Colton was so sure of himself because he had meticulously dug into every detail of Allison’s past. There was no denying it-she hailed from a modest, rural background. Abandoned by her birth parents in the bleak days of her childhood, she had been left at an orphanage’s doorstep like an unwanted parcel.
She hadn’t even made it past middle school. Instead, Allison had scraped by on a barren island, barely surviving by sheer grit. If fate hadn’t intervened in the most improbable of ways, leading her to save Keanu, she never would have set foot in the Stevens family’s circle. How could someone like her possibly have any ties to Emanuel, the world-famous pottery maestro?
Emanuel’s reputation was solid as a rock, built over decades. He had always been a rebellious soul, bucking authority in his youth and showing little respect for his elders. His art reflected his proud and solitary nature-untouchable, aloof, and undeniably brilliant. Even now, in his twilight years, there was no chance he had grown so feeble-minded that he would make a clueless young woman his teacher.
“But if you’re not Emanuel’s teacher and you’ve been pulling the wool over everyone’s eyes,” Colton looked at Allison and continued, his voice dripping with scorn, “then you ought to kneel and apologize to every single person in this room…”
Before he could even finish his smug sentence, the kitchen door burst open, and an old man with a shock of gray hair stormed out, fury etched into every line of his face.
“Who’s this fool spewing such nonsense?!”
Emanuel, with an apron snugly tied around his waist and cooking sleeves rolled up, marched out wielding a cleaver like an old warrior ready for battle. His glare was fixed on Colton, seething with fury. “Who taught you to run your mouth like that? Some ill-mannered creature comes in here and thinks they can make a scene? Get out! Now!”
In his younger days, Emanuel’s fiery reputation was the stuff of legends. He had once gotten into a fistfight with a fellow artist over a disagreement on ceramics – right in front of the media, no less. Even now, well into his sixties, that same fire still burned fiercely within him. And when it came to Allison, his protective instincts flared up like a bonfire. After all, he had persuaded her to visit, and now this arrogant fool dared to cause trouble under his roof!
“Careful, Emanuel,” Allison said, rushing to support him, sensing the danger in his rising anger. He was no spring chicken, and the last thing she wanted was for him to push himself too far.
“Don’t you worry,” he barked. “No one bullies you in my house. You’re too soft. You should go slap him! And if his parents were here, I’d slap them too!” His temper hadn’t cooled one bit as he spoke.
Melany, realizing she was in the presence of the legendary pottery master, nervously took a few steps back. Emanuel waving that cleaver around only added to her panic. Hurriedly, she pulled out an invitation from her bag, hoping to calm the situation.
“Sir, please, let’s not escalate things. This is all for the sake of your good name,” she said in her most innocent tone, flashing a strained smile. “We just won this pottery exchange slot at auction, and we came here out of admiration for you. But in the heat of an argument with Colton, Allison… she, well, slipped up and claimed to be your teacher.”
Melany’s voice wavered, a mix of meekness and caution. “She was upset, and while it was disrespectful, she didn’t mean it.”
Emanuel cut her off sharply. “Allison didn’t slip up. She really is my teacher.”
He stood tall, pride brimming in his voice. “It took me three long days and nights to get her to reveal her secret techniques.”
Melany’s smile faltered, stretching thin. “You must be joking…”
“Who do you think you are?” Emanuel shot back, his voice thunderous. “Doubting me? Get out! And let me tell you something – later, I’ll have a word with that auction house. So what if they’re rolling in money? They’re letting just anyone in these days!”
Colton and Melany stood frozen, their faces a mix of disbelief and humiliation. Emanuel’s claim had struck them dumb, and Allison’s calm demeanor only made the sting worse.
“Willing to gamble but not face the consequences? Where’s your honor?” Allison’s eyes sparkled with amusement as she mocked them, her voice steady and unyielding, like a mountain.
The tension hung thick in the air, neither side willing to back down. “Mr. Welsh, I respect your talent,” Melany began again, her voice rising as she noticed more people gathering outside the door. “But that doesn’t mean you can deceive everyone. Colton knows Allison inside and out. Besides, all of this is just hearsay.”
Melany let out a resigned sigh. “It might sound tough, but that’s the reality of the situation.”
As she finished speaking, a few people strolled into the yard, bearing gifts.
“Who’s making all this racket and bothering Mr. Welsh?” The newcomers shook hands with Emanuel respectfully, one by one, before casting cold, dismissive glances at Melany and Colton, clearly regarding them as pretentious intruders.
“It’s all because someone’s out to smear Mr. Welsh’s good name,” Melany said, catching sight of the new arrivals and feeling a sense of relief wash over her. After all, creating a bit of chaos in a crowd was her specialty. “Mrs. Clarke claims she’s Mr. Welsh’s teacher.”
Emanuel grumbled, “That’s the way it is, plain and simple! It’s not up for debate!” The newcomers exchanged surprised glances, their skepticism evident as they scrutinized Allison.
Despite her striking appearance, the assertion that she was Emanuel’s teacher seemed far-fetched. Just as one of them was about to voice his doubts, another quickly tugged at his sleeve, signaling him to keep quiet.
This person figured Emanuel was steadfast in his defense of the young woman, but it seemed that this farce might have crossed the line.
In their traditional field, mentorship was held in the highest regard.
If Emanuel were to casually claim anyone as his teacher, how would his students react? Would they be expected to accept a young woman as their teacher’s mentor? Doubts began to surface, and Emanuel stood there, speechless. He couldn’t help but feel a twisted amusement at Melany’s audacity. He’d encountered bold characters before, but none quite like her. To stir the pot right under his nose? It was sheer audacity! Melany was making a scene in his own domain, treating Emanuel as if he were invisible.
He wiped his cleaver on his apron, ready to respond, when a pair of gentle hands landed on his shoulder, guiding him to a chair and placing a cup of black tea in his hands.
“Still getting worked up at your age? If a dog bites you, are you going to bite back?”
Allison’s defining trait was her fierce loyalty. If it were just Melany and Colton causing trouble, it would be manageable. But with outsiders now involved, the stakes had changed.
Even if these three outsiders respected Emanuel and acknowledged Allison, they would undoubtedly whisper behind his back. That would tarnish the reputation he’d built over decades. Allowing Melany and Colton to wreck it was out of the question.
“Don’t try to stop me,” Emanuel grumbled. After a sip to steady himself, he declared, “I want to see just how bold they are in my own home!”
Under the skeptical stares of the three men, Allison said, “Didn’t you ask me for a nicely patterned tea set? I had some time today, so I decided to make one to soothe your nerves.”
The group was visibly taken aback. “A patterned tea set? Does anyone even know how to make those anymore?”
Their skepticism was tempered by the rarity of the technique Allison mentioned.
“The patterned technique was once reserved for royal ceremonies, nearly impossible to obtain. Even royalty struggled to acquire it. The process is intricate, requiring flawless execution. As for tea sets, they represent the pinnacle of craftsmanship.”
Each tea set was a marvel of design, blending distinctiveness with harmonious unity. Each cup required a unique technique, but together they created a perfect ensemble.
An older member of the group took it upon himself to explain, “Tea sets made with this technique can be worth a fortune. Each cup is a work of art, and collecting a complete set demands mastery in calligraphy, painting, engraving, and delicate carving. Mastering all these skills can take decades.”
To truly master the technique required intricate carving of landscapes and window lattices. One mistake could ruin everything. Even someone as experienced as Emanuel couldn’t guarantee success.
Yet, Emanuel burst into laughter, thrilled beyond measure.
For years, he’d dreamt of this moment, pestering Allison to create a set for him. And now, at last, she was set to make it!
With a broad grin, Emanuel set down his cup, casting a dismissive glance at his current tea set.
“If you can truly craft a patterned set for me, then my current set is like a candle compared to the moon. I wouldn’t mind smashing it all!”
The others were stunned. Emanuel was known for treating his creations like his own children. His excitement showed just how confident he was in Allison’s skills.
Could this young woman truly be a hidden master?
Emanuel eagerly gathered his prized tools, carving knives, and finest clay, bustling around in excitement. The others, sensing the importance of the moment, quickly offered their help. One even made a call to enlist additional assistance.
News spread rapidly, and soon countless people were converging to witness the spectacle.
It was turning into quite the event.
“Need me to lend a hand?” Emanuel asked, visibly thrilled.
“No need.” Having a master like Emanuel assisting would feel out of place, even if he didn’t mind. “Kellan can help. You should eat something and take a break,” Allison said.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.