Benjamin York stood with an apron tied around his waist, his sleeves dusted with flour, gripping a cleaver in his hand. His eyes widened as he pointed the blade toward the door. "Whose mangy mutt is barking here? Get out! All of you, scram!"
The titan of the ceramics world had always been notorious for his fiery temper. In his youth, he'd once brawled with a rival over the glaze of a porcelain vase, landing himself on the front page of the newspapers. Now in his sixties, that unyielding fierceness hadn't dimmed in the slightest.
And he was especially infamous for his protectiveness. After finally coaxing his precious apprentice to visit, how dare anyone come looking for trouble?
"Please, calm down," Sophia Sullivan quickly rose to steady the old man's arm.
He shook her off. "What's there to fear? You think I'd let anyone bully you under my roof?" He glared at her. "You've gotten soft. The old you would've knocked his teeth out by now!"
Chloe Evans stumbled back at the glint of the blade, hastily pulling a gilded invitation from her purse. "Master York, please don’t be angry. We came out of respect for your reputation. This is an exclusive invitation to observe your craftsmanship—"
Her gaze flickered nervously toward Sophia. "But then my sister lied about being your mentor just because she fought with Liam."
Benjamin scoffed, slamming the flat of the cleaver onto the counter. "Lied? I am her apprentice!"
He lifted his chin proudly. "Back then, I pestered this girl for three days and nights just to wheedle her family’s secret glaze recipe out of her."
Chloe’s smile froze. "You must be joking..."
"Do I look like I’m joking?" Benjamin spat, flecks of saliva flying. "With that shrewish face of yours, get lost! I’ll have the auction house blacklist the Winstons by sundown!"
Liam Winston’s face darkened. He was both stunned that Benjamin would back Sophia’s claim and furious at the old man’s blatant disregard for their dignity.
Sophia tapped her teacup lightly, a faint smirk playing on her lips. "Still keeping that bet?"
The two stood rooted, trapped in their dilemma.
"Master York!" Chloe suddenly raised her voice as she spotted visitors approaching the courtyard. "We understand you want to protect your student, but you can’t just lie for her. Liam knows exactly what kind of person Sophia really is..."
She sighed dramatically. "People will start saying you’ve lost your wits."
Before she could finish, three well-dressed middle-aged men entered the courtyard carrying gift boxes. "Who’s causing a disturbance here?"
They bowed respectfully to Benjamin before casting cold glances at Chloe. "Ah, the nouveau riche here to make trouble."
Seeing outsiders, Chloe relaxed. She thrived in twisting the truth before an audience. "This Miss Sullivan is impersonating Master York’s mentor."
"Impersonating?" Benjamin roared. "She is my mentor!"
The visitors exchanged glances. One square-faced man opened his mouth to question it but was yanked back by his companion. The three shared a silent understanding—clearly, the old master was just being stubborn.
The square-faced man forced a laugh. "Master York, even jokes should have limits..."
"Bullshit!" Benjamin grabbed a blue-and-white porcelain bowl from the table and hurled it at them. "Fire up the kiln! Let these blind fools see what real talent looks like!"