Chapter 485
Undeterred, Elyse wedged herself into the narrow gap between Colton and Kristine with ease — she was small enough to manage it.
“Kristine, now that you’re back, you can finally explain what happened with the deer antler, can’t you?” she asked, blinking with exaggerated innocence.
The crowd looked confused. These were people who spent their lives at parties, not following the news — the reference meant nothing to them.
“You might not have heard,” Elyse said helpfully, “but a very valuable deer head statue was damaged recently — an antler was snapped off. People online blamed Kristine, though I never believed it myself. I’ve been waiting for her to tell her side of the story.”
The room stirred with fresh interest. Several people reached for their phones.
As they read the details — and discovered that Elyse had been the one to restore the piece — the admiration came quickly.
“I had no idea you knew how to restore antiques. That’s extraordinary.”
“You never said a word! You’ve been keeping this hidden!”
“Real talent never needs to advertise itself.”
Their praise was genuine. To them, Elyse had revealed a whole new side of herself.
She was an orphan who had somehow won Colton’s heart — she had always seemed exceptional. But this confirmed it. Restoring antiques was painstaking, specialized work. For someone without the background or the resources, it should have been nearly impossible. She must have had remarkable natural ability and an iron will to pull it off.
By comparison, Kristine looked like a disappointment. She had inherited a vast collection from her father and had apparently learned nothing. Not being a professional was one thing — but destroying a priceless piece out of jealousy was something else entirely. None of them would ever sink that low. The rumor said everything.
“You say you restored the deer head,” Kristine said. Her calm voice cut cleanly through the noise. “Then tell us — what materials did you use?”
The room went still. Every eye turned to Elyse.
Elyse had spent days fielding reporters’ questions. She knew the story cold.
She held her composure. “I used clay matched to the original composition, along with plaster, resin, and fiberglass. For the hollow sections inside, I used expanding foam.”
The crowd leaned in.
“Expanding foam is ideal for that kind of work,” she continued. “It expands to fill the space while staying strong and flexible. Once it cures, you simply trim the excess. It’s efficient and reliable.”
The room regarded her with admiration. None of them knew the first thing about restoration, but she sounded like she knew exactly what she was talking about.
“Everything you’ve said is accurate,” Kristine said, a faint smile on her lips. Then her tone shifted. “But any beginner knows that much.”
A ripple of irritation moved through the guests, though no one spoke. If she was so knowledgeable, why hadn’t she done the restoration herself?