Chapter 54

Charl gave a slight nod at the question. Slipping on his gloves, he carefully ran his fingers over the surface of the vase, studying every detail. After a long pause, he finally looked up at Julian. “Mind telling me how much you paid for this?”

Julian lifted his chin proudly, holding up a hand to indicate the sum. “As long as my mother-in-law likes it, no price is too high!”

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. “Mr. Hayes really went all out this time. The generosity of the Hayes family is unmatched!” “Truly extravagant!”

Julian basked in the admiration, his lips curving into a self-satisfied smile. He turned to Charl. “So? There’s no flaw in my gift, right?”

The elderly appraiser stroked his chin thoughtfully before squinting his eyes and shaking his head. “What a shame… Spending that much money, only to end up with a fake.”

The smile on Julian’s face froze. His throat tightened. “That’s impossible! I paid a fortune for this!” He gestured toward the other vase beside it. “If mine is a fake, that means I was deceived! My money was real, so how could I have bought something counterfeit? If anything, that pauper over there probably has a fake one! There’s no way he could afford the real deal!”

Aurora turned her gaze to Lucas. The man beside her remained as composed as ever, a faint, cold smirk tugging at his lips. Even as Julian tried to drag him down, Lucas simply nodded at Charl.

Understanding the silent cue, Charl turned to the second vase, handling it with the same careful scrutiny. Then, suddenly, he set it down with a firm motion and clapped his hands together. “This one is genuine!”

Julian’s face turned ashen. He gritted his teeth, desperate to refute the claim. “Mr. Whitmore, you must be mistaken. There are plenty of similar-looking antiques out there. You can’t just take a glance and declare it real! For all we know, Lucas just found an excellent replica to set me up!”

But Charl was not someone easily fooled. Without so much as lifting his gaze, he shot back, “I’ve spent decades in this field. I’ve never misjudged a piece. I could tell the difference between these two vases with my eyes closed.”

Julian was instantly silenced. His expression twisted in frustration, his face dark and contorted as if he had just swallowed a fly. He had spent a fortune… only to end up with a fake? If word got out, how was he supposed to maintain his reputation? By tomorrow, the entire social circle would know.

The more Julian thought about it, the angrier he became. “Who knows where your money came from? Lucas Carter, what kind of shady business are you involved in? So what if you got the real one? I just wasn’t as lucky as you! At least I earned my money fair and square!”

Aurora frowned and was about to speak, but Lucas gently pressed her hand, silently stopping her. He gave her a subtle shake of his head, his expression calm and unreadable.

Grace took in the scene before her, a complex mix of emotions surfacing in her heart. She turned to Tessa, who had remained silent throughout, a trace of dissatisfaction in her gaze. “You were reckless this time. Don’t let it happen again.” Her tone carried a hint of reproach–an unusual shift, as she had always favored Tessa.

Tessa’s face paled. She had never expected her mother to scold her so openly. Lowering her head, she bit her lip, swallowing back her frustration. But inside, resentment burned fiercely. Her hands clenched into fists, nails digging deep into her palms, yet she couldn’t suppress the surge of anger and jealousy rising within her.

Narrowing her eyes, she cast a cold glance at Lucas, her expression filled with skepticism and disdain. Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, she sneered. “You must have used Aurora’s money to buy the real thing. There’s no way you could afford it on your own. Only someone like Aurora would be naive enough to fall for a man who lives off a woman.”

Aurora let out a sharp laugh. “Tessa, that level of desperation doesn’t suit you. Are you suggesting that everyone handles their finances as dishonestly as you do?”

“You-!”

“Enough!” Grace’s sharp voice cut through the tension. She quickly turned to the guests with a practiced smile, smoothing over the moment. “Apologies, just a petty family matter.”

Tessa’s head shot up, her face still carrying an air of grievance. Her eyes flicked around the room, scanning the crowd. The whispers had already begun. She could feel the judgment–low murmurs of amusement, thinly veiled mockery directed at both her and Julian Hayes.

The realization sent a fresh wave of humiliation crashing over her. Her face burned with anger, but she clenched her teeth, forcing herself to stay composed. Losing her temper now would only make things worse.

But she would get back at them. She would make sure everyone saw exactly who Lucas really was. Turning slightly, she leaned toward her assistant and whispered, keeping her voice low. “Find out everything about Lucas Carter–where he came from, what he does, and every single detail of his past.”

Her eyes darkened with intent. The assistant nodded in understanding and quickly slipped away, making sure no one noticed.

Tessa watched them go, a slow, cold smirk curling on her lips. Once she had the truth, it wouldn’t be her reputation in shambles; it would be Aurora’s. Everything she had endured today, Aurora would pay for it tenfold.

With that thought, the rage simmering inside her began to settle. Her gaze flickered toward Lucas, and her smirk deepened. “Let’s see how long you can keep up this act. Sooner or later, your secrets will come to light.”