?Chapter 252:


    Alex’s face tensed subtly, a clear sign he was caught off guard. He shifted ufortably under Susannah’s scrutinizing gaze. “Mom, it’s not like that. She’s really just a friend, and she’s in trouble. What do you think I should do?”


    Years of knowing him inside out made it easy—Susannah instantly spotted the unease creeping into his normallyposed demeanor. It appeared that Alex, typically detached around women, might indeed have a crush on someone.


    She chuckled softly, reaching out to give his hand a reassuring squeeze. “Just look at you—so worried and tense.”


    Turning around to address a maid who stood at the ready, Susannahmanded in a clear voice, “Go grab the Cardi Pink Diamond ne and bring it to me.”


    With swift movements, the maid fetched the ne. Under the gentle glow of the chandelier, the resplendent pink diamond emitted a brilliant sparkle.


    Susannah took the ne box herself and extended it towards Alex with a gentle flourish. “Here, take this,” she offered.


    Alex’s fingers tightened around the box, his gaze deliberately avoiding Susannah’s inquisitive eyes.


    “Alex, when do you n to introduce this youngdy to me?” Susannah inquired, her voiceced with a mix of curiosity and expectation.


    Alex gripped the box even tighter, skillfully dodging her question. “Mom, it’s gettingte. You should rest now.”


    With those words, he turned and hurried out of Howe Manor.


    From the doorway, Susannah watched her son’s departing silhouette, her head gently shaking in a mix of amusement and resignation, yet her eyes shimmered with undisguised affection. Alex remained distant, his demeanor reserved as ever.


    The ck Lincoln melted away into the shadowy embrace of the night once more.


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    In the quiet sanctuary of the back seat, Alex gently lifted the lid of the small, elegant box, revealing the glimmering pink diamond nestled within. His eyes lingered on its radiant hue.


    “Take this ne to the studio first thing tomorrow,” he said crisply to his assistant seated in the front.


    “Understood, Mr. Howe.”


    While the night deepened into inky ckness, the lights of Sadie’s studio zed defiantly against the dark.


    Inside her expansive office, Sadie sat alone, her silhouette sharply etched by a deskmp.


    Her desk was a chaotic spread of design drafts, each a testament to her relentless passion and meticulous craftsmanship.


    Prominently among the cluttery a sketch of an exquisite ne, the crown jewel of her “Ten Year Promise” collection and undoubtedly the most crucial.


    Yet, the absence of the Cardi Pink Diamond left a gaping void in her ns. Absolutely not! She couldn’t put all her hope in that one diamond—there had to be another option.


    With the design draft in hand, determination burned in Sadie’s eyes. If the Cardi Pink Diamond was out of reach, she’d carve out another way forward.


    Sadie had spent the entire night awake. Her eyes were red and sore, giving her a worn-out look, yet her gaze retained a piercing quality. The light aroma of coffee hung in the air. In the stillness of the room, only the gentle rustling of design papers could be heard.


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