"They're gone at last," Emanuel exhaled deeply, his eyes fixed on the tea set as if it held some ancient secret. "They must be exhausted after all this. There's some food left, but it's my leftovers—not exactly set aside for you."
Allison's eyes scanned the table, noticing the dishes were fresher than Emanuel let on. She decided to keep that observation to herself.
Reluctantly, Emanuel put away the tea set and sat down. They gathered around to eat, and the atmosphere was surprisingly serene. Emanuel was in a good mood, even allowing himself a sip of his precious Hennessy Paradis.
"You have fulfilled my greatest dream today! It's a pity you young people yearn so fiercely for independence. I wanted to hand over this property to you so you could settle down."
Allison nibbled on a delicious piece of fish, more focused on her plate than on Emanuel's words.
"Are you giving him a dirty look?" Emanuel insisted.
"No. Everyone knows your house is worth a fortune. It's the true legacy of all Athton."
If Allison had stamped Emanuel's name on her ceramics, it would have been like striking gold, securing her future without further struggle.
Emanuel had seen life's harsh realities. Today, when that unpleasant couple arrived with bad intentions toward Allison, he had a moment of clarity about his own struggles. Allison was a young woman alone, recently divorced and without family support. He wanted to offer her a stable place. But Allison's playful refusal of his offer made him chuckle as he served Kellan a nice piece of stewed beef.
"You did a great job today. Take this." A hint of sadness flickered in Emanuel's eyes. The obnoxious pair had paraded through his domain, but they actually held Kellan in high regard. After all, money and power motivated people. Kellan might not have Allison's talent, but he proved capable in the daily grind.
"Allison, I'm not trying to pity you, but I honestly don't want these old pieces to disappear from history," Emanuel sighed heavily. Today, pottery is largely machine-made, and fewer young people are carrying the torch. Even his own generation was dying out. The competitiveness of his youth had left an indelible mark, but the departure of familiar faces brought inexplicable loneliness.
Understanding Emanuel's sentiment, Allison put down her utensils and spoke with calm determination. "I appreciate your desire to preserve the art of pottery, but taking over this property would be too heavy a burden. I don't like strings attached. I promise to promote the craft, but you must put your family first when it comes to the property."
Emanuel wanted to argue, but Allison skillfully changed the subject. "Emanuel, how bad do you think my situation is? Just because I'm divorced doesn't mean I'm destitute. I own a villa at Starfish Villas. I've just been busy with other matters, so I'm temporarily staying at a friend's house. I'm far from destitute."
"Staying with a friend isn't ideal," Kellan added. "If you need a place, let me know. I have plenty of properties. Consider it a reward for today's guidance."
"Always the rich one," Allison laughed.
"Well, it's getting late. You'd better stay here tonight," Emanuel said, groaning as he got up. "I'm getting old. Cooking makes my back and waist hurt."
Allison shook her head, seeing through his feigned discomfort. He was probably in pain from her excitement over the tea set.
"Since it's going to rain tonight, you can't just hang around my house and mooch off. Go get some dried bamboo shoots from the hill behind."
Kellan looked at his wheelchair in silence. "I am disabled," he said flatly.
"But you still have arms and legs," Emanuel replied. "With that fancy wheelchair, it'll be a piece of cake. You could probably catch and carry a pig in it, not to mention some bamboo shoots. Go now."
Allison looked at Kellan's custom-designed wheelchair, made by a high-end medical technology team, knowing Emanuel viewed any fancy gadget as merely a tool. Kellan, accustomed to Emanuel's harshness, saw in him a reflection of his own grandfather. Despite Emanuel's constant nagging, he had always cared deeply for Kellan.
"Alright, I'll go put my wheels to good use."