Restoring a Life After Seven Years of Wrong Love novel Chapter 73

Yvette forced a casual smile, looking at Sybil. "It's nothing. I've just been under a lot of stress lately with the Solstice Auctions restoration competition. I haven't had much of an appetite."

Beside her, Jabez's penetrating gaze remained fixed on her face, meticulously searching for any crack in her composure.

Only after a long, tense moment did he finally look away.

"Oh, I see," Sybil said, her voice heavy with disappointment.

For a second there, she truly thought she was getting a great-grandchild.

Yvette slowly uncurled her fists under the table. Her palms were slick with sweat. She let out a silent breath of relief.

She rushed through a few more bites and quickly excused herself.

She was terrified that if she stayed any longer, she would accidentally expose the truth.

-

The semi-finals took place at a five-star hotel in Kingsbrook.

It was a strict two-day, closed-door competition. Every participant was separated by thick partitions, entirely cut off from the others. Cameras monitored every angle to ensure absolute integrity.

Half an hour before the start, all mobile phones were confiscated.

Yvette's eyes inadvertently met Willow Huxley's across the room. Willow smirked dismissively and tilted her chin up in arrogant defiance.

Yvette immediately broke eye contact and focused on the front of the room.

Time was up.

Eleanor Stern and Mr. Clark stood at the podium.

"This closed-door format is designed to eliminate any possibility of foul play. If anyone is caught cheating, make no mistake—your results will be voided instantly."

Eleanor's icy voice carried across the silent room.

Her gaze lingered on Yvette for a few seconds before sweeping over the rest of the candidates.

"You may begin."

The task for this round was color matching and brushstroke integration.

It was an extreme test of a restorer's technical prowess.

Every artist possessed a unique rhythm and style. A restorer had to seamlessly mimic the original strokes without altering the artwork's soul or disrupting its intended atmosphere.

Night fell.

The candidates buried themselves in their work.

As evening set in.

"Alright, time is up. Please step away from your stations and exit in an orderly fashion," Mr. Clark instructed.

Yvette grabbed her bag and walked out. Matthew Sutton had finished early and was already waiting for her by the entrance.

"How did it go?"

"Not bad. Unless something crazy happens, I should place," Yvette said, a faint smile touching her lips.

Walking right behind them, Willow overheard their exchange and sneered.

Did Yvette really think she was some master restorer?

She had clearly lied for so long that she was starting to believe her own delusions.

A sleek black Maybach idled prominently by the curb, but it was the man leaning against it who truly commanded attention.

Dressed in a bespoke black suit that perfectly accentuated his athletic build, Jabez stood under the streetlights holding a massive bouquet of red roses. A luxury watch gleamed on his wrist.

Beaming with sweet affection, Willow practically jogged into Jabez's waiting arms.