Chapter 90 I Keep My Promise, Elena

Chapter 90 I Keep My Promise, Elena
Two weeks passed quickly under the strict surveillance of Apex Sovereign's cyber radar. The winter air in the SoHo district still felt piercing, but inside the second floor of Elena Vance Atelier, the warmth of sandalwood essence and fresh espresso coffee created an atmosphere of absolute comfort.

Elena Vance sat with her back straight at her high-tech designer work desk.

Over the past fourteen days, she had hardly left her studio.

All her energy, focus, and emotions were poured entirely onto the black marble counter surface, where "Memory's Crown" had now taken physical form.

Under the highly precise LED spotlights, the medieval Gothic-structured diamond tiara stood with intimidating elegance.

The grip of silver dragon wings made of pure platinum firmly locked the ten-carat raw pink diamond from the Sterling clan at its central core.

Every micron of its carving symbolized tears, resilience, and strands of Elena's childhood memories with her late grandfather. This masterpiece was not just jewelry; it was a work of art radiating the highest luxury caste, capable of stunning anyone who laid eyes on it.

Ding.

The silver bell above the first floor's large teak door chimed softly, followed by the neatly arranged footsteps of several men in formal black coats.

Elena's nerves instantly tensed. The one-month deadline had been shortened, and today was the official judgment day that would determine whether her studio would receive absolute financial protection or be erased from Manhattan.

A middle-aged woman in a classic gray cashmere dress and black fox fur coat stepped into the second-floor VVIP private showroom.

Victoria Blackwood. The main empress of the Blackwood empire walked with pure aristocratic elegance, removing her diamond-framed sunglasses with one finger movement adorned by a giant emerald ring.

Elena quickly stood up from her work chair, forcing her best professional smile as she bowed respectfully.

"Good afternoon, Grand Lady Victoria Blackwood. It is an honor that you have returned to see the final draft of your diamond tiara."

Victoria did not respond immediately. Her sharp, cold eagle eyes immediately locked onto the physical form of "Memory's Crown" standing on a black velvet cushion.

At that moment, the main Blackwood empress's pupils seemed to dilate perfectly. All the air in her lungs seemed to pause for several moments.

As the highest woman in the world's socialite circles, having seen hundreds of masterpiece jewelry pieces from Paris to Milan, Victoria knew very well the value of precision.

However, the Gothic silver dragon wing structure embracing the pink diamond before her possessed an incredibly rare emotional depth. What struck Victoria most was the silver dragon symbolism—it was the Blackwood main clan's ancient secret emblem, known only to their core bloodline.

Victoria shot a sharp glance toward the room's back bar corner. There, Elijah leaned very calmly, wearing his signature loose red plaid flannel shirt with black jeans.

The young man held a cup of hot chocolate with a softened firm jaw, staring at his own mother with sapphire blue eyes emitting an icy cold cyber warning glint.

Elijah did not speak, but the lopsided smile at the corner of his handsome lips seemed to affirm his absolute power over this room.

'I've already given all our ancient archive documents to my lover, Mother. So don't you dare utter a word of rejection if you still want to see your Paris charity foundation shares remain safe,' a silent message clearly read by Victoria from her son's gaze.

Victoria exhaled a long breath, suppressing the overwhelming awe in her chest, then looked back at Elena, who was nervously squeezing the edge of her navy velvet blazer.

"A very bold Gothic structure, Miss Vance," Victoria said, her voice crisp yet still retaining the sharpness of a surgical scalpel.

"You dared to blend the softness of pink diamonds with the aggressive grip of a silver dragon. Where did you get your inspiration for this dragon emblem?"

Elena took a deep breath, steadying the tremor in her voice to maintain her designer dignity.

"This is 'Memory's Crown,' Madam. This silver dragon is a symbol of absolute protection from childhood stories taught by my late grandfather. I felt... the main Blackwood clan deserves to bear this symbol as the highest shield in New York."

Elena smiled bitterly to herself, feeling that her argument was strong enough. Her simple logic still locked onto the belief that Elijah was just a poor IT technician fortunate to have helpful colleagues.

She never realized that the "silver dragon" she had painstakingly carved was currently standing behind her, watching this grand charade unfold with the calm of a supreme mastermind.

Victoria Blackwood flashed her mysterious smile, full of incredibly foolish irony.

'Your grandfather didn't tell stories about our clan, Elena. The unfilial son behind you is the one who hacked my family's entire secret library to help you!' Victoria thought amusedly. However, to maintain her son's great ego and the survival of their one-year contract charade, Victoria chose to play by the rules.

"My taste is very difficult to satisfy, Elena," Victoria said, placing her Hermès bag with a soft thud on the counter.

"However... I must admit that 'Memory's Crown' is the only piece of jewelry in Manhattan worthy of adorning my head at the main clan's wedding anniversary event two years from now. In accordance with our agreement two weeks ago..."

Victoria glanced briefly at Elijah, seeing how her son discreetly lowered Apex Sovereign's radar tension on his device as a form of "thanks."

"Starting today, the main Blackwood clan officially declares itself as the public financial protector of Elena Vance Atelier," Victoria asserted, her voice echoing loudly in the soundproof studio's silence.

"I will ensure that the entire jewelry retail network in North America falls under my legal shield. And no more flies from the Valdez clan in London will have the legal right to disturb your business perimeter in New York."

Hearing that absolute decision, Elena Vance's eyes widened perfectly. Waves of relief, emotion, and happiness made all her joints suddenly weak.

Tears of joy nearly streamed down her smooth cheeks. She had succeeded. She finally had a legitimate protection throne to guard herself, her career, and most importantly—to protect Elijah, her "poor" lover whom she thought had been risking his life under Morgan Valdez's cyber threats.

"Thank you... Thank you very much, Grand Lady Victoria," Elena whispered sincerely, bowing as deeply as possible from behind the black marble counter.

"I keep my promise, Elena. Don't let this physical tiara have any flaws during the final forging process," Victoria said, putting her diamond-framed sunglasses back on.

She turned slowly, her black fox fur coat fluttering gracefully as her two black-coated guards opened the large teak door to welcome her return to the Upper East Side.