Reginald Sterling set down his chopsticks and opened the exquisitely wrapped box that Wallace Kempton had handed him.
The moment he glimpsed what lay inside, his eyes lit up with unmistakable enthusiasm. "An antique monochrome porcelain chalice from the ethereal era—what a treasure."
Wallace's face glowed with satisfaction. "Uncle Reginald, I know how much you love antiquities, so I searched high and low through several places before I finally managed to acquire this chalice for you."
With the antique now in his possession, the lingering frustration that had clouded Reginald's mood earlier evaporated entirely.
The chalice's glaze, texture, and intricate patterns all pointed to authenticity. As he turned it over in his hands, he could almost feel the weight of history accumulated over c
