Chapter 43 

The woman who strolled in was all poise and elegance, looking like she was in her thirties. Joshua introduced her with a grin, “Allie, meet Inez, the top–notch restoration guru I’ve been raving about.” 

Allison’s eyes widened in surprise. She had imagined this top expert to be a seasoned elder. She was not expecting such a gorgeous woman to walk through the door. 

Jumping up with excitement, Allison moved forward to greet her, “Inez, I’m Allison. Thank you for fixing my porcelain puppy.” 

Inez chuckled, casting a playful look at Joshua. “You’re known to be quite the aloof and picky guy. I was curious to know who could capture your heart. Now that I’ve met Allison, I totally get it. If I were you, I’d be smitten too.” 

“Please, have a seat,” Allison said, pulling out a chair for Inez. 

Inez settled in, and Allison poured her a cup of tea. “Enjoy.” 

Taking a sip, Inez smiled, “This is nice.” 

“Allie, you don’t need to be so formal. I’ve already paid Inez a hefty fee; you can be a bit more assertive as a client,” Joshua chimed in. 

Allison nodded with a gentle smile, dutifully returning to her spot beside Joshua. 

“Joshua, you sure know how to dampen the mood,” Inez teased, pouting slightly. 

She turned back to Allison, her eyes curved into playful crescents. “Allison, did you bring the item today?” 

“No. Would you mind coming home with me after dinner to pick it up?” 

“Sure thing,” Inez agreed easily. 

After dinner, Inez accompanied Allison to the Owens family estate. 

Allison gingerly handed over the wrapped ceramic pieces to her, “Inez, do you think it can be salvaged?” 

Unwrapping the package, Inez frowned. “It’s in quite a state, isn’t it?” 

Allison felt her heart leap into her throat. 

“Don’t worry, Allison. Now that it’s with me, I’ll make sure it’s restored,” Inez reassured her, giving her shoulder a friendly pat. 

Allison finally exhaled a sigh of relief. “Thanks a million.” 

“No biggie.” 

Inez was inwardly thrilled. For a task like this, Joshua had given her a hefty million for the repairs. 

Talk about a sweet deal! 

“Allison, do you have a picture of how it originally looked?” 

“Yes, I’ll send it to you.” 

“Great, I’ll get in touch if I need more details. I better head out now.” 

“I’ll have the driver take you home,” Allison offered. 

“That’d be great.” 

With the porcelain puppy restoration in good hands, it was time for Allison to tackle the issue with Kate and 

Shawn. 

1/2 

17:54 

She called her cousin Zack. “Hey, Zack, I need a favor” 

327 

Later, as Allison was lounging in bed post–shower, her phone buzzed. 

A glance at the screen revealed an unfamiliar number from Havenbrook. Assuming it was a client inquiring about her services, she picked up. 

“Hello, this is Allison.” 

Silence greeted her. 

She tried again, “Hello?” 

Still nothing. 

“If you’re not gonna talk, I’m hanging up.” 

Finally, Shawn’s voice came through, “It’s me, Allison. Please read my messages and get my number off your block list.”