Chapter 40

Vanessa wasn't really fussed about anything else. Honestly, the second she walked in and saw Xander messing with those tools instead of glued to his games, she was already over the moon. Everything else? Meh, didn't matter anymore. "Xander, you know how to cut gemstones? Can you design pieces too?" Vanessa clutched her racing heart, barely able to contain the excitement bubbling up inside. Seriously, not only did he know this stuff-he actually looked good at it. Did this mean they might actually have a shot at winning? Xander mumbled, "Yeah, I can. Back when Dad was still here, he used to say I had a knack for stone-cutting and design. I started learning when I was just a kid. You just... forgot, I guess." That hit Vanessa even harder-in a good way. She took a quick step forward and grabbed his arm. "Xander, this is amazing! If you've got talent, that's even better. Do you have any idea what this means? Grandpa left a clause in his will-anyone who wants to inherit has to compete in the