Chapter 19
Chapter 19:
Sophie immediately waved her hands, flustered. “No, no, that’s not what I meant,” she rushed to explain. “It’s just… the ring is worth so much. It really belongs with you. You need it right now, and selling it could give you a good start p>
Because of her background in jewelry design, Sophie knew better than most just how rare and valuable that diamond was. And honestly, she didn’t feel she deserved a piece like this. It made more sense for Adrian to use it as capital for whatever business he wanted to pursue.
But Adrian didn’t even think about it. “That won’t happen.” He caught her hand and slid the ring back on her finger like it had never left. His grip was steady, his tone leaving no room for argument. “This ring belonged to my mother. Before she passed away, she made it clear it should be given to my wife. It carries her blessing p>
Sophie’s heart skipped a beat. It was the first time she had ever heard him talk about his mom.
She knew his mother had passed away years ago. She stared down at the ring, suddenly feeling guilty for only thinking of its price.
Placing both hands over the ring, she nodded earnestly. “I’ll treasure it. I promise p>
The tension between them eased at last.
Not long after, Sophie’s excitement about their new home bubbled back. She darted around the massive penthouse, dragging Adrian along. “Adrian, look! There’s a gym in here! And a home theater!” She peeked into another room and gasped. “Oh wow, they even have a full dry-cleaning machine! Do you know how much we’ll save on laundry p>
Her voice was full of wonder, like she had just stumbled into a treasure chest.
Her joy was infectious, and Adrian couldn’t help but soften as he watched her. She didn’t look like the spoiled, shallow girl people described. If anything, she seemed playful and almost endearing.
The days passed quickly, and before Sophie knew it, the company’s assessment day arrived. The meeting room had been rearranged into an exam hall, with rows of desks lined up in neat order.
𝖬𝘰rе 𝘯ov𝘦𝘭𝘀 𝗼ո
Sophie found her assigned seat, but before she could settle, she noticed Lila diagonally across the room, glaring at her with open hostility.
Lila leaned back with a smirk. “What’s an assistant designer like you gonna do? Hand in a blank paper p>
Sophie twirled her pencil between her fingers and shot her a small smile. “That’s funny. Didn’t I help with most of your work? Hope you still remember how to use one of these p>
“You—” Lila’s cheeks turned red, but just then, the proctor walked in. She snapped her mouth shut and glared instead.
Since the Pinnacle Group team hadn’t completely settled into the company yet, the exam was still being overseen by the original staff.
Sophie lifted her gaze to the front and immediately recognized the proctor—Edgar Thorpe from HR. Her eyes narrowed slightly. Edgar wasn’t just anyone; he was Lila’s uncle.
He went around handing out blank sheets, and once everyone had one, he spoke clearly, announcing the design theme chosen by Pinnacle Group. The word was “Promise p>
The single word froze Sophie in place. Her pencil hovered over the page as her thoughts drifted backward in time.
She could almost hear the solemn vows from her wedding day echoing in her ears. “In sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, will you love him with all your heart and never forsake him p>