Masked In Nobility: Secrets Of Mrs. Chavez
Posted on February 26, 2025 · 1 mins read
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Yvette narrowed her eyes, a flicker of cold hostility in her gaze as she surveyed the shattered porcelain on the floor. It was a sky-blue glazed coffee cup, worth at least $1.5 million, possibly even $2.5 million considering its quality.

"Give me your account number," she said mildly, "and I'll transfer the money later."

Isaac waved his hands frantically. He wouldn't dream of accepting money from Yvette. "It's just a broken coffee cup, Yvette. I planned to replace it anyway."

"Next time I find a suitable set at auction, I'll send you one," Yvette replied, nodding.

Isaac was thrilled. Is the renowned appraiser Evelyn finally making a comeback? he thought.

Evelyn had burst onto the scene five years prior, captivating the West Auction House appraisal competition with her flawless record. She identified thousands of antiques without error, securing first place. Her appraisals cost at least $30 million, depending on her mood, and her judgment was unimpeachable. Each antique she authenticated gained at least $2.6 million in value. Yvette was Evelyn.

Isaac had discovered this purely by accident, keeping the secret entirely to himself.

"Yvette," he said cautiously, "the landscape painting you evaluated last time has skyrocketed in value. If you return to the antique world, it'll cause chaos." He continued, "The antique scene is rife with fakes. Recently, Mysonna Auction House purchased a blue-and-white porcelain piece for $30 million—only to discover it was a forgery. It's become a laughingstock."

The world's top auction house had bought a fake; the joke was immense. They'd tried to cover it up, but the news spread like wildfire through the antique community. Even though the sale wasn't public, the scandal was common knowledge, leaving them humiliated. Rumors of Evelyn's return had circulated, but quickly subsided.

Yvette showed no emotion. She'd entered the West Auction House competition on a whim and won. Fiddling with another cup, she said calmly, "I'll choose one for you when I can."

Isaac felt a pang of disappointment. Getting Yvette to return seemed unlikely. He nervously eyed the cup in her hand; another breakage would be unbearable.

"Yvette," he said, regaining his composure, "if your friend is a Sacred Maiden, Dungo Village won't release her easily. For them, an unmarried Maiden is a bad omen. They'll stop at nothing." He added, "You know how deadly those poisonous insects are; they kill silently and without a trace."

A cold, wicked smile touched Yvette's lips. "Without a trace? Do you think my life is so cheap?" she asked chillingly.

Isaac awkwardly rubbed his nose, remembering that Yvette was no ordinary woman. Back in Mysonna, they'd encountered a master of poisonous insects—and Yvette had swiftly defeated him. It seemed she could control the insects herself, though that was only his assumption. The sorcerer's dying words had been: "You can do it too?" Isaac had pondered that for years.

"Hang on, Yvette," he said. "I'll get something."

Yvette nodded. Isaac entered the inner room, leaving Yvette looking tired yet composed. She watched the street outside Vintage Vista, lost in thought, unaware that a man with shifty eyes across the street was observing her every move.

Opposite Vintage Vista was Past Perfect, their longtime rival. The Past Perfect manager watched the stunned man before him, then followed his gaze to Yvette. He recognized the man's predatory intentions immediately.

"Mr. Jacobs," he said with a flattering smile, "have you taken a liking to someone again?"

The man, Sheldon Jacobs, the village chief's son, nodded, his eyes gleaming with lust. "This woman is a prize. Do you know if she's connected to Isaac? His girlfriend?"

The Taylors held significant status in Normis. If Yvette was Isaac's girlfriend, Sheldon wouldn't dare approach her.

"Mr. Jacobs," the manager replied, smiling, "Isaac doesn't have such a beautiful girlfriend. He's single and notoriously picky about women."

Sheldon nodded, satisfied. Easy enough to handle, he thought. I'll take her back to Dungo Village, lock her in the basement, and use a binding love spell. She'll become my plaything.

The manager understood. Getting into trouble is inevitable, he thought. If she ends up with Sheldon, she'll be considered lucky. Dungo Village was impoverished, except for the incredibly wealthy Jacobs family, who'd recently acquired a fortune through the antiques trade. They were Past Perfect's important clients. Sheldon was known for his beautiful, obedient female companions.

Back at Vintage Vista, Yvette gripped her coffee cup, a chill in her eyes. Isaac returned, noticing the change in her demeanor.

"Who are those people?" Yvette asked calmly.

Isaac scoffed disdainfully, "A sleazy shop selling fakes, ruining the industry's reputation." He knew the difference between an honest mistake and knowingly selling forgeries.

Yvette sipped her coffee, her eyes cold. "What's happening, Yvette? Is he coming over? He'd rather bomb my shop than come willingly," Isaac asked curiously.

"Easy to handle," Yvette replied languidly, glancing across the street with hazy eyes. Isaac glanced across the street, then down at a photo. "No way, Yvette! What a coincidence!" he exclaimed, surprised.


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