Chapter 262

Chapter 262

The Starpoint event was a huge success. As the organizer, Lantine Jewelry made a real name for itself across the industry, showing the world that the company wasn't just about jewelry design — it could also handle large-scale event venue design.

The medal design in particular got a lot of attention. Fans were already flooding Lantine Jewelry's official account asking where they could buy the same ones. The team was already in talks with manufacturers and getting ready to start mass production.

Andrew stood watching Olivia on stage, his eyes full of undisguised admiration. He was more certain than ever that he hadn't been wrong about her.

As Olivia finished her acceptance speech, he picked up the bouquet beside him and stood up. But before he could take a single step, a figure cut smoothly through the crowd and walked up onto the stage ahead of him.

Michael, in a well-tailored black suit, wore a faint smile on his lips. His eyes were fixed directly on Olivia as he stepped up and stopped in front of her, holding a soft bouquet of champagne roses.

The crowd erupted in screams. Michael raised his hand and offered her the flowers, his warm voice low enough that it seemed meant only for her ears.

"Congratulations. You've more than earned it."

Down below, in the front row of the VIP section, Andrew's gaze had never left Olivia. The moment he saw her take the flowers from Michael's hands, his expression darkened and his body went rigid.

A wave of frustration hit him square in the chest, nearly knocking the breath out of him. Jealousy surged through him, and he couldn't stand it.

They're already divorced, and he still won't leave her alone!

Andrew clenched his back teeth. After one long, hard look at Michael's shameless move, he strode up onto the stage and walked straight to Olivia's side. Without a word, he thrust his bouquet toward her — a bold, direct way of making his presence known.

Against someone as shameless as Michael, Andrew figured he had to be even more shameless.

With that thought, he gave his wrist a quick turn and pressed the white roses firmly into Olivia's arms.

Olivia stood there holding two large, heavy bouquets, then looked at the two men in front of her who were clearly competing with each other. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

With so many eyes on them and cameras from the media constantly pointed their way, the last thing she wanted was her personal life trending online by morning. So she stepped to the side to open up some space next to her, then turned and gestured for Lily to come stand beside her.

Lily had been standing in the back watching the whole thing unfold with wide eyes. Being pulled into the middle of it all made her feel like she was standing at the center of a battlefield. She squirmed uncomfortably and kept shooting desperate looks at Gavin behind her.

Gavin, as easygoing and oblivious as ever, caught Lily's look and thought she was trying to signal him about something. He immediately bent down and smoothed out the train of her evening gown behind her.

This left Lily standing squarely between Olivia and Michael. In that instant, she felt completely frozen.

"Hold this for me."

Olivia casually handed the champagne roses from Michael to Lily, who looked like she was about to cry.

With that, Olivia tucked the white roses from Andrew comfortably under one arm, her fingers resting lightly on the ribbon tied around the bouquet — easy and natural.

Andrew had positioned himself beside Olivia, but his eyes had been quietly tracking her every move. The jealousy hadn't fully faded yet — but when he saw what she did, the tension in his jaw eased right away, and the corners of his mouth lifted. His heart felt light.

She kept my flowers.

Looks like I know Olivia better than he does.

Even though Andrew kept his expression cool and composed, his eyes gave him away — they were practically glowing with happiness he couldn't hide.

Michael took it all in from where he stood. He looked calm on the surface, but if you looked closely, there was a flicker of awkwardness in his eyes.

His relationship with Andrew was already complicated enough. Now that this whole flower situation had played out in public, who knew what the media was going to run with.

After that little scene, the host quickly moved things along. Following brief remarks from the organizers, the awards ceremony wrapped up smoothly, the crowd began to thin out, and the team made their way out one by one.

Olivia and her group followed the crowd to the exit.

"Ms. Smith, wait here for a moment — I'll go get the car."

Gavin, always quick to read the room, pulled the car keys from his pocket and headed off toward the parking lot behind them.

The evening breeze was soft and easy, pleasant against the skin. Olivia looked down at the white roses in her arms, swaying gently in the wind, and found herself smiling.

A moment later, a silver-grey sedan pulled up smoothly in front of her. The car looked familiar. Sensing movement ahead, Olivia looked up. The window rolled down, and Michael's face came into view.

He was looking straight at her, about to say something to get her in the car, when a sharp, impatient horn blared from behind.

Two quick blasts — blunt and jarring, cutting right through the quiet.

Olivia turned at the sound. When she saw that it was Andrew's car behind her, most of the tension she'd been feeling melted away.

"What are you doing? Can't you see the no-honking signs?"

The window came down as she spoke. Andrew sat with one hand on the steering wheel, his eyes on her, dark and steady.

"Ms. Smith, I have some work matters to go over with you."

Andrew's low voice carried a deliberate, business-like tone, though he was doing everything he could to keep his surging possessiveness buried.

He'd been counting on having some time alone with Olivia after the event. He hadn't expected Michael to swoop in again. Just looking at Michael's face made Andrew want to grind his teeth.

"You handed me the gold procurement deal with Holden, remember? I need to walk you through the follow-up process and the details of the business negotiations. I've already looked into Holden's supply chain through the Anderson Group, but the specifics still need your sign-off, Ms. Smith."

Andrew launched into a full rundown of the work situation, steady and unhurried. Even if Michael had been hoping to get Olivia to leave with him, there was no way he could interrupt a work briefing.

"Well then, I'll let you two get to it. When things settle down, I'll bring Nina by to see you."

Michael kept a perfectly measured smile on his face, nodding to Olivia and then to Andrew. To Andrew, that nod felt like nothing short of a provocation.