Chapter 1709


    "You''re still making excuses!" the man bellowed, pointing a menacing finger at Thssa.


    "Ah!" Suddenly, as he pointed at Thssa, Lysander lifted his cane and struck the man''s hand, eliciting a cry of pain. The man quickly turned to Lysander, only to meet his icy re. Swallowing his anger, the man bowed his head in a show of respect, unable to voice his fury.


    Lysander''s voice, deep and tinged with restrained anger, cut through the tension. "Whether or not she''s behind the design, you weren''t harmed. Why the rush toy hands on her? What are you hiding? Who put you up to this?"


    His words went straight to the heart of the matter.


    The man who confronted Thssa was a stranger to her, with no apparent reason to harbor such resentment over a mere design.


    People are driven by their own interests. If someone threatens those, they be the enemy.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    The designs up for auction hadn''t even reached the bidding stage yet, and this gentleman hadn''t purchased anything from Thssa. Did he really have a reason to be this enraged with her?


    Caught off guard by Lysander''s sharp interrogation, the man stumbled over his words, his gaze darting around guiltily. "Look, Mr. Sinir, what are you implying? I was just... standing up for what''s right. Nobody sent me. I just can''t stand seeing injustice."


    "Since this designer is under Mr. Sinir''s protection, I''ll... I''ll just leave," the man said, bowing hastily before turning to leave as if fearing he''d be unable to escape if he dyed any longer.


    Thssa watched Lysander''s retreating back with gratitude. He had shielded her from harm.


    Yet, the ordeal wasn''t over; the mess still needed her attention.


    She stepped forward, approaching the podium.


    Thanks to Lysander''s intervention, the previously hostile crowd held their tongues, watching silently as she took the stage. Thssa moved beside Susan, her gaze icy as it swept over her.


    Susan met her eyes and, for reasons she couldn''t fathom, felt a shiver run down her spine. Thssa seemed to carry a bit of Lysander''s imposing aura. Was it possible that spending time with Lysander had lent her a touch of hismanding presence?


    In a frosty tone, Thssa demanded, "Give me the anklet in your hand, and hand over all the jewelry you''re wearing."


    Susan was incensed. Who was Thssa to order her around like that?


    She was about to refuse when she felt an icy stare drilling into her back. It was Lysander''s unmistakable gazeden with a pressure that no one else could muster.


    Feeling as though she was being enveloped by a cold mist, Susan had no choice but toply.


    She reluctantly removed all her essories and handed them over to Thssa.


    Thssa examined the jewelry


    closely, then shot Susan a sharpe look before turning to address the audience. "The design of this jewelry is indeed mine, but the


    craftsmanship is not."


    "Isn''t that a contradiction?" someone from the crowd couldn''t help but interject.


    Thssa looked toward the voice and saw it was Rosalind.