Chapter 4：Against All Odds
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Charlotte's heart plummeted. Her knuckles turned white around the phone.
"Uncle Harrison?" Her voice shook uncontrollably.
A heavy sigh came through the speaker.
"Kid…" Harrison's voice rasped with exhaustion. "That kiln… it's a money pit! One firing costs what my studio spends in six months! Where will you get the cash? The people? The expertise? Your father's bedridden—who knows his formulas? His glazes? His firing schedule? If it fails, it's all waste! A complete gamble!"
Charlotte felt light-headed. She'd known it would be hard, but not this hard.
"Uncle Harrison, I'm out of options!" Tears streamed down her face. "Jones is circling like a vulture! Everything Dad protected his whole life… it can't end like this! Just one last firing! One final chance! If it fails… I'll surrender."
More silence. Just heavy breathing.
Then: "The glaze…" Harrison's voice dropped to a whisper. "Your father's 'Sky Blue After Rain'—the secret is the ratio of malachite powder to aged purple-gold clay. And the pieces must dry completely in shade—no wind exposure whatsoever. Remember that!"
Charlotte's heart leapt—he was helping!
"Money! Uncle Harrison, the money—"
"I'll lend you ten thousand," Harrison said through clenched teeth. "Not a gift—a loan! And Lewis and Wilson from my workshop—they've been with me forever. Skilled men. I'll have them 'take vacation' to help you. But listen…" His voice turned deadly serious. "Keep this quiet. If Jones catches wind… we're all finished."
"Thank you, Uncle Harrison!" Charlotte choked with emotion, as if grabbing onto a lifeline.
