Chapter 35:

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Surrounded by an enthralled crowd, Allison gently picked up a lump of clay, sprinkling it with water.

It was then that Kellan realized she had been deliberately slowing her pace to guide him through the basics. In less than a minute, the clay in her hands had already begun to transform.

The art of sculpting gave way to the precision of carving. “It’s like watching a movie,” someone murmured, awestruck.

Colton and Melany, who had earlier ridiculed Allison, now showed visible signs of anxiety, their foreheads glistening with sweat.

They scrutinized her every move, wary of any hint of deception.

Kellan had expected Allison would need his assistance, but she only occasionally requested him to hand her a file. “Get the smaller one,” she instructed calmly, her voice a steady anchor in the charged atmosphere.

Her hands moved with deliberate grace, and the clay seemed to yield to her touch, coming to life under her skilled fingers.

Kellan handed her the smaller file from behind. In that fleeting contact, he caught another whiff of the plum blossom scent she carried.

His throat tightened, and he delicately wiped the sweat from Allison’s forehead with a clean handkerchief, his fingers brushing gently against her smooth skin. As he withdrew his hand, he experienced a strange sense of familiarity.

He marveled at how her skin could be as smooth and fine as porcelain.

But Allison appeared completely absorbed in her work, her focus unbroken. With a swift flick of her finger, a piece of clay fell away, and her slender fingers moved like a butterfly, deftly shaping the material. A gentle stroke of her brush breathed life into the clay, capturing the essence of a majestic mountain.

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At that moment, Kellan felt an unusual tranquility, as if they were the last two people on earth, alongside the ceramics that surrounded them.

There were no schemes or bloodshed, just a serene space that seemed to ease the constant restlessness coursing through him.

Allison was enigmatic—young yet supremely composed, distant and aloof, as if her heart was locked away from everyone.

Kellan was reminded of the woman he had met on that crazy night.

She had effortlessly disarmed him and vanished by morning. During her most fervent moments, her gaze had been as distant as an ancient glacier, standing in solemnity.

In the small courtyard, initial whispers of admiration gave way to a profound silence as everyone’s focus remained solely on Allison.

The collective breathlessness around them was palpable. Even Colton, who had anticipated Allison’s failure, now struggled to process the scene before him. “How can this be…”

He was suddenly reminded of the small ceramic dog Allison had given him three years ago. In a fit of nostalgia, he had shattered it on the floor. The cute figure had splintered into pieces, possibly cutting her arm — or perhaps not… At the time, his attention had been elsewhere.

Since then, Allison had grown even more reserved, never offering him anything again.

Colton felt a pang of regret, realizing he might have overlooked something deeply significant.

As the day drew to a close, and the sun began to set, Allison completed her masterpiece. The entire process had been flawless. Emanuel could hardly contain his enthusiasm. “Excellent! Simply excellent!”

As Allison looked up, a black handkerchief was extended toward her. She accepted it calmly, wiping her brow, while cheers erupted, nearly shaking the heavens. Even Kellan’s eyes sparkled with amusement.

“I’d pay a fortune to have Ms. Clarke manage my ceramic gallery!” someone declared. A few began to vie for her favor.

Emanuel swiftly cleared everyone out.

“Leave! My shop is closed for the month!”

He then carefully picked up the patterned tea set, his eyes brimming with tears. “This set is truly magnificent! Seeing it, I can die without regrets!”

“That’s nonsense, you’ll live to be a hundred,” Allison reassured him.

Emanuel’s love for beautiful ceramics was well-known. With a serene expression, Allison turned her gaze toward the now embarrassed figures.

“Since you agreed to the bet, it’s time for you to kneel!”

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