadie’s studio,” he instructed the driver, his voice almost involuntary.
Upon arrival, Noah stayed in the car, observing the studio’s entrance through the window. As time passed, the lights inside the studio went out one by one. A slender figure emerged at the door-it was Sadie.
She had changed from her professional attire into a simple white dress. Unaware of the Maybach parked by the roadside, she walked to the curb and hailed a taxi. She told the driver the address of her grandma’s apartment. Inside the Maybach, Samuel cautiously watched Noah’s expression through the rearview mirror.
“Mr. Wall, should we…?”
Noah’s eyes stayed fixed on the taxi ahead, his lips pressed tightly together. The driver, Omar Ruiz, also gauged Noah’s mood through the mirror. Years of experience had taught him exactly what Noah was contemplating. With a slight turn of the steering wheel, Omar smoothly began to follow Sadie’s taxi.
The taxi eventually stopped at an older faculty housing complex. Sadie paid the fare and stepped out. Noah watched her until she vanished into the building, then he slowly averted his gaze.
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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