Chapter 323

The masked stranger advanced, but little Isabelle darted away with youthful curiosity, her tiny feet carrying her toward more fascinating discoveries.

Left alone with the enigmatic man, Olivia Sinclair forced a nervous smile. Her voice held maternal protectiveness with an undercurrent of defiance. "My daughter's just a child, innocent to the ways of our world. Everything still holds magic for her."

Amusement danced in the man's shadowed eyes as his voice cut through the air. "Was bringing her here strategic? Did you hope her presence would temper my demands?"

Olivia stood her ground, unshaken. "You won't pin this on me today. Had you come seeking help directly, I might have refused. But now? You've got my full attention. The auction house made an error - I admit that. But unreasonable demands will meet immediate rejection."

His sudden laughter broke the tension like sunlight through storm clouds. "Clever woman," he acknowledged.

Olivia's mind replayed the security footage. The masked man and his young companion had displayed genuine shock when the artifact shattered. Their reactions were too raw, too immediate to be staged.

She remembered the muffled conversation caught on tape, the man's voice low but discernible as he instructed his companion: "With the owner absent, we'll return another day."

Olivia had analyzed those words for hours. Now, meeting his gaze, she stated, "If this is about making a statement to the auction house, my presence changes nothing. You're not here for pleasantries. You came specifically to see me."

"Perceptive," he nodded approvingly before getting to the heart of the matter. "I require your expertise, but know this - I didn't damage that artifact. I'd never risk such destruction. Your auction house thrives, perhaps too well for some competitors' comfort."

A flicker of understanding crossed Olivia's features. "I see. Thank you for the warning."

The stranger produced a folded parchment, revealing a partial schematic of intricate design.

Olivia studied the incomplete drawing, confusion knitting her brows. "What is this?"

The masked figure explained, "Olivia, I'm being transparent. I know of your apprenticeship under Gregory Thornton, your skill in restoration and creation. This should be within your capabilities."

"Certainly," Olivia accepted then immediately returned the diagram. "But sir, perhaps you should consult other experts. Many could handle this better than I. Besides, if you truly trusted my skills, you wouldn't provide only fragments of the design."

His rich laughter sent unexpected shivers down Olivia's spine. The sound was hauntingly familiar, like a forgotten melody suddenly remembered.

An inexplicable urge gripped her - to tear away that mask, to see the face beneath. Why did his presence stir such memories of her ex-husband?

Olivia shook off the absurd thought. The chances of such an encounter were impossible.