Chapter 97

Patrick knew Jennifer had made up her mind, and if he pushed back too hard, she'd definitely get suspicious. He had planned to visit Emily over the weekend. but he didn't expect Jennifer to be all over his schedule.Rubbing his temples, he sighed, "Alright. I'll come pick up Patricia in the afternoon."

Shirley, holding a cup of coffee, watched Patrick with eager eyes. She placed the coffee in front of him and leaned in, whispering. "Patrick, you always took me to auctions. I'm really into this traditional crafts exhibition too. Can I come along? I promise I won't bother you1 and Patricia. I'll just wander around on my own, okay?" Her eyes were so hopeful,it was hard to say no.

Patrick's resolve softened when he saw Shirley's expression. He didn't really want to go along with Patricia anyway. He glanced at Jennifer,and seeing no objection, he said, "Alright, you can come with us. Just let me know what catches your eye." His gentle tone made Shirley's heart skip a beat.

Shirley lifted her chin proudly at Patricia,as if to flaunt her special place in Patrick's life. But Patricia just gave her a cold look, then casually pulled out five black cards from her bag, showing off her wealth before putting them back with a calm expression.

Shirley was stunned by Patricia's move, feeling a wave of inferiority. She bitterly thought that if she came from a rich family too, Patricia wouldn't treat her like this. Her eyes dimmed with helplessness. She bit her lip,silently vowing to work hard and raise her status so no one could look down on her.

Henry Phillips, the heir to traditional craftsmanship, created pieces that were like works of art. Each piece of jewelry was intricate, with unique craftsmanship and priceless value. In an age where traditional skills were hard to replicate with modern methods, people valued these centuries-old techniques even more.

He never married nor found a suitable apprentice. His personality was peculiar, and his work ethic was so strict it bordered on harshness. When he was younger, he had high hopes of training several apprentices to pass on his craft. But if they didn't meet his exacting standards, he would ruthlessly make them destroy their work. The materials used were often gold, silver, or diamonds, which were already valuable. Naturally, the apprentices hesitated to destroy pieces that had cost them so much effort and precious materials. Eventually, Henry gave up on them.

Henry thought people were too obsessed with money and lacked the pure heart needed for true craftsmanship. They just couldn't grasp the essence of it, let alone pass it on. As he got older, he realized his precious skills were at risk of dying out. That was why his annual ancient craftsmanship exhibition became such a big deal. Everyone knew Henry's creations were becoming rarer, and collectors from all over wanted to snag one of his masterpieces.

Tickets for the exhibition were like gold dust, usually snapped up by influential noble families as soon as Henry announced the event. Regular folks had to pay through the nose to get in. The Hughes family, being one of the top jewelry tycoons in Pearl Peak City, had no trouble getting an invite. But they usually sent their chief designer to these things.

Today, in the coffee room of the Hughes Group, the air was thick with tension. A freelance designer, green with envy, said, "Ms. Adams,why did Mr.Hughes give your spot to that Emily this time? You're our chief

designer. Why should she go? She's only been here a hot minute."The designer's words were dripping with jealousy, clearly unhappy about Emily's sudden rise.

Nora Adams, a short-haired woman in a sharp suit. looked elegant and composed. With her wavy curls and gold-rimmed glasses. she had an intellectual beauty about her. As the chief designer of the Hughes Group.Nora was always respected. Her main focus was modern inlay craftsmanship, and she wasn't particularly into Aetheria's traditional methods. For her, attending these events wasn't a big deal.

When Marlon asked Nora if she could give up her spot for a talented new designer, she agreed without a second thought. She figured it was no biggie, but she didn't expect anyone to get jealous.

Nora's brows furrowed slightly as she scanned the room with a cold gaze.The whispering stopped. She spoke slowly, her voice calm but authoritative,"Have you finished the sketches I assigned? Have you brought the samples from the craftsmanship department? Have you memorized the process for the jewelry design exhibition in Sunshine Bay City?" She fired off questions one after another, making the employee who had been stirring the pot shiver. The others fell silent, not daring to say another word.