The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 35

One month later.

The Lawrence Atelier hosted its autumn showcase at an art gallery downtown. The lighting in the exhibition hall was soft, and smooth string music flowed through the air. The displays were surrounded by invited media, fashion buyers, and elite investors.

Nora wore a sharply tailored white suit, her long hair pinned up elegantly, standing quietly next to the display case featuring her work.

She had just picked up a glass of sparkling water when a man's voice sounded beside her.

"Fascinating design. This method of using metallic tension to compensate for the structural flaws of the gemstone is very rare here."

The voice was smooth, the pacing measured.

Nora turned her head. The man was dressed in an impeccably tailored dark gray suit with subtle texturing. He was tall, wearing rimless glasses that framed his handsome, refined features. He held a glass of champagne, his gaze resting evenly on her.

Nora was slightly surprised.

In a single sentence, he had pinpointed the core technical challenge of her design. It was an asymmetrical cut that even some of the senior designers in the studio hadn't caught at first glance.

"You understand jewelry mechanics?" Nora set her glass down.

The man took two steps closer, pulling a card from his breast pocket and handing it to her.

"Julian Pierce."

Nora took the card. It was matte black with gold foil lettering, bearing only a name and a phone number. No titles.

Cards like this were usually reserved for people whose backgrounds were so formidable they didn't need titles to introduce themselves.

The name Julian Pierce rang a bell. There weren't many wealthy Pierces in the city's elite circle, and the only one with this kind of presence was the heir to the Pierce Investment Group.

However, the Pierce family was famously low-key, and the heir spent most of his time abroad. Nora had never crossed paths with him at any of the high-society galas.

A rare, genuine smile finally touched Nora's lips.

They chatted for a few more minutes. Julian's insights were sharp, his market instincts precise, and the suggestions he offered hit the mark perfectly.

He carried none of the arrogance typical of a billionaire heir. He discussed ideas with a humble demeanor, showing absolute respect for her creative vision.

It was the complete opposite of Gideon's dictatorial approach. For the first time, Nora realized that a conversation could actually be an equal, enjoyable exchange.

His gaze remained on her, open and direct.

Nora felt a flicker of self-consciousness under his attention and instinctively broke eye contact.

An assistant in a suit hurried over, whispering something into Julian's ear.

Julian's expression relaxed as he listened, a gentle light crossing his eyes. He gave Nora an apologetic smile. "Excuse me, Nora. I have some business to attend to. I hope we have the opportunity to collaborate in the future."