Chapter 147 Completely Embarrassed
"No way! I heard he’s quite extraordinary! However, it seems he’s long since retired to Mount Rochberry Monastery and rarely entertains guests anymore.”
“Where on earth did this little girl find Abbot Falor?”
For a moment, everyone was taken aback once again.
When Madelyn found this gift, in a certain sense, it was even more precious and invaluable than what Sebastian had given her.
Sebastian was quite taken aback. He had no idea that Madelyn had actually prepared this gift.
At this moment, Agnes was so moved that she was on the verge of tears.
For the older generation, Abbot Falor was regarded as a significant symbol of an era, holding substantial importance.
Agnes couldn’t help but grasp Madelyn’s hand, repeatedly saying, “Good child! Thank you!”
Madelyn hastily responded with a laugh, “Grandma, there’s no need for formalities. It’s only right for me to do this.”
The scene was instantly filled with a thunderous round of applause.
However, at that moment, a piercing sound suddenly erupted from within the crowd.
Beatrice looked at the wooden deity sculpture, and her gaze was filled with skepticism. “If you guys claim that Abbot Falor has retired to seclusion, then his belongings should be hard to come by, right? Madelyn, how did you get this wooden deity sculpture? It couldn’t possibly be a fake, could it?”
Once these words were spoken, it was as if the air itself had become stagnant.
The atmosphere was unbearably awkward.
Originally, Janessa was still upset. She was annoyed because Sebastian was being so generous, yet he had given all the credit to Madelyn, allowing her to bask in all the glory.
Upon hearing Beatrice’s criticism toward Madelyn, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of schadenfreude, eagerly anticipating the unfolding drama.
At that moment, Madelyn suddenly chuckled, turning to Beatrice with an open and honest expression. “Beatrice, how could I possibly give Grandma something fake on her birthday?”
“That’s not a given. You’re unpredictable. Who knows what you might do?” Beatrice rolled her eyes.
Upon hearing these words, Madelyn found them utterly unreasonable.
So, with a confident demeanor, she suggested, “If you really don’t believe me, you could go up the mountain and ask around, or you could bring in some appraisers to verify on the spot to see if I’m lying."
Chapter 147 Completely Embarrassed
Following that, Madelyn’s gaze swept over the crowd, and sure enough, she recognized an elderly man.
That elderly man, a long-standing friend of her grandparents, had been in the appraisal business for many years.
With this in mind, Madelyn politely stepped forward and respectfully asked, “Hello, Sir. Could I possibly trouble you to help me authenticate the legitimacy of this wooden deity sculpture?”
“Um…” The elderly man hesitated for a moment.
In reality, he rarely offered his assistance in making appraisals.
At that moment, Agnes gave a nod to the elderly man.
The elderly man, out of respect for Agnes, finally agreed, “All right, then.”
And so, the elderly man stepped forward, meticulously examining the authenticity of the wooden deity sculpture.
Everyone was waiting for him, anticipating an answer.
A few minutes had passed before the elderly man had finished his assessment.
With a calm demeanor, he turned toward Agnes and stated, “Based on my years of experience, I can confidently assert that this wooden deity sculpture is indeed authentic.”
Once again, everyone was taken aback.
At that moment, Madelyn looked at Beatrice with a triumphant gaze, smiling. “Beatrice, now that you know the truth, is there anything left to say?”
Beatrice was suddenly taken aback. How could it possibly be real? This is so annoying!
“All right,” Agnes intervened at this point, smiling. “These two gifts, I love them both. They show just how dutiful my grandson and granddaughter-in-law are. I’m truly happy. Let’s not get hung up on these minor issues, all right?”
Upon hearing this, everyone chuckled.
And so, the birthday celebration continued.
This time, it was Beatrice’s turn to give a gift.
Compared to the two previous extravagant gifts, all Beatrice gave was a renowned painting.
However, that painting was an antique piece that Agnes had been talking about for a long time. Therefore, Agnes still praised her with a smile, saying, “Beatrice, you’re so thoughtful.”
The tone was remarkably kind and fair, devoid of any favoritism, which naturally brought joy to Beatrice.
Following this, individuals from other families also started to present their gifts one after another.
The gifts varied in value. Some were quite expensive while others were merely symbolic gestures.
Chapter 147 Completely Embarrassed
In order to outshine Madelyn, the gift she prepared was indeed rather valuable.
At that moment, however, it seemed there was nothing particularly impressive. It was just a collection of fine emerald bracelets.
After Agnes accepted with a hearty laugh, the conversation seemed to come to a halt.
No one really noticed the gift from Janessa. To everyone else, her present was just like all the others, merely a formality.
In an instant, Janessa felt utterly humiliated, her heart swelling with resentment. This is all Madelyn’s fault! That despicable woman! She single-handedly stole all the limelight. It’s utterly infuriating!
In no time at all, the gift-giving segment was over.
However, the gifts from Madelyn and Sebastian left a profound impression on everyone, and they all talked about it with great enthusiasm.
Following that, it was time for the dance segment.
Suddenly, Sebastian reached out to Madelyn, asking softly, “Would you like to dance with me?”
The tone of his voice was gentle without being frivolous, indifferent, yet not cold.
Madelyn looked at him, her face flushing a shade of red, and she placed her hand on his.
Subsequently, the two made their way to the dance floor.
Madelyn’s one hand was on Sebastian’s wrist, while her other hand gently rested on his shoulder.
Sebastian smoothly took hold of her waist, maintaining a close yet appropriately distanced connection between them.
Subsequently, the two began to dance in harmony with the music.
The waltz could appear to be a simple dance, but in reality, it required a high degree of harmony and coordination between the two partners. Even a slight misstep could easily lead to stepping on one’s partner’s foot.
Clearly, such a situation would not occur between Madelyn and Sebastian.
They were closely pressed against each other, their dance steps impeccably synchronized, displaying a deep and unspoken understanding.
Their eyes were exuding tenderness and love as if they could only see each other in the entire world.
In that fleeting moment, the scene was incredibly picturesque.
At that moment, Janessa was standing off to the side, watching the two people wrapped in an intimate embrace. Her eyes, red with jealousy, were nearly wild with envy. Madelyn, you despicable woman! Why should you be the one standing next to Sebastian? It should be me. I’m supposed to be by his side!
Just as Janessa was seething with anger, her phone suddenly rang.
Chapter 147 Completely Embarrassed
Upon hearing those words, a sinister smile tugged at the corners of Janessa’s mouth, her eyes revealing a glint of calculation. “Very well.”
After that, she cast a sinister glance toward Madelyn.