Chapter 248: More Rewards

"I can't believe you two went through all that effort."

"When Mike met her, he didn't even say anything at first because you look so much like her," Adrian went on. "She was working as a waitress at a diner. Mike simply showed her your photograph. At first, she said she didn't remember taking the picture. But then…" his voice trailed off, his gaze meeting hers. "It dawned on her that you were her child, all grown up."

Tears welled up in Sharon's eyes, spilling over in a soft cascade.

"Thank you, Adrian," she choked out, "I never thought I'd see her again. It felt like a distant, impossible dream."

"There's no time to waste on regrets," Adrian said, squeezing her hand reassuringly and giving her a warm smile. "You should spend every possible moment reconnecting with her, catching up on all those lost years."

Sharon's lips curved into a watery smile.

"Oh, she's actually already living with me now," Sharon replied, a hint of a laugh in her voice. "Galena is a distant memory now. She said she wouldn't leave my side again."

"And you're okay with that living arrangement?" Adrian checked.

Sharon nodded emphatically.

"Of course. It's a new beginning for both of us. And guess what else?" she added, a mischievous glint sparkling in her eyes.

"What?" Adrian prompted, intrigued by the sudden shift in her mood.

"She told me about my Dad," Sharon declared, a throaty laugh escaping her lips. "He was her first love, a boy who lived right across the street."

A broad, joyful smile spread across Sharon's face as she let out a hearty laugh.

"My dad…it feels so amazing to be able to say those words out loud."

"If you'd like," he offered tentatively, "I can try looking into tracking down your father's whereabouts for you as well."

Sharon's eyes lit up again.

"I would absolutely love that, yes. Thank you so much, Adrian."

"You're very welcome, Sharon. I'm glad I could help reunite you with your family."

As dessert concluded with a finely crafted chocolate mousse, Adrian caught a waiter's attention and gave a subtle signal. A silent exchange passed between them, and within a couple of minutes, the waiter reappeared, a silver platter cradling two crisp white envelopes.

With a courteous nod, the waiter deposited the envelopes on the table ceremoniously in front of Sharon.

"Thank you, that will be all," Adrian nodded to the waiter, who melted back into the bustling restaurant.

Turning his attention back to her curious face, Adrian smiled that heated smile she adored. His expression was warm yet businesslike.

"Those," he began, leaning forward slightly, "are yours."

Sharon's brows furrowed in apprehension and excitement. She hesitated for a moment, then cautiously reached out and picked up the envelopes. The weight was negligible, but they held the potential for something life-altering.

"What are they?" she asked, her voice, a whisper.

Adrian's smile widened, a hint of pride shimmering in his eyes.

"One," he explained, tapping the envelope on her right, "contains the Articles of Partnership for Find. It seems your brilliant business idea was a lot bigger than I thought."

A wave of warmth washed over Sharon. It felt surreal to see her idea taking shape in this crisp, official document.

"Since the entire concept was your brainchild, I've ensured your percentage of the profits is clearly stipulated."

Sharon's perfectly manicured fingers trembled ever so slightly as she pulled out the neatly bound document. Sure enough, her name was boldly listed as an equity partner in the fledgling venture.

"The other envelope," Adrian continued, "contains something even more exciting." He leaned closer, his eyes twinkling. "It's the business plan for Elegance and Eternity to launch across the country."

With a deft flick, she opened the other envelope, allowing the glossy promotional photos and meticulously crafted business plan to spill out across the linen tablecloth.

"Fifteen retail stores are already set up across the country, using your original boutique as the benchmark for their look and feel.

"Everything is ready to launch, the only remaining step is to open the doors to customers," Adrian stated simply.

Sharon's head was spinning as she frantically paged through the documentation, unable to formulate a coherent response.

Finally lifting her gaze to meet his warm, steady one, words escaped her in a reverent whisper.

"How…how is all this even possible?" she stammered. "There's no way…"

A gentle smile softened Adrian's face.

"Remember the sudden surge in orders from your website a few months ago? Turns out, I had a team working behind the scenes, replicating your exquisite designs."

"You…you copied my work?"

Adrian chuckled, the sound warm and reassuring.

"Not exactly copied, Sharon. More like meticulously recreated. Every curve, every detail, they're all yours. The jewelry has been displayed in all fifteen stores with a substantial stock. Everything is ready for operations."