Crippled Luna's Farewell: Half A Life Without My Alpha's Deadly Deception

Chapter 57 Sarah stood at the edge of the ballroom, the soft murmur of conversation and the tinkling of glasses fading into the background.

She gazed out over the gathered guests, her expression serene, though her thoughts flitted like autumn leaves. Arnold's presence, once a weight on her heart, no longer held the power it used to. She had already begun to let go.

Leo, standing beside her, observed her with quiet admiration.

Sarah appeared gentle and soft, but beneath that exterior lay a thoughtful, resilient spirit.

Her ability to mask her emotions so gracefully was something he respected deeply.

Sensing the moment, he raised his glass to her.

"To new beginnings," he said warmly, his deep voice carrying a note of encouragement.

Sarah turned to him, a genuine smile tugging at her lips. She lifted her own glass, the sparkling water catching the light like diamonds.

"To new beginnings," she echoed softly, clinking her glass against his.

As they sipped their drinks, a distinguished middle-aged man approached them.

His presence commanded respect without needing to announce itself. His tailored navy suit spoke of timeless sophistication, and his hair, combed back neatly, gleamed under the chandelier lights.

Leo straightened, his face lighting up with recognition. "Mr. Colton! What an honor to see you here." "Leo," the man was elegant, his voice filled with a sense of coldness and majesty. "When you said you wanted to surprise me, did you want to introduceto this lady next to you?" Leo gestured toward Sarah, his tone full of pride as he introduced her. "This is Sarah, a true artist and a genius in jewelry design." Sarah offered a polite nod, extending her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Colton." Mr. Colton took her hand gently, his sharp eyes assessing her.

His gaze lingered for a moment, filled with curiosity.

"I feel like I've seen her somewhere before ..... You're saying she's a genius at jewelry design?" he mused, glancing at Leo before returning his attention to Sarah.

"Forgive my surprise, but you're quite young-and far too beautiful to be hidden away in a studio. Are you sure this isn't another one of Leo's tricks?" Leo laughed, shaking his head. "No tricks this time, Mr. Colton. Sarah's talent speaks for itself. Do you recall the True Love Promise collection? The one that caused such a stir a few years back?" Colton's brow furrowed in thought before his eyes widened slightly. "The *True Love Promise*? Of course, I remember! It was a masterpiece....delicate yet powerful. I assumed it was the work of an established designer with decades of experience." 08:01 O Crippled Luna's Farewell; Half A Life Without My Al DeP 43.1% Chapter 57 Leo smiled knowingly. It was Sarah's design. She created it when she was barely an adult." The revelation left Colton momentarily speechless.

He turned to Sarah, his expression shifting from polite cumiosity to genuine admiration.

"Well, well," he said at last, a slow smile spreading across his face, "I must say, I'm impressed. Talent like that is rare, and to think it cfrom someone so young. You've certainly made an impression, my dear." Sarah's cheeks flushed slightly at the unexpected praise, but she maintained her composure, "Thank you, Mr. Colton. That collection was very personal to me, and I'm glad it resonated with others." "It did more than resonate," Colton replied, his tone earnest. “It elevated the standard of what jewelry design could be. Your work has a depth that's hard to find these days." Leo chimed in, his voice full of pride. "I fold you she was remarkable,” Colton chuckled, nodding in agreenient. “You were right, Leo, Sarah, if you ever need guidance... or someone to bounce ideas. off. I would be more than happy to help." Sarah's smile deepened, her confidence bolstered by his words. "That's very kind of you, Mr. Colton. I appreciate the offer and would be honored to learn from someone with your experience." Sarah and Mr. Colton were in the midst of an animated discussion about jewelry design.

Their voices rose and fell in lively debate, their contrasting views igniting sparks that drew curious glances from the nearby guests.

Their back and forth was spirited, almost combative, yet it was clear they both enjoyed the exchange.

They looked, to the untrained eye, like rivals locked in a a heated argument, cheated but there was/mutual respect beneath their words.

"Remarkable," Colton finally said with a chuckle, shaking his head. "You've got sharp instincts, young lady. You O remindof myself... though I don't know if that's a compliment or a warning." Sarah laughed softly, her tension melting away. "I'll take it as a compliment.” Just then, Linda approached, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor.

She stopped beside Leo, her smile polite but icy. "Leo," she greeted, her voice honeyed with a touch of insincerity.

Her gaze shifted to Sarah, and her expression hardened, a mixture of offense and disdain flashing briefly across her face.

"Linda," Leo replied evenly, his posture relaxed but his eyes watchful.

He noticed the unspoken tension between Linda and Sarah and felt a protective instinct stir.

With a deliberate smile, he gestured toward Sarah.

"Allowto introduce Sarah, the most important member of my team. Her designs have transformed the studio's reputation." Linda's smile faltered for a fraction of a second before she recovered, her gaze flicking between Leo and Sarah.

43.3% Chapter 57 The subtext in Leo's words was unmistakable-he valued Sarah too highly to tolerate any interference.

Linda understood the implication clearly: there would be no place for her at Leo's studio, now or in the future.