Chapter 274
After going upstairs, Stellan couldn’t shake the feeling of unease. Every creak and groan of the house seemed amplified, and the sounds from downstairs made her heart race with anxiety. She heard snippets of the conversation between Alaric and Todd, their voices rising in tension.
“Alright, Alaric, you’ve got guts!” Todd snapped, infuriated by Alaric’s calm demeanor. “I’ve been around for so many years, and I’ve never failed to get what I want. If you want to compete with me, bring it on. Let’s see who comes out on top.”
Alaric’s voice was steady, almost dismissive. “Alright, I’ll be watching.”
Todd’s parting words were laced with venom. “Just wait and see!” With a sharp turn, Todd stormed out of the room, leaving the tension hanging in the air.
The sound of Todd’s departure only made Stellan’s worry intensify. She hurried downstairs, unable to stay upstairs any longer. Her voice trembled as she asked, “Are you really going to go head-to-head with him?”
Alaric turned to her with a reassuring smile. “Don’t you have faith in me?”
“Of course, I have faith in you,” she replied, though the worry in her eyes was hard to miss. “I’m just worried about your health. We can’t afford to offend either side at Noah Jewelry, and who knows how long this will drag on? We can’t afford to wait when it comes to your health.”
“I understand all that. Don’t worry, I’ll have someone contact Noah Jewelry tomorrow to push them to make a decision quickly,” Alaric reassured her.
He pulled her close, his hand gently resting on her back. “Once we acquire Noah Jewelry, I’ll immediately stop working to get treatment. Nothing will change that decision.”
Stellan hesitated, unsure whether to trust his words completely. But seeing her continued concern, Alaric softened. “Alright, it’s rare for us to be home relaxing. Let’s not think about these unpleasant things today. Let’s just enjoy our time together.”
He pinched her cheek playfully, trying to coax a smile out of her.
Stellan managed a small, forced smile. As Alaric had said, it was rare for them to have a peaceful day at home, so they spent the rest of the day quietly, trying to forget the tension that loomed over them.
Meanwhile, Todd’s fury hadn’t subsided. No one had ever dared to defy him, and Alaric’s attitude only fueled his anger further. As he paced back and forth, Ambrose, standing at a cautious distance, knew better than to speak. He simply waited for Todd to settle his rage.
“I must get Noah Jewelry this time!” Todd’s voice was a growl of frustration. “Ambrose, go to Noah Jewelry immediately. I want an answer by tomorrow at the latest!”
“Okay,” Ambrose replied, his voice resigned as he prepared to leave. He knew that Todd wasn’t the type to accept defeat easily.
With both sides pressuring Noah Jewelry for an answer, the company found itself in an anxious frenzy. Executives and managers stayed up all night, discussing strategies and weighing their options. The next day, when Alaric arrived at the office, Silas was quick to approach him.
“Mr. Knight, Noah Jewelry has responded,” Silas reported, his voice filled with a sense of urgency.
“Go ahead,” Alaric prompted, leaning back in his chair.
“Because Noah Jewelry doesn’t want to offend either side, they’ve proposed a solution,” Silas continued. “Typically, the highest bidder wins, but since neither side is lacking in funds, they don’t think an auction would be effective. There’s an international jewelry exhibition coming up this month. The exhibits are selected through a rigorous screening process, and the committee rates the works based on quality. The highest-rated designs get the best display positions.”
Silas paused, letting the information sink in. “Noah Jewelry proposed that both you and Todd submit an original jewelry design. The committee will judge whose design is rated higher, and Noah Jewelry will sell to that party.”
Alaric smiled faintly, clearly impressed. “That’s a pretty good idea.”
“Coming up with such a proposal must have been tough for Noah Jewelry,” Silas added.
“Go find a jewelry designer immediately,” Alaric ordered. “Design three pieces and hold a meeting to choose one to submit for the exhibition.”
“Understood. I’ll get on it right away,” Silas replied, already moving to implement the plan.
Alaric was pleased with this solution. It seemed relatively fair and impartial—exactly the kind of approach that might give him an edge over Todd without resorting to underhanded tactics.
However, Todd was far from satisfied with this arrangement.
“What kind of idea is this?” he spat. “I have money to acquire a company, and now I have to pass some test first?”
Bill, trying to calm him down, shrugged. “Since neither side wants to offend the other, it’s a relatively balanced approach. Just find a good jewelry designer and submit a design.”
Todd scowled, his frustration palpable. “Bill, that’s easy to say, but the evaluation is entirely up to those jewelry committee members. We don’t understand this artistic stuff. What if there’s some bias, and they just say Alaric’s design is better? We’d be at a total loss.”
“There shouldn’t be any bias,” Bill said. “I’ve looked into this jewelry committee; it’s made up of internationally renowned designers. There shouldn’t be any foul play.”
Todd’s frustration only deepened. “Even if there’s no foul play, we don’t have much chance of winning this way. If I fail to acquire this jewelry company, my dad will kill me, and my dignity will be damaged. I won’t be able to stay in Arizona.”
Bill sighed, his tone more conciliatory now. “That’s all for later. Being frustrated now won’t help. Just find a designer and get a design ready.”
“Fine,” Todd muttered, but his words were laced with bitterness. “Find a designer. Let’s get this over with!”
Over the next few days, both Alaric and Todd were busy working on their jewelry designs. While the surface seemed calm, the competition was far from over.
Meanwhile, Cormac had been living a peaceful life, thinking that everything with Alaric was behind them. The two men had talked things out, and Cormac believed they would go their separate ways.
“Aurora, I got paid today. I’ll take you out to eat. What do you want?” Cormac asked, grinning.
“I don’t want to go out,” Aurora replied, shaking her head. “Uncle, you work so hard to earn money. We shouldn’t waste it. Besides, the food outside isn’t clean. Let’s eat at home. I’ve learned that dish; I can cook it for you.”
Cormac chuckled at her frugality. “Alright, we’ll have dinner at home.”
Aurora smiled brightly. “Okay, Uncle, wait here. I’ll cook for you.”
As Aurora moved into the kitchen, Cormac began tidying up her school bag. He found a piece of paper among her art materials, and as he unfolded it, his eyes narrowed in curiosity.