Chapter 112: Chapter 112: The Appraisal Begins! He Believes in Estelle Lockwood

A socialite by Noelle Lockwood’s side began to lecture condescendingly. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"It’s only natural that Miss Yara Lockwood doesn’t know about the Jade Pavilion. After all, it’s always been exclusively for high society."

"The Jade Pavilion has been in business for ten years and has an impeccable reputation. They’ve never sold a single fake. Plus, they’re backed by one of Capital City’s century-old prominent families!"

"Yara Lockwood, you’re actually claiming the Jade Pavilion sells fakes? Haha, that’s hilarious!"

Noelle Lockwood listened and laughed as well. "Yara, you might not know this, but the manager of the Jade Pavilion branch is here today, and he brought a distinguished guest. If you’re not convinced, why don’t we have the manager appraise it on the spot?"

Iris Sloan’s brow furrowed. ’This won’t do. What if this gets out of hand—’

She quickly turned to look at Nathaniel Sloan, wanting him to step in and stop it, but saw Nathaniel Sloan shake his head at her.

Iris Sloan froze. ’What does that mean? Nathaniel isn’t going to stop this? But...’

Nathaniel Sloan’s pale eyes remained calm, but... he just inexplicably trusted Estelle Lockwood. He knew how much Estelle Lockwood cared for her aunt and would never give her a fake.

Estelle Lockwood nodded. "Alright."

The crowd gasped. This Yara Lockwood was truly stubborn, refusing to back down until it was too late.

First, she questioned whether the Jade Pavilion sold fakes, and now she was agreeing to an appraisal! Everyone knew the Jade Pavilion’s appraiser had a terrible temper!

This was exactly what Noelle Lockwood wanted. She curled her lips and, feigning helplessness, said to a nearby servant, "Go and invite Mr. Carter from the Jade Pavilion and Mr. Morgan over."

Mr. Morgan was that master appraiser.

Soon, Mr. Carter came over with a stern expression. "Miss Noelle, I heard someone is questioning whether an antique sold by my Jade Pavilion is a fake?"

This Mr. Carter dealt with the powerful and influential of high society all year round.

His connections were vast, and many people knew him. Because of the century-old prominent family behind him, everyone showed him a great deal of respect.

Seeing his displeased expression, everyone thought Yara Lockwood was in for it.

Noelle Lockwood smiled and said, "Yes. Yara also has a Purple Sun Mountain Residence Painting in her hands, but as you know, I just bought the Purple Sun Mountain Residence Painting from you a few days ago, so..."

Mr. Carter became furious upon hearing this. "What a joke! How can a Purple Sun Mountain Residence Painting bought from somewhere else even compare to the one from our shop! We have professional appraisers and never sell fakes!"

Noelle Lockwood sighed. "That’s true, but Yara... Mr. Carter, please don’t be angry. Yara is just having a hard time accepting that she bought a fake. I heard Mr. Morgan is here as well, so I was hoping to ask him to appraise it on the spot, to help Yara face reality."

"Hmph!" Mr. Carter snorted coldly. The more he looked at this woman named Yara, the more he disliked her.

He had been the branch manager for ten years and had never met someone like this!

"Fine! Then let’s shatter her delusions!"

After speaking, Mr. Carter looked fawningly at the man beside him. "Mr. Morgan, we’ll have to trouble you then."

Estelle Lockwood looked up.

She had never met this manager or this Mr. Morgan before.

But she had heard of Mr. Morgan’s name.

He was the professional appraiser her older brother had hired. His fame was widespread, reaching even beyond the country’s borders. He was said to have an infallible eye. When appraising calligraphy and paintings, he would also take into account the era of the work and other details.

For example, there was once a piece of calligraphy and painting rumored to be over a thousand years old, but the paper looked brand new. Everyone else thought it was a fake, but Mr. Morgan could tell with a single glance that the ancient artwork had been preserved in a dry tomb.

Mr. Morgan looked to be in his early forties, with the serious demeanor of a scholar.

Two seemingly identical copies of the Purple Sun Mountain Residence Painting were laid out on a table.

Mr. Morgan stepped forward and said coolly, "You all know the rules of my appraisals."

Mr. Morgan cherished antiques. What he detested most in his life was the existence of forgeries—if it was a replica, it should be openly stated as a replica, not sold under the guise of an original.

Therefore, after his appraisal, if a piece was a fake, he would upload the owner’s name along with the fake to the official antique collectors’ website. In a way, this was to warn others—this person’s antique is a fake, do not be deceived.

Once a name was uploaded, it would be a huge disgrace!

This was precisely the effect Noelle Lockwood wanted! She wanted Yara Lockwood to be disgraced!

At this thought, Noelle Lockwood smiled faintly and said deliberately, "Yara, it’s not too late to back out now. I’m sure Mr. Carter and Mr. Morgan won’t make things difficult for you. After all, ignorance is no crime."

Mr. Carter said contemptuously, "I’ve seen plenty of people like you. You spend a fortune on a fake and feel indignant about it."

Mr. Morgan, however, remained silent. He put on his gloves, his gaze calmly fixed on the two paintings before him.

Estelle Lockwood had a languid expression. "It’s fine. Go ahead and appraise it."

Mr. Carter said fawningly to Mr. Morgan, "Well then, Mr. Morgan, please don’t hold back!"

Mr. Morgan didn’t even glance at him, his tone so calm it was as if Mr. Carter were a stranger. "When it comes to an appraisal, I am naturally thorough."

Mr. Carter felt the awkwardness of being rebuffed, but Mr. Morgan had never made a mistake, and he and Miss Noelle were counting on him to help them publicly humiliate her, so he endured it.

Noelle Lockwood couldn’t help but look at Estelle Lockwood. ’Let’s see if you can still smile later.’

Laura Jennings was also laughing inwardly. ’This is hilarious! What an uncultured bumpkin!’

Time ticked by, second by second. The appraisal was tedious and long. To the average person, the two paintings looked identical; they really couldn’t see any difference. All they could do was watch Mr. Morgan pick up various tools, including a special magnifying glass.

One moment he would frown, the next he would nod. It was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

Iris Sloan couldn’t help but worry. "Yara..."

Estelle Lockwood gave her a reassuring look. "Don’t worry."

Two hours later, Mr. Morgan suddenly put down his tools. "I have the results."

Noelle Lockwood’s and Laura Jennings’s eyes lit up. Laura Jennings said impatiently, "Yara Lockwood, just you wait!"

Mr. Carter also stepped forward. "Mr. Morgan, which one is the fake?"

Everyone waited with bated breath, but Mr. Morgan just looked up coolly. "Who is Noelle Lockwood?"

Hearing Noelle Lockwood’s name, Laura Jennings beamed. ’It looks like Noelle’s is the original!’

She hurriedly pushed Noelle Lockwood forward. "Mr. Morgan, this is Noelle! She spent a fortune to buy this Purple Sun Mountain Residence Painting from the Jade Pavilion for her aunt. It’s a shame some people would rather have a fake than Noelle’s authentic painting!"

Iris Sloan scoffed.

Mr. Morgan nodded. "I will remember you."

Everyone was extremely envious. Although Mr. Morgan seemed unassuming, he had the Morgan Family behind him and was intricately connected to that prominent family in Capital City. To be remembered by Mr. Morgan... others wouldn’t even dare to dream of it.

Noelle Lockwood’s heart skipped a beat. She couldn’t resist a triumphant glance at Estelle Lockwood before saying shyly, "Thank you, Mr. Morgan... Yara, you should apologize to Mr. Morgan."

"Because of your unreasonable tantrum, Mr. Morgan had to work hard appraising for over two hours. Now the truth is out, proving that your Purple Sun Mountain Residence Painting is the fake..."

Others in the crowd also jeered, "That’s right, apologize! You wasted our time!"

Estelle Lockwood raised an eyebrow and met Mr. Morgan’s eyes.

Mr. Morgan looked puzzled. "Apologize?"