Chapter 75

After Adrian posed his question, Liam fell into silence. Would he confront Margaret for an apology if Olivia was telling the truth? And if Olivia was lying, would he demand she apologize to Margaret? The hostility between Margaret and Olivia was common knowledge, and Liam had always been aware of their strained relationship. He'd simply chosen not to interfere, assuming they'd work it out themselves.

"Think it over. When you're ready for the truth, come find me," Adrian said with sincerity.

True to his word, Liam didn't lay a finger on Olivia. That night, he avoided the master bedroom entirely, leaving it for Olivia while he slept in one of the guest rooms.

At dawn, Olivia rose before the sun. Without exchanging words with Liam, she ate breakfast alone and headed straight to Gregory's studio. Her commitments at Whitmore Holdings were nearly complete, freeing her to focus fully on restoration work.

Olivia's life had transformed remarkably - a stark contrast to her previous existence. Once confined to the role of an ignored wife, she now flourished professionally, juggling projects like Westfield University's promotional video while dividing her time between Whitmore Holdings and Gregory's studio.

In the studio, Olivia retrieved Henry's teapot, eager to restore its simple elegance. She worked diligently through the morning, nearly completing her task when raised voices erupted downstairs.

Tension coiled in her shoulders as Olivia stood, drawn toward the commotion.

"We don't accept work from competitors," Marcus declared heatedly from below.

"Competitors? We're simply clients. Are you admitting you can't handle such a simple job?" A smug young man retorted, flanked by a haughty woman. Both lounged on the sofa, expressions dripping with contempt.

Olivia approached, her gaze falling to the open box before them. At first glance, it appeared empty.

Upon closer inspection, however, it contained countless glass fragments - as if someone had shattered an object and painstakingly ground it to dust. Clearly, they expected the studio to perform a miracle.

"We know your firm accepted this project last month, and now you're dumping it on us? You dare call yourselves mere clients?" Marcus countered, rising to his feet.

He briefly glanced at Olivia before addressing the pair again, scowling. "You're not welcome here!"

"What? Is Gregory not around? Too scared to take the job? We're paying customers," the smug man sneered.

"We're offering premium rates. VIP treatment," the woman added mockingly. "Or is your studio incompetent? Even Gregory can't handle this?"

"There's nothing Gregory can't restore! He's traveling abroad!" Marcus's frustration mounted.

Clearly these two were here to cause trouble, not seek genuine service. Yet turning them away risked damaging the studio's reputation.

Olivia moved closer to examine the glass fragments. Studying the larger pieces, she could visualize the original structure. The slightly opaque, aged glass provided clues to its reconstruction.

"What are you staring at?" the woman snapped, noticing Olivia's intense focus.

With a sneer, she taunted, "Think you can put Humpty Dumpty back together again?"

Olivia met the woman's gaze and signed her response: she could indeed restore it.

"You—" Marcus, understanding Olivia's sign language, looked astonished. "Are you certain?"

Olivia nodded firmly, gesturing she'd happily restore it to protect the studio's reputation, but would equally refuse if that better served their integrity.

Marcus's shock melted into pride. If Olivia believed she could do it, he trusted her completely.

"She says she can fix it," Marcus told the duo. "What's your next move?"

"She can? Who is she?" the smug man asked, surprised.

"Looks like the mute wife from the Blackwood family - just a housewife," the woman sneered, recognizing Olivia with disdain.

Marcus frowned at the insult, but Olivia remained composed. She signed for Marcus to translate: "They don't need to pay VIP rates. Standard fees will suffice. But after restoration, they must promote our services under their company name."

Marcus relayed Olivia's terms.

The duo, clearly here to provoke, looked utterly stunned.

"If she fails, we'll ensure the entire industry and social media know Gregory's Studio is a joke!" the man threatened after a pause.

Without hesitation, Olivia nodded agreement. She carefully lifted the box and moved toward the first-floor workbench.

Though Gregory's designated space, others used it in his absence. Olivia arranged her tools and began systematically sorting the glass pieces.

"This is a five-hundred-year-old antique. Damage it further, and you'll compensate tenfold," the woman warned.

Gregory's Studio had an ironclad policy: failed restorations required ten times market value compensation. Since Gregory instituted this rule, no client had ever received payment - his team never failed.

"Naturally, we honor our policy," Marcus replied coldly.

Olivia stood and signed.

"What's she saying now?" the duo perked up, hoping she'd been intimidated by the penalty.

Marcus scoffed. "She says you're mistaken. This piece is barely two hundred years old."

"Impossible!"

In their stunned silence, Marcus added, "Olivia also requests you stay back and refrain from stealing her techniques."