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Chapter_591
“When’s the surgery scheduled?”
“As soon as Mr. Sheldon completes his battery of tests, ideally in two weeks.”
Whitney felt the timeline was manageable. However, a part of her worried that if they delayed any longer, Hugh might come up with a new scheme against them.
After leaving the hospital, she hurried to the office building rented by Skye Gem Ltd. Inside, Nyx was wrapping up a debrief about the mall kiosk event from a couple of days ago. For Skye Ltd., entering the heart of Emperor City had been a battle—hard-fought, but successfully won. Whitney’s personal scandal had caused a stir, but it was soon overshadowed by the announcement of her engagement to Bryce. The engagement even helped boost sales of their Lover’s Jewel collection.
Nyx handed her the microphone, and Whitney began outlining their future strategy for the company.
“Our new factory and office building on the outskirts of the city are under construction. It will take about a year to complete. In the meantime, Skye Gem Ltd. will focus on fully integrating into Emperor City’s jewelry market. We can’t compete purely on brand recognition—Emperor City’s elite already have their pick of luxury brands. Our focus will be on quality and design. Beautiful, themed collections that appeal to the younger crowd. Nyx, start recruiting lead designers to collaborate with me.”
After the meeting, Whitney gathered her documents and left the room. Bryce was waiting in her office, a smile on his face as he presented several high-end jewelry orders.
“Whitney, good news,” he said. “The lady who tried to embarrass you at the mall? She’s become one of our biggest fans. She’s rallied her social circle and placed a $10 million order—ten pieces of jewelry. But she insists you design them personally. Any issues with that?”
Danny, however, was visibly upset. His irritation wasn’t just with Bryce’s presence, but also with the growing influence Bryce seemed to have over their home.
“Can you stop showing up here like it’s a 24/7 diner?” Danny snapped, his tone sharp. “Haven’t I made it clear? I don’t welcome you here.”
Bryce’s constant appearances had begun to feel like an intrusion, and the silent rivalry between him and Danny was becoming palpable. Danny couldn’t stand the vengeful streak that seemed to accompany Bryce’s every move.
Whitney was about to intervene when Natalie stepped forward. Taking a deep breath, she affectionately patted Danny’s head.
“Danny,” she said gently, “Grandma always said to treat guests with kindness and respect, especially when they’re friends of your mom. Is this gentleman a friend of Whitney’s?”
Bryce took in Natalie’s appearance with a quick but deliberate glance. He knew exactly who she was. What caught him by surprise, however, was the warm and gracious demeanor she exuded.
To some extent, Natalie represented Ludwik. Her kind approach toward Whitney only solidified her position in Whitney’s eyes.
With a slight smile, Bryce responded, “I’m Whitney’s boyfriend. Her future husband.”
“Not so fast!” Danny interjected sharply.
He was aware of the rumors circulating in the media about his mom and some man tying the knot, but he hadn’t openly confronted her about it. Deep down, though, he couldn’t bring himself to believe it. Until his mom confirmed it, he refused to accept it as truth.
“Danny…” Whitney’s voice was a mix of exhaustion and concern as she tried to calm her son. “Can you go play for a bit?”
Tiana quickly came over and took Danny away, sensing the rising tension.
Natalie’s expression shifted when she heard Bryce’s words. The brief flicker of shock was followed by a hint of sadness, though Whitney noticed it instantly. She frowned slightly but chose to ignore the moment, pretending not to see the brief change in Natalie’s mood.
“Hello,” Natalie finally said, forcing a smile. She turned to Whitney, her tone a little quieter. “I came here to apologize. Am I interrupting?”
“Not at all,” Whitney replied, her voice warm. “I’m not sure what you’re apologizing for, but please, go ahead.”
Whitney removed her coat and led Natalie a little further away, maintaining a gentle and respectful demeanor throughout.
