The Ashton family members exchanged knowing smiles, observing the couple with satisfaction.
As they spoke, they discreetly turned their attention to Corrine, eager to see her reaction. But Corrine remained unfazed, sipping her coffee as if she were an outsider, her composure unshaken.
The crowd couldn’t help but sneer, thinking she was just pretending. They were eager to see how long she could keep up the act.
Rita, with a casual air, remarked, “Miss Holland, why haven’t we seen your gift? This is your first time at my grandfather’s birthday party, so surely your gift is something extraordinary?”
She smiled at Corrine, her eyes glittering with a hint of malicious amusement.
“It’s nothing special,” Corrine replied smoothly, her calm demeanor unwavering.
Rita snorted softly as she took Corrine’s gift and lifted the lid of the box, revealing nothing more than a simple pen holder. Amusement flickered across her eyes; she had anticipated nothing impressive from Corrine.
“I expected a rare treasure with the way you were acting, yet it’s just a worthless pen holder!” Rita exclaimed
This pen holder bore stains of frequent use, likely salvaged from some forgotten corner.
“It seems challenging for you to part with such an item, Miss Holland.”
“No matter how much you dress up, your humble roots are still obvious!”
“If you’re really struggling, you could’ve come for a meal without the need to bring a gift. The Ashton family didn’t invite you expecting anything in return.”
“Presenting such a shabby gift certainly tarnishes the Ashton family’s esteemed reputation!”
The wave of skepticism threatened to swallow Corrine.
“I thought you’d be doing better after leaving the Ashton family, Corrine.” Bruce let out a sigh, a mix of concern and disbelief in his tone.
“If you ever find yourself in trouble, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m here to help.”
Ignoring Bruce, Corrine chuckled lightly.
Placing her cup on the table, she approached Farris with a subtle grin.
“Farris, have you examined its contents closely?”
Rita rolled her eyes.
“What, that old pen holder? It’s worthless unless it’s hiding a secret map or something.”
As Rita reached out for the pen holder, Farris said sharply, “Don’t touch that!” His outburst not only startled Rita but also drew serious looks from everyone around.
They all suddenly turned their attention to the ordinary-looking pen holder, curious if it concealed any secrets.
“Let me be clear, Corrine, today marks my grandfather’s 80th birthday. If your gift carries any ill fortune, I won’t hesitate to have you removed.” Rita warned Corrine through gritted teeth.
Farris interrupted sharply before she could complete her sentence, saying, “Enough! You’re only making a fool of yourself here!”
Rita, wearing a look of distress, turned her gaze to Farris.
“Rita, enough of this,” her father warned, his tone cold.
Reluctantly, Rita pouted and moved to stand beside Tracy.
“Corrine, might this pen holder be the legendary artifact that dates back to the 19th century?” Farris asked, his gaze fixed on the item within the box. He hesitated to touch it, fearing he might cause damage, and ultimately pulled his hand back.
Corrine nodded and said, “That’s right, you’ve got a sharp eye.”
Farris was brimming with excitement, barely able to contain himself. This artifact was regarded as one of the most significant finds in the art and literature circles recently.
Diego, known for his collection of ancient relics, added with a shaky voice, “Is this the esteemed pen holder from the 19th century, the one that recently sold for 9.54 million?”
“9.54 million? How is it possible for such an item to command such a price?” someone exclaimed
Patiently, Diego responded, “You’re missing the point. This pen holder was made by a master carver exclusively for the royal family. Its value to collectors is beyond measure.”
The room went quiet as Diego’s explanation settled in.
Leah clenched her fists, her nails pressing into her palms, astonished at the revelation of the item’s extraordinary value.
“I’m just concerned this might be a knockoff,” Bruce’s aunt, Gloria Ashton, said, her voice cutting through the murmurs as she stepped forward, her expression feigning polite curiosity. She cast a pointed glance at Corrine and added with a sly smile, “If Leah had given it, that would make sense. But from Corrine? 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 Holland has probably never even seen that much money in her life.”
“Why bother with an appraisal? It’s obviously fake,” another muttered, a laugh following the remark.
Though most guests were unaware of Corrine’s background, the Ashton family knew exactly who she was. To them, she was a low-born country girl who had gotten lucky and secured a spot at Lyhaton University. Otherwise, they assumed, she’d have married some elderly farmer and lived a life of obscurity in the countryside.
Rita, 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 Ashton 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!”
Leah 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 Corrine.
“Miss Holland 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 Corrine had presented a counterfeit.
The Ashton family, though not at the level of Lyhaton’s four great powerhouses, held their reputation as a prominent family with pride. Presenting a fake gift at Farris’ 80th birthday wasn’t just an insult to him, but a stain on the family’s honor.
The guests, being key figures in Lyhaton society, would surely spread the tale far and wide. How could the Ashtons recover from such public embarrassment if this scandal reached the city’s elite?
Even with Farris’ fondness for Corrine, it seemed unlikely that he could defend her now
A flicker of triumph gleamed in Leah’s eyes. Corrine had managed to alienate the entire Ashton family, and Leah 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 Farris, who presided silently at the head of the table.
Since the revelation of the pen holder as a forgery, Farris had remained quiet, his features unreadable, adding to the tension in the room.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he spoke, his voice steady.
“Corrine, 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.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.