Chapter 1143

Skylar rarely visited, but her mother insisted on maintaining an office for her.

The interview with Muriel lasted half an hour. They discussed many things, and Muriel's ideas on jewelry design and her approach perfectly matched Skylar's. Muriel was particularly interested in designing accessories with vintage elements and enjoyed replicating ancient paintings in her free time. They finalized the details of the trial period and compensation.

After Muriel left, Skylar called Lizzie. "I just finished interviewing Muriel," she said. "She's even better than I expected, and we're perfectly aligned. Thank you. I'll pay her salary."

Lizzie sounded relieved. "Let me handle it, Skylar. Please, let me make it up to her. I owe her this."

Skylar wanted to say Muriel was capable of earning this salary independently, even without Lizzie's recommendation. However, given the circumstances, she didn't reject Lizzie's offer. If she was right, the person Lizzie had been thinking about for years was Muriel. With this in mind, she asked, "I've added her on WhatsApp—do you want her contact information?"

Lizzie hesitated before replying, "Yes, please."

"Okay."

Lizzie stared at Muriel's contact information Skylar had sent. After opening it, she didn't immediately add her as a friend. Her gaze lingered on the profile picture—a back view she instantly recognized as Muriel's. She couldn't bring herself to contact her.

Just days earlier, Lizzie had watched from the shadows as Muriel struggled to sell her handmade jewelry at a street stall, streaming on her phone. It made her feel responsible. If Muriel hadn't met her, her life might have been different.

Chapter 1143

Lizzie closed her phone and removed her wig. She stepped onto the balcony and lit a cigarette. Smoking seemed to have become addictive; soon, seven or eight cigarette butts filled the ashtray.

When her manager arrived and saw Lizzie smoking on the balcony, looking disheveled and depressed, she wasn't surprised. Artists were like that, she thought. In the years she'd managed Lizzie, she'd grown accustomed to it. In public, Lizzie was always a graceful, long-haired beauty—the perfect artist's image. In private, however, she was a completely different person. Seeing Lizzie like this, the manager felt sorry for her.

"You didn't skip breakfast and lunch, did you? You're already thin enough. If you lose more weight, your clothes won't look good on you."

Lizzie stubbed out her cigarette at her manager's words. "I'm not hungry."

"Even if you're not hungry, you need to eat. I brought your favorite tomato and egg stir-fry."

Lizzie glanced at it, her gaze lingering as if it evoked memories.

Skylar spent the entire day at the company. At three in the afternoon, Natalie called her, so she drove directly to Natalie's house.