Bernie chuckled sheepishly. "It's all thanks to you. If not for... I truly wouldn't have..."
His voice trailed off, choked with emotion. Memories of struggling for years in his father's small workshop, even nearly losing his fingers to debt collectors, brought tears to his eyes.
American journalists were relentless. Once the news leaked by Laila made its way back to the U.S., Bernie and his shop were quickly exposed.
The reason was simple—there was a photo of Bernie and Roy hanging on the wall.
Every customer who walked into the shop saw it, but most assumed it was just a fan photo with a celebrity. Some even asked if he was a fan of Roy's and inquired about the circumstances of the picture.
Roy had countless fans, mostly young people, and Bernie's shop catered to the same demographic. So, it was only natural that the photo drew attention.
But when news of the ring broke—though Laila still hadn't revealed the designer's name—two key details emerged. First, the designer was relatively unknown. Second, they had designed and sold jewelry years prior. In other words, it was someone young but not too young, with their own sales channel.
With these clues and the photo of Roy and Bernie, speculation ran wild.
When a customer posted about it online, reporters rushed to interview Bernie, who shyly confirmed the truth.
Why admit it now? Because of his agreement with Roy—to keep it a secret until the media uncovered it.
Bernie had to admit, being sought out by reporters was far more impactful than announcing it himself. To him, Roy was his savior. Not only had Roy saved his hands from loan sharks, but he'd also paid a generous design fee. Most importantly, Roy's trust had led to the creation of Bernie's masterpiece—a piece he believed would leave a mark in history and one he might never surpass.
After the report was published, his little shop became a tourist attraction. Crowds gathered outside before opening time, and even at 10 p.m., customers lingered until he politely reminded them to leave.
With more customers came faster sales. His shop mainly dealt with gold and silver jewelry, particularly affordable silver pieces with delicate, youthful designs that appealed to women. Now, nearly every visitor is left with at least one or two items. Some even bought in bulk, as if eager to take home every piece he'd ever made.
His designs had always been good—even before fame, they'd earned enough to cover his mother's medical bills. Now, whether out of curiosity for Roy's connection or genuine admiration, few women could resist his display cases. And with prices so reasonable, they happily treated themselves.
In just one day, his shop's inventory was nearly wiped out. Even better, major brands extended offers, inviting him to join their teams. Wealthy clients also approached him for custom designs.
Before Roy, such opportunities were unimaginable. Now, if not for the day's staggering sales, he wouldn't have believed his sudden fame was real.
Hence, this phone call.
He owed everything to Roy. Without him, there'd be no success, no chance to realize his dreams. This gratitude would stay with him forever.
"If you ever need another design, I'll give it my all!" It was the least he could do.
Roy accepted warmly. "Thank you, Bernie. I'm sure I'll need your skills again. Laila loved the ring you designed."
"My honor!" Bernie felt equally grateful to Laila. Without her appreciation, none of this would've happened. She was his kindred spirit—someone who saw the sincerity in his work.
Hanging up, Roy smiled. "Bernie's thrilled."
"He's a lucky man," Laila replied with a smile. "Opportunity favors the prepared. If his designs weren't exceptional, even if you'd sought him out, he couldn't have delivered something so perfect."
Roy nodded. "You're right."
Just as the world called Laila lucky for her string of successful films, he knew better. Anyone who spent time on her sets understood her relentless dedication.
Her success wasn't accidental—it was earned. If she was lucky, it was only because her efforts made her worthy of that luck.
Laila thought the same of him. People saw his smooth rise, but who noticed the years of training behind his flawless stunts? Or the foundation beneath his natural acting talent? Without it, even the greatest gift would've produced only superficial performances.
That was how the world worked. Every step forward brings you closer to your goal. Hard work always yielded results—maybe not the ones you expected, but that only meant your direction needed adjustment, not that the effort was wasted.
This film was no different. With obstacles cleared, filming could finally begin.
'Blood Diamond', as the name suggested, wasn't a heartwarming tale. It exposed the dark truths behind the diamond trade—how every glittering stone once bore the stain of blood, how countless lives were lost for these tiny, transparent rocks.
The grim narrative dictated a somber tone, ensuring the shoot would be far from pleasant.
And no one felt it more deeply than Leonardo. He'd once thought James Cameron, the so-called "tyrant of the set," was the most terrifying director. Now, he realized how naive he'd been.