The Jilted Heiress' Return to the High Life - Chapter 145

Chapter 145:

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Patiently, Diego responded, “You’re missing the point. This pen holder was made by a master carver exclusively for the royal family. Its value to collectors is beyond measure.”

The room went quiet as Diego’s explanation settled in.

Leah clenched her fists, her nails pressing into her palms, astonished at the revelation of the item’s extraordinary value.

“I’m just concerned this might be a knockoff,” Bruce’s aunt, Gloria Ashton, said, her voice cutting through the murmurs as she stepped forward, her expression feigning polite curiosity. She cast a pointed glance at Corrine and added with a sly smile, “If Leah had given it, that would make sense. But from Corrine? Well, that’s truly unfortunate.”

A ripple of agreement spread through the guests, punctuated by hushed comments.

“An amount like 9.54 million is no small sum,” someone whispered.

“Miss Holland has probably never even seen that much money in her life.”

“Why bother with an appraisal? It’s obviously fake,” another muttered, a laugh following the remark.

Though most guests were unaware of Corrine’s background, the Ashton family knew exactly who she was. To them, she was a low-born country girl who had gotten lucky and secured a spot at Lyhaton University. Otherwise, they assumed, she’d have married some elderly farmer and lived a life of obscurity in the countryside.

Rita, recovering from her initial shock, let out a scornful laugh.

“An antique from the 19th century, rare as it is, just conveniently found? That’s laughable!” She crossed her arms, her voice sharp with disdain.

“Bringing a knockoff to an occasion like this—she’s practically mocking the Ashton family in front of everyone!”

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“If she’s struggling financially, why not just admit it instead of pretending?” someone scoffed.

“Now that it’s exposed, let’s hear how she explains herself!”

Leah stepped forward with a delicate sigh, her expression one of practiced concern.

“A small token can still carry deep meaning,” she said softly, as though defending Corrine.

“Miss Holland meant well, even if she’s inexperienced. It’s easy to be deceived when you don’t know much about antiques.”

Her words, though framed as kind, subtly underscored the accusation that Corrine had presented a counterfeit.

The Ashton family, though not at the level of Lyhaton’s four great powerhouses, held their reputation as a prominent family with pride. Presenting a fake gift at Farris’ 80th birthday wasn’t just an insult to him, but a stain on the family’s honor.

The guests, being key figures in Lyhaton society, would surely spread the tale far and wide. How could the Ashtons recover from such public embarrassment if this scandal reached the city’s elite?

Even with Farris’ fondness for Corrine, it seemed unlikely that he could defend her now.

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