Chapter 139

Chapter 139:

Frederick took his time examining each sketch, his focus unwavering. With every page he turned, his expression softened, and a look of genuine admiration replaced his earlier reserve.

Carly’s face lit up when she spotted a certain drawing, her finger tracing one of Sophie’s delicate details. “Fred, look at this! This is exactly how I always imagined it,” she said, her voice sparkling with delight.

The idea that someone had poured so much care into capturing their love story in jewelry touched Carly in a way words couldn’t express.

Later, when Carly heard that Frederick had once doubted Sophie, she teased him with a mock scold, saying he had nearly missed out on a designer worth her weight in gold.

Sophie could hardly believe it when, while Frederick ducked out to get some water, Carly gently took her hand and shared stories from her youth—intimate, heartfelt memories that Frederick hadn’t brought up before.

Save your favorite novels on.com

Those private, feminine insights lit a new fire in Sophie’s mind, opening creative doors she hadn’t known were there.

Revitalized by this trust, Sophie threw herself into perfecting the designs, determined to capture the heart of the Powells’ love in a single, unforgettable piece.

After countless revisions, she finally chose her favorite and sent the finished design to Frederick and Carly before submitting it to the Sprout Cup.

Their answer arrived almost immediately.

Frederick and Carly had written only one line, but it was full of meaning: “Sophie, you’ve captured our story perfectly. Thank you for making it real p>

Soon after, the Sprout Cup competition officially began.

While it was never openly advertised, everyone in the jewelry world knew the Sprout Cup was meant to spotlight fresh talent and open doors for rising stars. Most of the competitors were younger designers, making the event both cutthroat and filled with hope.

Several designers came from Pinnacle Jewelry, Sophie among them.

Submitting her design left her with butterflies in her stomach, nerves rattling as she waited for any word. When the announcement finally came that she had cleared the first round, Sophie was so relieved she could barely contain herself.

She dashed home, practically glowing with excitement.

“Adrian! My design for the Powells just made it through the preliminaries!” she called out, waving her phone triumphantly as she kicked off her shoes at the door.

Adrian turned, his lips curving into a proud smile. “That’s fantastic. Should we go out and celebrate p>

Sophie hesitated, shaking her head. “Not just yet. Actually, I need your advice p>

“Oh? What’s on your mind p>

After dinner, they found themselves wandering through the mall.

“I want to get a thank-you gift,” Sophie explained as they browsed. “But I have no idea what men actually appreciate. What do you think guys really like p>

Adrian’s brow quirked in surprise. A gift—for a man?

He managed to keep his tone even. “So, who’s the lucky man p>

Sophie’s whole face lit up with gratitude. “My biggest cheerleader! I wouldn’t have made it past the first round if he hadn’t helped me meet Mr. Powell p>

Adrian’s expression shifted ever so slightly. He was the one who had set up that meeting.

Trying to sound casual, he cleared his throat. “You know, it’s really your own talent and drive that got you this far.” And he meant it. He had never doubted Sophie’s ability.

But she shook her head, adamant. “No way. I owe him big time. Without his help, I’d never have even gotten the chance p>

Adrian touched the edge of his mask, stifling a laugh. So she was running herself ragged just to thank him? All he had done was pull a few strings. Did she really need to make such a fuss?

Before he could say anything else, Sophie’s eyes widened with excitement. “And his birthday’s coming up soon! I can use this as a birthday gift, too. That way, he can’t turn it down p>

Birthday?

He blinked, caught off guard that she had even remembered. So that was what this was about—a not-so-subtle plan to surprise him when his birthday rolled around.

Adrian shook his head, amusement bubbling beneath the surface. This woman and her sneaky, thoughtful ways.