Chapter 335

The crowd, stirred by Aspen's accusations, eyed Andrew with suspicion. If he had cheated by colluding with the owner, it would be a major scandal. Andrew remained calm. "I thanked the owner," he said, "but not because he told me which piece was genuine. In fact, I don't even know this man. If anything, this seller is more likely acquainted with Mr. Kelce."

Orion's face darkened; his teeth clenched. Aspen's heart skipped a beat. Could Andrew's claim be true? Was the owner actually on Orion's side? If so, her accusations were meaningless. There was no reason for anyone to help Andrew cheat for Orion.

Elsie, an event organizer, stepped forward. "Mr. Cooper, we have access to your background. You're from Bridgefields, correct? You and Mr. Kelce have partnered at these events for years."

John Cooper offered an awkward smile. "That's correct. I'm from Bridgefields, which is precisely why I'd never side with Mr. Lloyd against Mr. Kelce. Both bowls are fakes. Mr. Kelce instructed me to bring them. This doesn't break any rules, but I never expected Mr. Lloyd to discover the truth so quickly."

The crowd erupted in shock. Aspen, humiliated, stood frozen, speechless. The audience angrily berated John and Orion, who had clearly conspired to trap Andrew. Andrew's sharp eye and confidence had exposed their ruse, leaving Orion defeated.

Enraged, Orion shouted, "Enough! Everyone, shut up! Now tell me, how did you figure out which bowl was fake? If you can't explain it, I'm not acknowledging this win!"

Andrew chuckled. "It's simple. While Mr. Cooper didn't tell me which bowl was real, his reactions gave it away."

Aspen sneered. "Reactions? Andrew, are you serious? Does anyone believe that?"

John, visibly panicked, waved his hands. "Mr. Lloyd, you're a genius, but please, don't involve me! I didn't give you any clues. If you continue, I'll be ostracized in Bridgefields." He looked genuinely distressed.

Andrew remained calm. "Let's return to my earlier question. Remember when I asked Mr. Cooper about the genuine bowl's worth? It was supposedly worth millions—unique in the world of porcelain. Mr. Cooper said it was highly valuable and precious."

Francesca blinked, confused. "But what does that have to do with determining which bowl was fake?"

Andrew grinned. "Everything. Didn't you notice what I did during the appraisal? Each time, I tossed the bowl in the air, as if I were ready to drop it. Everyone held their breath, terrified I might destroy it. No one wanted to be responsible for damaging something so rare and priceless—not even Mr. Cooper, the supposed owner. A bowl worth millions wouldn't be handled so carelessly. Mr. Cooper's lack of reaction was telling."

Cedric nodded. "Exactly! A bowl like that should never be treated so carelessly."

Andrew smiled. "And that's the key."