Chapter 7
"Shakira, I know you're upset tonight, but you can't take it out on Yvette. Just apologize, and everyone will move on." Cody spoke up, and his tone suggested he was already making a big compromise. Yvette bit her lip and glanced at Shakira, saying softly, "As long as you want to stay, I don't mind if you don't apologize." "Yvette, you're way too nice to her. If you keep this up, she'll take advantage of you," Mitchell scoffed, as if Shakira had got some big benefit from Yvette.
He con he con that mu that mu
inwardly, And Shakira is! That's a cool 100 million dollars! If she were in Yvette's position, she'd never make a lifetime!' h
Watching as the family backed Yvette, Shakira smirked, "She fell on her own. Not my problem. Besides, who has the audacity to ask for 100 million for this pile of cheap knockoffs? They should be ashamed." Everyone gasped in shock.
vette looked up, disbelief written all over her face, her voice quaking with anger. "Shakira, you can insult me all you want, but how can you call this a knockoff?"
"Enough, Shakira! Yvette had begged the original owner for so long until he sold it to her with great reluctance. Are you really going to hurt Yvette and then deny it?" Mitchell snapped. Shakira shrugged. "Sure, made a lot of money off you 'with great reluctance." "Shakira-"
"The real one's enamel comes from royalty, not the run-of-the-mill porcelain. The process to make it is complicated, using various colors and featuring intricate textures with a glass-like finish..." Shakira picked up a sharp piece from the box. Under the crystal chandelier's light, it looked cheap and fake. didn't even need to
Hon shad the thile that he opened it and nearly passed out with rakse, shouting, Pheve losers, the Nelson family werke, had the nerves to gave us this trashe
O check. She already knew it was a fake. Back in her previous life, "Lonely Bird" had worked with the Nelson family, and they sent this junk over afterward. She didn't care much for it then and had passed it off to Sean.
Sean
In her past life, "Lonely Bird" hadn't made a fuss with the Nelson family, but now... they were nothing to her.
The Nelson family members were stunned by Shakira's articulate criticism, especially since she had never paid much attention in school.
Mitchell was the first to burst out laughing. "Shakira, you're the last person who can judge art. An F student who skips class? Ridiculous." Even the servants covered their mouths to hide their laughter. Everyone knew about Shakira's less-than-stellar reputation. Shakira shrugged. "If you don't believe me, let a professional appraiser take a look,"
"A professional? Yvette bought this from an expert. At first, the guy didn't even want to sell it. Luckily, Yvette kept pushing until he finally gave in. How could anyone mistake a fake for a treasure?" Mitchell shot back sharply. Shakira laughed, her tone meaningful. "Why not? You all are just doing the same thing."
Mitchell froze, and the others' expressions soured. Yvette's face was especially gloomy.
Suddenly, a servant walked in and announced the arrival of Sofia Hayes, Finn's fiancée.
G.
Selena's face lit up with joy. "Quick, let her in!"
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She then turned to Shakira and said, "Sofia comes from a family of collectors. She's been surrounded by treasures her whole life. If you don't believe us, let her judge."
Yvette was fuming. 'How could Shakira say the antique I've painstakingly bought for a whopping 100 million dollars is a fake? She'll totally lose face over this. Just then, Sofia entered the room, exuding sophistication in her Chanel outfit. With a warm smile, she greeted everyone and handed a gift to the servant next to her. "I just came from an antique restoration workshop and missed Yvette's birthday party, so this is for her." Yvette d sweetly, "Thanks, Sofia."
Sofia beamed. She had admired Finn for a long time. Though they were engaged, Finn had been distant, while Yvette always treated her as her sister-in-law. Sofia appreciated the gesture and treated Yvette like family. "Hey Sofia, you have to see this bowl," Mitchell exclaimed eagerly as he handed Sofia the box.
"Huh? What's wrong with it?" Sofia asked, examined the bowl, and shook her head in disappointment.
Mitchell turned to Shakira, sensing a chance to get back at her after being pushed down all night. He was buzzing with excitement, asking, "This bowl is super rare, right, Sofia?"
"Well, it h t has some value, but it's a pity it's shattered beyond repair. It can't be used anymore," Sofia replied, her tone sympathetic.
"Wait, what do you mean it can't be used? It's an antique, and it cost 100 million dollars-it's not just every day dinnerware. Mitchell's lips twisted.
Sofia caught the subtext but wasn't fully aware of what had happened earlier. After a moment, she tried to phrase her response carefully. "This bowl is really a finely crafted piece of artwork."
She called it
it artwork instead of an antique. Everyone in the room caught the hint.
Yvette's expression started to fall. "No way! Sofia, you need to take another look. This bowl is from Victorian..."
Before Yvette could finish, Sofia jumped in, "Oh yes, it's a replica of the Victorian Enamel Spring Swallow Bowl. I've seen the real one in Ms. Zimmerman's collection; she bought it over a decade ago at an auction." Yvette tried to hold her ground, pleading, "But what if it's another..."
Sofia shook her head firmly. "There are only two in the world-one is with Ms. Zimmerman, and the other is at the Great Clusia Arts Foundation in Longrity." Immediately, Yvette's face went ghostly pale.
Selena's heart sank. "Yvette, who did you buy this bowl from?"
Yvette didn't respond, her humiliation clear. The rest of the Nelson family exchanged worried glances, understanding the answer from the silence.
Confused by their expressions, Sofia looked at Finn. "What's going on here?"
Finn pressed his lips together. "Yvette bought this bowl from someone else to give it as a gift to Lonely Bird, but it was broken accidentally just now."
Sofia finally understood. Trying to cheer Yvette up, she said, "It's just 100 million dollars. Think of it as a lesson learned. Don't be too upset, and this might even be a blessing in disguise. Better to find out now than later when it is sent to Lonely 2/3 G
Bird, right?
"Who broke the bowl, anyway? We should thank them for saving the Nelson family's reputation."© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.
Yvette couldn't muster any gratitude beyond her humiliation.
<3
Cody's expression darkened. "How could you not get it appraised by an expert before making such a huge purchase?"
Selena slammed her hand on the railing in frustration. "If word gets out that we were scammed for 100 million, other families will laugh at us!"