Read Chapter 17: — THE EXHIBITION

Sunward Weaves received a small stand at the South West Craft & Design Fair.

Martin treated the opportunity like a military campaign. George told him to stop pacing. Rebecca told George to stop telling Martin to stop pacing. Daniel sat down and ate a sandwich.

Pete became the unexpected star.

A television reporter noticed him weaving a sculptural pumpkin-shaped lamp and asked for an interview. Pete, usually shy, spoke plainly about factory work, injury, caring for his mother and finding a job in the village where his bad leg no longer made him the slowest man on the line.

"I thought work was something you went away to do," he said. "Turns out sometimes it can come home."

The clip aired that evening.

Claire reposted it.

Orders exploded.

Callum had designed smaller pumpkin lanterns that could nest inside one another. Young customers loved them. Restaurants ordered oversized versions. A boutique hotel commissioned an entire autumn installation.

Martin stood in the exhibition hall watching strangers photograph objects made by people once considered unemployable.

He remembered his old property launches—champagne, models, projection screens, numbers climbing on sales dashboards.

The excitement felt similar.

The meaning did not.

A developer approached him with an offer to acquire Sunward.

The number was large enough to make Martin's pulse quicken.

"No," he said.

George nearly dropped his phone.

"You didn't even negotiate."

"I know what happens when I turn everything I love into an exit price."

Daniel heard the story later and stared at him for several seconds.

"Who are you?"

"Your brother."

"Prove it. Say something arrogant."

Martin considered.

"I could have negotiated another twenty percent."

Daniel smiled.

"There he is."