A simple gesture from him could effortlessly shatter her dreams.

Meanwhile, Jerrold had persistently waited outside Lilah's apartment.

At midnight, with no sight of her, exhaustion and disappointment overcame him. He was drained.

Then, Gerard emerged, scooped up Jerrold, and brought him back home.

This time, Jerrold offered no resistance.

Nevertheless, for the next few days, he continued to wait patiently, but Lilah's presence remained elusive.

Had she forsaken him?

Jerrold, typically sharp-witted and composed, broke down in tears, evoking deep sympathy in anyone who witnessed it.

However, Lilah wasn't deliberately avoiding him.

These past few days had been a whirlwind; Lilah had practically been living at the office. Being a CEO wasn't a walk in the park, especially with Xavier Jewelers entering the competition. The pressure on Lilah was mounting.

On this specific day, she personally went to inspect the selected site for her new brick-and-mortar store. She was all set to finalize the deal. But as she arrived, her eyes fell upon the mall owner, who was lavishing attention on a woman in a trench coat, showering her with flattery.

That sharp profile was forever etched in Lilah's memory; it belonged to Evelyn.

"Ms. Phillips," the owner stammered when he noticed Lilah, a hint of surprise mixed with nervousness in his demeanor. "You're here."

"Didn't we already reach an agreement on the contract?" Lilah's tone turned a tad frosty. She had meticulously chosen this location, and now, Evelyn had seemingly swooped in ahead of her?

The owner began his lament, explaining, "Ms. Phillips, with the economy in decline, it's getting tougher for us to make ends meet.

Ms. White offered a more generous deal. I have no choice but to look out for my own bottom line and make a profit."

Lilah realized arguing with him further would be futile, so she turned her attention to Evelyn.

The woman retained her aloof and unapproachable expression, seemingly indifferent to everyone.

"It appears you haven't changed a bit," Lilah remarked. “Always enjoying taking things from others."

Evelyn's lips curled into a sly smile as she spoke. "Using someone else's belongings can be rather amusing. The best part is savoring the helplessness in their eyes when they lose what's theirs.”

Her gaze possessed a sharp, intimidating edge, but it didn't faze Lilah, who remained expressionless, her demeanor cool, and her words tinged with mockery. “It's a shame, Ms. White, you ought to know... misfortune can sometimes be a hidden blessing. Eleywood boasts more than one shopping mall, after all."

Evelyn responded, “Certainly, apart from this mall, there's also the First Mall; you could explore your options there."

The First Mall stood as Eleywood's premier shopping destination, yet it came with a hefty rental price and every storefront already occupied. Evelyn's words amounted to little more than a taunt; she doubted Lilah had the means to secure a spot there.

Without another word, Lilah turned to depart, her assistant closely behind her. The assistant displayed clear anxiety, inquiring, "Miss Phillips, what's our next move? Everyone was vying for this location, and now we're leaving empty-handed. Xavier Jewelers snagged it. The board of directors won't be pleased."