Chapter 196 I Just Want Her To Be Happy Crystal was surprised to receive a call from Colton.
She thought that her collaboration with Colton was done for, and she had been ready to look for another business partner. Who would have thought that Colton would change his mind?
Colton was swift to agree to the collaboration.
After that, they discussed the details, and in a weekâs time, they concluded their discussion.
Crystal had six music centers under her name. Of course, the original spot was meant for piano lessons, so she used the twenty million that Edward invested to renovate the place instead.
All music centers were equipped with a showroom.
Pete had a circle of young friends who shared his passion for automobiles. Clad in suits, these enthusiastic individuals had an impressive knowledge of cars and exuded a professional demeanor. Their presence at the sales event on the first day contributed to its success.
By the end of the day, they managed to sell two hundred automobiles, and the total amounted to a hundred and twenty million.
When Crystal called Colton to inform him of the success, Colton beamed.
In a much friendlier tone than before, he said, âIâve underestimated you, Miss Winters. No one has ever tried this out before, so youâre a pioneer! Now, Iâm usually quite straightforward, so to celebrate, Iâll give you an extra one percent!â
Crystal smiled and answered, âThank you, Mr. Thatcher. Let me treat you to a meal another day.â
Colton hummed in delight. âSure.â
Soon, the call was over.
Pete arrived carrying a pile of orders, dressed sharply in a sleek black suit that caught everyoneâs attention. With his graceful presence, he took a seat beside Crystal and softly expressed his frustration, âIt feels like theyâre all out to get me! Youâve truly transformed this establishment into an exclusive social club!â
As he spoke, his composure gradually loosened, and he made an effort to draw nearer, attempting to charm his way closer with an endearing demeanor.
Crystal glanced at him.
Pete immediately straightened up and stopped fidgeting. The truth was, he was a little fearful of Crystal.
Crystal accepted the orders from his hand and flipped through them with care. She praised him by saying. âImpressive work! You must have raked in tens of thousands in commissions today!â
Yearning crept into Peteâs eyes.
He wanted her to reward him with something else.
Alas, what went on in his head was unknown to Crystal. After a moment of mulling, she said, âThe popularity weâre enjoying today will only last for a week. Iâm contemplating establishing a planning department to enhance our exhibition hallâs promotion.
Furthermore... There could be a business opportunity in the lobbies of certain upscale shopping malls as well.â
Pete cried out, âHow much money do you want to earn before youâre satisfied?â
He had no desire to handle these bothersome matters. All he longed for was to unwind, spend quality time with his friends, and savor a few drinks.
Crystalâs expression darkened.
In a flat tone, she said, âIf you donât want to do this, Iâll call Mr. Zelcest right away to talk to him about this.â
âNo, no! Iâll do it!â Pete yelped.
He stole another glance at Crystal, who was engrossed in her planning tasks, her profile radiating an ineffable charm of grace and beauty. There was something distinct about the color of her hair as if it hadnât been artificially dyed.
In other words, she was attractive.
Quietly, he told himself, I have to win her heart over. Once I win her over, Iâm going to show off my achievement to that Miller guy!
Hmph! Did you think I was an easy target?
Meanwhile, Henry had just ended his video conference at Adroit Law Firm.
In the next moment, Jamie entered.
Henry spared her a glance before sipping his coffee. Then, he asked, âYou have results?â
Jamie nodded and placed the file in front of him. âMiss Winters has done an exceptional job with this project. Sheâs strategizing to expand the business presence in Barnwood and the neighboring shopping malls. She has been away on a business trip for the past few days.â
Henry slowly flipped through the pages.
With a major in law and a minor in finance, Henry naturally had a keen understanding of the report.
Before long, he noticed certain issues particularly related to sustainability concerns. It appeared that Crystal had also taken these factors into consideration, which explained her exploration of alternative markets.
âItâs quite a big expansion...â Henry paused briefly, deep in thought, before stating, âPlease arrange for Mr. Squares from the Miller Corporationâs branch office to come here. I have something important to discuss with him!â
Jamie suspected her bossâ intentions. It seemed they wanted to position Preston Squares as a spy alongside Crystal. She hesitated for a moment before inquiring. âIf youâre helping Miss Winters, why not inform her.
about it?â
A bitter smile appeared on Henryâs lips.
He muttered, âItâs because she doesnât want anything from me.â
Jamie refrained from probing further, as she sympathized with her employerâs recent struggles. However, she couldnât help but harbor another question in her mind. If Crystalâs success continues to soar, wouldnât that further diminish the prospect of rekindling their relationship?â
Reading her mind, Henry smiled at her and said, âI just want her to be happy.â
He desired for her to embark on a fresh start in life, and thus, he was determined to support her, regardless of whether she chose to have a child or prioritize her career. The only thing that he wanted was for her to smile at him.
With Henry assisting her in the shadows, Crystalâs career went smoothly.
After a month and a little more, Crystal established her reputation in Barnwood, and she managed to appear in several business interviews, As for Pete, he managed to ride on her coattails.
They also collaborated on a fashion magazine titled Rising Stars of the Car World. Alongside the captivating cover, the magazine showcased over ten breathtaking photos throughout its pages. Although they were not overtly intimate during the photo shoot, they were captivating enough that they drew viewers in.
Soon, Peteâs identity as the son of the richest man in the south was revealed to the public.
In the past, his reputation had not been particularly favorable. However, by leveraging Crystalâs success, he managed to change his image. He was even praised by finance magazines that touted him as a role model in the business world.
Of course, the magazine also managed to find its way to Henryâs office desk.
He stared at the photos for a long, long time.
Henry knew how close Pete and Crystal were. Crystal doted on Pete, and she even brought him along during her business trips.
At that moment, Jamie entered the room, Observing his demeanor, she said in a low voice, âMr. Miller, Miss Winters has organized a celebratory dinner tomorrow night, and Iâve secured an invitation. Would you be interested in attending?â
Then, she gently placed the invitation on the table.
The Sublime Hotel hosted Crystalâs celebratory dinner, a magnificent event that was marked by grandeur.
Peteâs father, Edward, the richest man in the south, came from Hulcaster to attend the dinner. Determined not to let Edward steal the spotlight, David made sure to bring his wife, daughter, and son to the dinner as. well.
Just as Crystal was about to exit the private room, the server entered after a knock. âMiss Winters, Mr. Quinn has sent you a gift and said that heâs waiting for you outside.â
With that said, the server handed her an exquisite-looking box.
When Crystal opened it, she was greeted by the sight of the pink diamond she had pawned off in the past.
It had been her motherâs treasure.
No matter how resentful Crystal was toward Joshua, she could not reject this gift. Yet, at the same time, she knew what Joshua was trying to do-to use her mother to gain her forgiveness.
In the end, Crystal agreed to meet Joshua in the private room.
He was alone, and when he saw her in the white dress, he, for a moment, thought that he was looking at Krystal.
In a trembling voice, he told her, âCrystal, please forgive me.â
Unlike him, Crystal was calm.
She replied, âIâve been looking for this necklace for a long time. Thank you, Mr. Quinn, for returning it to its owner. To thank you, Iâve even prepared this for you. Please accept it.â
At that, Crystal passed him a check worth two million-three times the market price of the pink diamond..
Joshua paled.
What he wanted was not the check-he wanted a daughter.
Crystal gave him a small smile. âMr. Quinn, you might be a little too greedy. How can all the good things come to you? You and your family have hurt me so much, but youâre now asking me to love you like family?â A Joshua closed his eyes. âCrystal, regardless of whether you believe this or not, the one I loved most was your mother.â
Crystal lowered her gaze.
Those were words she neither wished to listen to nor believed.
In the end, Joshua slinked away without the check.