Chapter 104
“I’m just concerned this might be a knockoff,” Warren’s aunt, Marianne Mitchell, said, her voice cutting through the murmurs as she stepped forward, her expression feigning polite curiosity. She cast a pointed look at Vivienne and added with a sly smile, “If Natalie had given it, that would make sense. But from Vivienne? Well, that’s truly unfortunate.”
A ripple of agreement spread through the guests, punctuated by hushed comments. “An amount like 9.54 million is no small sum,” someone whispered. “Miss Hayes has probably never even seen that much money in her life.”
“Why bother with an appraisal? It’s obviously fake,” another muttered, a smug laugh following the remark.
Though most guests were unaware of Vivienne’s background, the Mitchell family knew exactly who she was: a low-born country girl who, by sheer luck, secured a place at Lyhaton University. Otherwise, they assumed, she would have married some elderly farmer and lived a life of obscurity in the countryside.
Diana, recovering from her initial shock, let out a scornful laugh. “An antique from the 19th century, rare as it is, just conveniently found? That’s laughable!” She crossed her arms, her voice sharp with disdain. “Bringing a knockoff to an occasion like this—she’s practically mocking the Mitchell family in front of everyone!”
“If she’s struggling financially, why not just admit it instead of pretending?” someone scoffed. “Now that it’s exposed, let’s hear how she explains herself!”
Natalie stepped forward with a delicate sigh, her expression one of practiced concern. “A small token can still carry deep meaning,” she said softly, as though defending Vivienne. “Miss Hayes meant well, even if she’s inexperienced. It’s easy to be deceived when you don’t know much about antiques.” Her words, though framed as kind, subtly underscored the accusation that Vivienne had presented a counterfeit.
The Mitchell family, though not among Lyhaton’s four most powerful families, held their prominent reputation with pride. Presenting a fake gift at Everett’s 80th birthday wasn’t just an insult to him but a stain on the family’s honor. The guests, key figures in Lyhaton society, would surely spread the tale far and wide. How could the Mitchells recover from such public embarrassment if this scandal reached the city’s elite? Even with Everett’s fondness for Vivienne, it seemed unlikely he could defend her now.
A flicker of triumph gleamed in Natalie’s eyes. Vivienne had managed to alienate the entire Mitchell family, and Natalie could hardly wait to see how she intended to escape the fallout.
The guests exchanged a medley of amused and curious glances. Detached from the situation, they treated the unfolding drama as a spectacle, occasionally sneaking glances at Everett, who presided silently at the head of the table. Since the revelation of the pen holder as a forgery, Everett had remained quiet, his features unreadable, adding to the room’s tension.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he spoke, his voice steady. “Vivienne, your thoughtfulness means a great deal to me. I truly appreciate this gift.” His calm acceptance sent ripples of surprise through the room. Most had expected him to erupt in fury or at least express some dissatisfaction; yet, he seemed unbothered and unwilling to escalate the matter.
Vivienne’s gaze remained composed as she replied evenly, “It’s just a small token. I’m glad you like it.”
“Some people refuse to own up to their mistakes until they’re backed into a corner!” Diana’s cutting voice sliced through the air as she threw Vivienne a scornful glance, her lips curving into a derisive smirk. “Even now, she won’t admit the truth. Does she really think we’re all ignorant about antiques?”
Someone among the guests piped up with a smirk, “It’s simple enough—bring in an expert to appraise it. If it’s authentic, Miss Hayes’s name is cleared. If not—”
“If not,” Diana interjected sharply, her eyes blazing with malice, “then Miss Hayes can smash the pen holder herself and kneel before my grandfather to apologize!”