?Chapter 257:


    Joy sparkled in Jonathan’s eyes, and his grin widened.


    “That’s fantastic!” he eximed. “My son is both talented and handsome, and together, you’d make an excellent pair! What do you say to…”


    Before he could continue, a sudden cold interrupted him.


    Alex appeared silently beside Sadie, his imposing presence obstructing Jonathan’s line of sight.


    A subtle frost seemed to ze Alex’s striking features, his gaze intensely fixed on Jonathan.


    The scene struck Sadie as rather humorous.


    Looking kindly at Jonathan, she spoke. “I appreciate your suggestion, but I prefer to follow my own heart when ites to these matters.”


    Feeling the tension, Jonathan chuckled nervously and, taking the hint, walked away swiftly.


    With Jonathan gone, Sadie’s initial shock subsided.


    A sharp gleam appeared in her eyes, and she murmured with a hint of resolve, “Now, it’s time to clean house.”


    Alex, by her side, looked on with concern. He leaned in and murmured, “Do you need help with that?”


    Turning to face him, Sadie offered a reassuring smile. “Thank you, but I can handle it on my own.”


    Meanwhile, tucked away in a quiet corner of the banquet hall, Pierre clutched his phone, his hands slick with cold sweat, hisplexion ashen, and his lips quivering. He struggled to muster the courage to take the call.


    The relentless ringing of the phone echoed ominously, pushing him to act.


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    With a tight grip on his resolve, he finally pressed the answer button.


    “What’s going on?! Why didn’t you report the change in the design draft immediately?!” K’s voice pierced through from the other end, sharp and filled with barely contained fury, as if ready to burst through the phone.


    Startled, Pierre nearly let the phone slip from his grasp.


    Struggling forposure, he said, “Miss Wade, Miss Hudson gave the whole studio two days off… I’ve only just returned to work today… I assumed she was out of alternatives… It never crossed my mind… It never crossed my mind that she would choose a sapphire over the pink diamond…”


    “Idiot, we’ve been ensnared in her scheme!”


    Before Pierre had a chance to speak, his phone was swiftly taken from him.


    Turning in rm, Pierre saw Sadie standing silently behind him, her presence casting a shiver through him.


    As the hall’s din seemed to recede, Pierre’s pounding heart seemed to be the only sound remaining.


    With assured calm, Sadie brought the phone to her ear and said firmly, “K, I rmend you turn yourself in willingly. If not, things will get messy for you, and a peaceful solution will be unreachable.” Her words carried a forceful authority.


    Sadie quickly ended the call and nonchntly threw the phone back to Pierre.


    Pierre caught the phone awkwardly, his face a mask of fright.


    “Mi… Miss Hudson…” Pierre stammered, his forehead drenched in sweat that soon soaked his cor. His trembling lips tried to form a plea for mercy, yet he was at a loss for where to start.


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