187“Everyone, please return to your duties,” Jenna said, her voice calm yet commanding. “I’m sure you all have much to ponder after what transpired here today. Mr. West and I have some matters to discuss. Carry on with your work, and let this be a lesson in avoiding hasty judgments.”The crowd disp
188Two days later, Darius found himself browsing the antique store downtown. He had always had a keen eye for craftsmanship and unique designs since the orphanage.As he perused the shelves, one item caught his attention—a vintage porcelain figurine with elaborate hand-painted details. Darius picke
189The man scoffed and rolled his eyes, calling Darius’s bluff, “That’s a blatant lie if I ever heard one,” the store owner eyed him and sneered.“I’ve been an antique collector and expert for a good number of years, probably even while you were still in diapers!” he taunted him.The subtle jab was
190The store owner had had enough of Darius’s interfering and couldn't hide his displeasure. He huffed loudly once again for the umpteenth time. He wasn’t going to admit defeat or give Clara Brooks any hint that the meddlesome man had been right and that he was pawning off the figurine to the ignor
191“I understand your disappointment, but ultimately, I just saved you from presenting a worthless item as unique and special. Imagine what could have happened.”Clara shuddered at the thought, unable to face the humiliation if it had occurred. Her cousins would have had a field day mocking her, an
192She gently wrapped her hand around Peter’s arm and smiled up at him. “What brings you to this area?”Peter placed a saccharine smile on his face and turned towards her. “Oh, just looking for a good place to purchase a present for your grandfather. You know his birthday is in four days.”“That’s
193Clara’s frustration mounted as she tried to keep the peace between Peter and Darius. The atmosphere crackled with tension, and she felt every word exchanged like a blow to her heart.“Peter, please, let’s just focus on finding a gift,” Clara said, her voice tinged with a mixture of pleading and
194As Darius navigated through the bustling city streets, his mind abuzz with anticipation for the relaxation at Elena's Castro cosmetics, he noticed a sleek black sedan swerving erratically ahead. The driver seemed completely engrossed in a heated conversation on his phone, paying little attention