Chapter 62

When Isabel saw the necklace, she froze. It wasn't just any necklace—it was her own design. A closer inspection revealed it to be a counterfeit. Pieces from Dely Studio were highly coveted in elite circles, making forgeries commonplace. This replica, however, was so well-made that even Isabel almost mistook it for the genuine article.

Seeing her reaction, Blake immediately stepped forward to defend her. In his eyes, if Isabel said it was fake, then it was fake. Even if it were real, he would still claim it a forgery.

“Madam Penny, if you didn’t sincerely intend to give Isabel a gift, then don’t bother. Nobody forced you. Why insult her by presenting a fake necklace? Just because she’s from the countryside doesn’t mean you can bully her. Isn’t that right, Dad?”

He turned to his father. Thomas, unprepared for this turn of events, looked at Penny with a stern expression. “What’s the meaning of this?”

Penny gritted her teeth in anger. “Thomas, this necklace is authentic! I went to great lengths to order it directly from Dely Studio. She’s the one with no knowledge, accusing me unfairly! I was being generous, and now I’m being slandered? Unbelievable!”

At that moment, Connie interjected slowly. “Why not have it tested? Thomas, don’t you know Arial, the head of Dely Studio?”

“Yes, let’s test it,” Penny said eagerly, determined to put Isabel in her place. A country girl like her couldn't possibly know better.

“Fine,” Thomas agreed. “I’ll contact Arial immediately.”

Since Arial couldn't arrive immediately, Blake introduced Isabel to the rest of the family. Next was his mother, Thomas's third wife, Yolanda.

“Isabel, this is my mother, Madam Yolanda,” he said.

“Good evening, Madam Yolanda,” Isabel greeted politely, discreetly observing Yolanda. From what Blake had told her, Yolanda disliked him, and her icy demeanor confirmed it. She didn't seem easy to get along with.

Yolanda cast Isabel a cold glance before handing her a small box. “This is a brooch I’m fond of. It’s yours now,” she said indifferently. Then, with a slight smirk, she added, “And don’t worry, it’s not a fake.”

That last comment felt like a jab. Isabel smiled faintly. Yolanda probably assumed she was too ignorant to distinguish genuine from fake jewelry, which is why she’d accused Penny.

“Madam Yolanda,” Isabel began, examining the brooch carefully, “judging by its craftsmanship, this piece is quite old—likely from the medieval era. Back then, this style was popular among the social elite. This brooch is highly collectible and incredibly valuable. It’s too precious; I can’t accept it.”

Yolanda’s eyes flickered with surprise. She hadn’t expected Isabel to recognize the brooch’s history so quickly. Clearly, the girl had a keen eye for detail. Is Penny's necklace really a fake? Yolanda pondered.

“I don’t take back gifts I’ve given,” Yolanda said coldly. Even so, her dislike for Isabel remained evident.

“Isabel, just keep it, my mother’s rich—might as well take advantage! You’re here at the Yates residence; grab whatever you can!” Blake interjected, taking the brooch and putting it away for Isabel.

Yolanda was speechless, glaring at Blake, visibly annoyed. Since when did he become so shameless? she thought.

Seeing this, Morris Yates, Blake’s younger brother, stepped in to ease the tension. “Isabel, I owe you an apology. I didn’t know you’d be visiting today, so I wasn’t prepared. I promise I’ll make it up to you next time.”

“This is Morris, my younger brother,” Blake introduced.

“It’s fine,” Blake replied on Isabel’s behalf. “She isn’t concerned about gifts.”

Isabel sized up Morris. He was undeniably handsome, with features strikingly similar to Blake’s, unsurprising given their parents' looks. Thomas, with his mixed heritage, had been stunningly attractive in his youth, a paragon of elegance. It explained his three wives. Though their country practiced monogamy, the Yates family’s immense wealth allowed them to live by their own rules. No one dared question it.

“Mr. Yates, Miss Winters has arrived!” The butler announced, entering the room.

“Bring her in quickly!” Penny urged eagerly, determined to settle this once and for all.

Moments later, Arial entered, her expression a mix of confusion and curiosity. The Yates family was the pinnacle of high society, and while she’d met Thomas a few times, this was her first time in their home—with so many people present, she wondered what was happening.

“No need for ceremony, Miss Winters,” Thomas said. “I’ve invited you to verify whether my wife’s necklace is authentic.”

“Of course, Mr. Yates,” Arial replied politely. Her gaze swept the room, briefly landing on Isabel. A flicker of surprise crossed her eyes before she masked it. Why is she here? Arial wondered.

Penny wasted no time presenting the necklace with exaggerated respect. “Miss Winters, I’ll trouble you with this,” she said deferentially.

In the fashion world, Arial’s reputation held significant weight. Even for someone like Penny, securing new designs from Dely Studio was nearly impossible. Arial was notoriously strict and didn't bend the rules. If Thomas hadn't intervened, Penny doubted she could have gotten Arial to come.

“Recently, the market’s been flooded with counterfeit versions of our pieces. It’s becoming harder to distinguish the real from the fake,” Arial explained, carefully examining the necklace.

After a meticulous inspection, the results were swift.

“Well, Miss Winters, what’s the result?” Penny asked, her impatience barely concealed.

“I’m sorry to inform you, Madam, but this necklace is indeed a counterfeit.”

“What!” Penny exclaimed, disbelief etched on her face. It couldn’t be true?

The room erupted in murmurs as the family reacted in shock. Madam Penny, Thomas Yates’s wife, possessing a fake? In the Yates family, no less? How absurd!

“Are you sure, Miss Winters?” Thomas pressed, his disbelief mirroring his wife’s. The idea of a fake item in their household was almost unthinkable.

“Mr. Yates, I know every piece we’ve ever created at Dely Studio. While this necklace is an exceptional replica, with almost flawless craftsmanship, it is, without a doubt, not genuine.”

Penny, clinging to hope, demanded, “How can you tell? What’s wrong with it?”

Arial explained patiently, “Madam Penny, it’s too perfect. Our designer, Lily, has a philosophy of embracing imperfection. Each piece in this series was designed with intentional flaws to enhance its beauty.”

“Every authentic necklace in this collection has a small, deliberate flaw, uniquely placed. But this necklace? It has none. It’s flawless, and that’s how I know it’s a fake.”

Penny stood frozen, speechless.

“Well, well,” Yolanda couldn’t resist chiming in with a smirk. “Turns out it really is fake. How amusing! Penny, you’ve been tricked into owning a counterfeit. How embarrassing!”

Penny’s face flushed crimson with fury and humiliation.