She Turned Her Grief Into Wings novel Chapter 37

"How's that little studio of yours doing?"

Shera didn't even look at him. "Amazing, obviously. Without you around, the sky is much bluer."

At the very least, there was no one around to mock Evegrace as some embarrassing, unpresentable little workshop.

Her words carried a sharp sting.

She simply didn't want to give him the satisfaction of a polite response. She wanted every word out of her mouth to make him as uncomfortable as possible.

"Are you entering the museum's design competition?" he asked casually, looking out his window.

Shera stiffened. "You've been spying on me?"

Caden let out a cold scoff but didn't answer. In the front, Aiken tactfully spoke up. "Mrs. Hayes, Hayes Group is a sponsor for that competition, so we naturally get some inside information."

Shera was highly skeptical. "Since when does a financial empire like Hayes Group care about fashion design competitions?"

Even if they were sponsors, there was no way a list of mere contestants would ever cross Caden's desk.

Noticing her blatant suspicion, the man turned his head, his expression deadpan.

"Let me guess. You think I care about you so much that I dug into your life, found out you were entering this competition, and then deliberately sponsored it just for you?"

He sneered. "Shera, you really think highly of yourself."

Ugh.

Shera scoffed in disgust, quietly retracting her gaze. Her tone went flat. "I never said that."

Though his words were insulting, she silently agreed that Caden wasn't the type to do something that hopelessly romantic and irrational.

After all, he had never once voluntarily shown interest in anything she did.

Caden's voice was perfectly measured. "I'll be at the finals. Try not to embarrass me."

Shera shot back instantly. "Don't worry, I wouldn't dream of using your name to get ahead. I'd love nothing more than to stay as far away from you as possible and pretend we've never met."

"Shera!" His voice cracked like a whip, laced with genuine anger.

Aiken pushed through awkwardly. "The truth is, Mrs. Hayes actually has an incredibly sweet temper. If you just showed a little more patience, it wouldn't be hard to win her back."

Caden's eyes flicked over. "I lack patience?"

If this wasn't patience, what the hell was?

He had gone out of his way to talk to her repeatedly. Every single time, he was met with cold sarcasm and hostility. Before he could even finish a sentence, she was tearing into him. They couldn't even have a basic conversation without it devolving into a fight.

For years, who had ever dared speak to him with that kind of tone? Not even the veteran board members at the company had the nerve.

Yet she left him completely speechless every time.

He had never realized she had such a sharp tongue.

Aiken pressed on. "I've known Mrs. Hayes for a long time, and I've never once seen her lose her temper. She was always gentle, always polite to everyone. Every month before the family dinner, she spent days preparing. She personally managed all the holiday gifts, memorizing exactly what every single relative liked. In three years, she never made a single mistake. Even if you don't appreciate her efforts, you have to acknowledge how hard she worked."

"Like at your wedding. When your stepmother humiliated her in front of everyone, calling her unpresentable and low-class, Mrs. Hayes didn't even argue back. Over the years, every time she saw your family, she faced endless insults and pure hostility. But she never complained. Every single time, she greeted them with a perfect smile and impeccable manners."