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Novel Catalog
Chapter 64
Gale bit her lower lip until it nearly bled, trying to suppress the turmoil inside. “Got it,” she muttered quietly.
“Get out.”
She didn’t need any further instructions. With a stiff nod, Gale turned and walked out of his office. Shawn always seemed to give her a fleeting hope before ruthlessly pulling her deeper into a pit of despair.
Back at the office, Gale sat down at her workstation, her mind clouded. She stared at the design draft before her, but the paper was nothing more than a blur. For someone who had created all kinds of intricate jewelry designs for Lovito—necklaces, rings, bracelets—she never lacked inspiration. But now, she could barely focus.
The only design that seemed to haunt her was Susan’s wedding ring.
“Why are you zoning out?” Summer asked as she approached, patting Gale on the shoulder. “Design block?”
Gale shook her head. “Just… thinking.”
Summer’s eyes landed on the canvas. “What’s this? It’s so old-fashioned. It’s tacky, actually. No elegance, no sophistication. It’s like something a nouveau riche person would wear. Gale, this isn’t like you.”
Gale sighed, trying to explain. “It’s for Susan. She likes basic, simple styles.”
Summer clicked her tongue, unimpressed. “No wonder… Tsk, tsk.” Her eyes rolled dramatically. “Does Shawn have a problem with his eyesight? I mean, all the rich, beautiful women are after him, and yet he chose… Susan?”
Gale could only shake her head. “Life is puzzling,” she said with a forced smile, trying to brush off the sting of her words.
Just as Summer was about to continue her teasing, Joe walked in, fresh from a client meeting. Summer quickly intercepted him, her tone light but with an underlying hint of sarcasm. “Mr. Winter, do you know any good eye doctors in Sea City?”
Joe raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong with your eyes?”
“I don’t need one! It’s Shawn who needs an eye doctor!” Summer grinned, clearly enjoying herself.
Joe was unfazed. “What does his eyesight have to do with me?” He paused for a moment before shifting topics. “By the way, I showed your designs to a foreign client, and they loved them. You should keep pushing yourself. We might just surpass Carson’s Fantastic Jewels this year.”
Gale nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Winter. I’ll keep working hard.”
Joe smiled, confident in his judgment. “If this keeps up, we’ll definitely be ahead of the competition. Oh, and I heard Sam’s been having a rough time lately.”
The words hit Gale like a sudden blow. She forced herself to remain calm, her heart racing. “What happened to him?”
Joe continued, unaware of the tension building in Gale’s chest. “His company’s in trouble. Shareholders are attacking him. The board of directors is even pushing him to resign, claiming he’s incapable. And Shawn publicly stated he’s not optimistic about Sam’s future. He’s going to compete with Sam until the end. The directors are probably trying to win favor with Shawn, so they’re turning against Sam.”
Gale’s stomach churned at the thought. These businessmen were calculating, willing to sacrifice anyone to curry favor with Shawn. She knew that if Shawn set his sights on Sam, there was no escape. Just a single word from him could shatter Sam’s life.
The chilling possibility of what Shawn might do to Sam made Gale’s heart freeze.
Joe’s voice broke through her thoughts. “Well, Sam’s our competitor. The worse he does, the better for us. But… hey, Summer! Why are you pinching me?” he suddenly exclaimed.
“Oops! My bad!” Summer laughed, quickly ushering Joe out of the room. She’d been aware of Gale and Sam’s past, and it was clear that the situation had taken a toll on her.
Gale gave a strained smile, hiding the weight of her emotions. “I’m fine, really. I’ve been through so much. This is nothing new for me.”
But the truth was, she had no choice but to endure it.
Summer’s expression softened with concern. “Alright. But remember, if you ever need someone, you can call me. Don’t suffer in silence.”
Gale appreciated the sentiment, but she couldn’t help feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders. She forced herself to focus and picked up her pencil, determined to finish the task at hand.
Within half an hour, Gale had completed the design. She took a picture and sent it to Susan, her fingers trembling slightly. Is it big, flashy, and expensive enough?
Susan’s reply came quickly, dripping with disdain. How dare you send me a black-and-white sketch? Who do you think you’re fooling?
Gale rolled her eyes and sent a full-color version in response.
Susan’s reply was blunt. The main diamond in the middle is too small. There are too many tiny diamonds on the side.
Gale couldn’t help but feel frustrated. Oh my God, do you even know a good design when you see one?
Susan’s message was almost mocking. Who’s wearing the ring, you or me?
Gale, feeling defeated, responded with one last jab. Ducks aren’t swans.
And then, she simply ignored Susan’s messages. She had long known that Susan would be picky, but at this point, Gale just wanted to finish the job. She made halfhearted amendments, knowing that it was all just a way to get through it.