The Million-Dollar Heart

Mr. Cory was gobsmacked. He had never expected Karen to be such a prodigy, effortlessly sketching complex data charts as if it was second nature. What kind of wizardry was this? Karen, oblivious to his astonishment, casually brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

"That's all the heads-up I can give you for now. This conundrum remains unsolved by anyone in the world." Standing up abruptly, Mr. Cory bowed deeply to Karen.

"The scientific community is beyond fortunate to have researchers like you. Your contributions are invaluable."

His words sparked a wave of admiration among the guests, culminating in thunderous applause.

The next visitor was a kindly old lady, her hair silver with age, her high cheekbones and gentle eyes radiating warmth.

She approached slowly, adjusting her spectacles. Karen rose to help her to a chair, receiving a grateful smile in return. "My dear Karen, your brilliance and flair are simply unmatched! Watching you solve those problems was a sight to behold."

"But the favor I seek might require us to step out," she added, her eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief.

Karen raised an eyebrow, a playful smile on her lips. "You'll have to spill the beans before I agree to anything."

of pottery from the

artifacts are incredibly strict. A mere change in temperature or humidity could

pondered for a moment before asking,

from the Linklater estate, about a ten-minute drive. If it makes you feel more comfortable, your husband

will join us. But what

lady had thought of everything. "We've arranged for a live feed to be broadcasted on a large screen. It's an educational opportunity for many." Satisfied, Karen agreed without further ado, and along with the old lady and Arthur, they left for the workshop, leaving the guests to their own devices.

Karen's hand, couldn't hide his pride. "Honey, when did you learn

a fascination with the past - pottery, ancient scripts, treasure hunting, and

sometime. Now that I'm not on the

done,"

conservators worked diligently, each absorbed in their task. The room

focus undivided as she approached the shattered

Methodically, she began the