Chapter 55

"You flatter me, Mr. Valdemar." Evelyn Roland's lips curved slightly, but her eyes remained unreadable.

Sebastian Valdemar gazed at the piece displayed in the glass case. The scattered diamonds refracted delicate sparks under the lights, like stars strewn across the night sky. His long fingers traced the edge of the display as he murmured in a low voice, "How about 'Shattered Stars'?"

Evelyn's fingertips trembled imperceptibly.

Shattered Stars—even when broken, they still shine.

"A beautiful name," she heard herself say.

Sebastian immediately instructed Theodore Ashcroft to send the piece to the R&D department. Three days later, the Shattered Stars Collection launched for pre-sale, crashing the company's website within minutes. Social media platforms were flooded with posts about the jewelry, and fashion influencers rushed to review it.

Evelyn's phone buzzed incessantly with collaboration requests. Even her long-forgotten early works were suddenly unearthed and discussed enthusiastically by netizens.

Ding—

The vibration interrupted her pencil strokes on the design draft. A blot of ink spread across the paper as she glanced at the caller ID.

"Alex?"

"Mom and Dad miss you," Alexander Roland's voice came through the phone. "I'm downstairs."

By the time the black Maybach rolled over fallen leaves into the underground garage, Evelyn was tucking the seventh draft into her drawer. The elevator descended to F3, and when she opened the car door, the familiar scent of cedar enveloped her.

Headlights cut through the twilight as the car approached the villa. Two figures stood under the porch light, waiting eagerly.

"Evelyn!" Sophia Roland hurried forward, her silver-streaked hair fluttering in the breeze. Edward Roland waited on the steps, holding a steaming soup pot that fogged up his glasses.

Evelyn's nose stung unexpectedly.

"I promise," she said, gripping her mother's wrinkled hands tightly. "I'll visit every week from now on."

Sophia's eyes brightened. "You'd better mean it!" The elderly couple flanked her as they walked inside, shielding her like a treasure they'd finally recovered.

Under the dining room chandelier, their three shadows stretched across the floor-to-ceiling windows—warm enough to make her heart ache.