Chapter 32

Olivia's fingers moved with effortless grace - long, slender digits that seemed to dance even at rest. Now, as she carefully manipulated the fragments of a crimson vase with precision tweezers, the vibrant shards made her delicate hands appear even more striking.

At first, the gathered crowd focused on the antique Olivia was painstakingly reconstructing. But soon, all eyes drifted to her elegant movements. The attention didn't faze Olivia in the slightest. Though initially nervous, her deep passion for restoration quickly consumed her, creating an impenetrable bubble of concentration around her.

This wasn't merely assembling a puzzle - it was an intricate dance of historical preservation. Olivia's systematic approach to sorting and categorizing each ceramic fragment was nothing short of mesmerizing.

Her speed and accuracy left the spectators, including Marcus - who had been openly skeptical moments before - utterly speechless. His doubtful expression transformed into undisguised awe as Olivia worked.

When the timer marked twenty minutes, Olivia had already reconstructed half the vase. The completed sections - the sturdy base and structural framework - clearly revealed the vessel's original silhouette. At this rate, she might finish the entire restoration well before the next twenty minutes elapsed.

"How is this possible?" Marcus finally blurted out, unable to contain his amazement.

Rising gracefully, Olivia offered him a warm smile before explaining through sign language that having a reference photograph made the task significantly easier. Unlike authentic artifact restoration where one must carefully deduce the original design through painstaking research, this challenge had been simplified by the provided image.

When Olivia finished her explanation, the room fell into profound silence. The other apprentices suddenly realized how much they'd struggled despite having the same reference photo. Their progress seemed embarrassingly slow compared to Olivia's effortless work. What had been a grueling test for them appeared as simple as child's play to her.

"Now you've all witnessed her skill firsthand!" Gregory typed eagerly on his phone before displaying the message to the group, his pride evident.

Beaming, Gregory continued through his text-to-speech function, "The puzzles she solved as a child were far more complex than this! I told you she was extraordinary. You simply wouldn't believe me. Marcus, wasn't there some wager you mentioned earlier? What say you now?"

Marcus's cheeks burned crimson with embarrassment. He silently thanked his lucky stars he hadn't actually placed any bets - that would have been truly humiliating.

To his credit, Marcus wasn't one to nurse wounded pride. He bowed respectfully to Olivia and offered a sincere apology through sign language, his gestures fluid with genuine remorse.

Olivia appeared genuinely surprised by the gesture, quickly signing back that she took no offense.

This marked the first time someone had actually apologized after doubting Olivia's abilities. Typically, even after proving herself, people would simply justify their initial skepticism rather than admit their mistake.

"Alright everyone, let's officially welcome Olivia to our studio!" Gregory's phone announced cheerfully.

The group erupted in applause - all except one girl lurking in the corner, who discreetly snapped Olivia's photo and sent it to a private chat. "Guess who just showed up?" she typed with a smirk.

"For now, we all have ongoing restoration projects," Marcus explained as he guided Olivia to her new workspace, "but Gregory mentioned we shouldn't assign you anything immediately. He wants you to settle in first."

Her station by the second-floor window offered a breathtaking view of flowering cherry blossoms against a crystal blue sky - scenery guaranteed to inspire creativity.

Olivia gestured that she might not be able to come daily.

"That's perfectly fine," Marcus reassured her. "We maintain flexible hours here. Come when there's work or whenever inspiration strikes." He added her to the studio's group chat. "If you need anything at all, just message here. We're all happy to help."

Olivia's grateful smile spoke volumes as she signed her thanks.

After organizing her workspace, Olivia began testing various tools, familiarizing herself with their weight and balance.

Suddenly, the chime of the front door echoed from below.

Marcus hurried to answer it. As Olivia examined a set of delicate brushes, an all-too-familiar voice floated upstairs. "I have an item requiring restoration. I understand you have a new conservator. I'd like her to handle this personally."

That voice belonged to Victoria Clarke - the same unpleasant woman who had accompanied Evelyn that fateful day.

Olivia had since learned Victoria was the youngest daughter of the prestigious Clarke dynasty.

Now Victoria stood in Gregory's studio, specifically demanding Olivia's services. Clearly word had spread about Olivia's new position, and Victoria had come looking for trouble.

Concerned that Victoria might cause a scene and inadvertently put Gregory in a difficult position, Olivia rushed downstairs.

There stood Victoria, as haughty and disdainful as ever, draped in an ostentatious scarlet dress. She clutched a paper bag while surveying the studio with palpable contempt.

Spotting Olivia descending the stairs, Victoria's face twisted into a sneer. "So it is you! Excellent. Fix this for me. I'll pay half a million."

With that, Victoria slammed the paper bag onto the table, its mysterious contents rattling ominously.

"Olivia has just joined our studio as an apprentice," Marcus stated firmly, his expression stern. Having recognized Victoria's malicious intent, his displeasure was evident. "She's not yet taking independent commissions."

"Why not? Doesn't this studio boast it can restore anything? Or are you afraid she'll ruin it and damage your precious reputation?" Victoria taunted.

"If you want it restored, leave the item here and trust our judgment on who handles it," Marcus countered, his brow furrowing.

But Victoria only raised her voice further. "I insist Olivia does it. If you refuse, I'll make sure everyone knows your studio can't handle simple challenges. The choice is yours!"