Female Novel
Chapter 443
A flash of panic could be seen in the young woman's eyes.
She was not Vespera.
Her name was Lina Young, and she was an ordinary appraiser from a pawnshop overseas.
Even if she trained for another twenty years, she would likely never reach Vespera's level.
However, with so many people watching her, she dared not admit her true identity.
“What nonsense are you saying? Of course, I am. The necklace is authentic, so isn't that enough toprove that I am Vespera? Why would they invite an impostor here?”
A smile crept across Bailey's face as she nodded and agreed, “You're right. By the way, the Museum ofHallsbay just posted a notice the other day. They are expecting a batch of national treasures to beshipped in from abroad, and they need a renowned appraiser to appraise those relics. Since you're atop expert in the field, I'm sure you'll take the task, right?”
Lina shuddered involuntarily at Bailey's words.
Can I take the job? But what if the real Vespera appears after word gets out? I will become thelaughingstock of the entire world!
“I...”
“Since Master Vespera has returned to the country, she will surely agree to take the task,” the
pawnshop executive at the side chimed in.
Next, he shot Lina a look.
Don't you mess around! If you dare reveal that I asked you to pretend to be Vespera, I won't let you offthe hook!
Intimidated by the man's threatening glare, Lina could not bring herself to say anything else. Shesteeled herself and said, “You're flattering me, Ms. Jefferson. I'm just one among the many talentedappraisers in this world. There are countless people who are more capable than me. Nevertheless, ifCultural Relics Bureau needs my help, I am more than willing to offer my service.”
“That's great.”
Bailey gazed at her intently before turning around to Artemis. “Let's leave after paying. I don't want todisrupt the auction.”
Just then, a plump middle-aged man rushed out from backstage.
He was the boss of Auro Pawnshop. While everything was transpiring earlier, he was getting it on witha C-list celebrity in the suite next door.
When he got a call from his assistant and found out that Artemis showed up and even mentionedacquiring Auro Pawnshop in his anger, he was scared witless.
In an instant, he lost the mood to fool around with the woman he picked up and immediately got
dressed to head toward the venue.
“M-Mr. Luther, I heard that your wife had her eye on Beauty's Tear and made a winning bid for it. This istruly Auro Pawnshop's honor! Please keep the necklace. As for the payment... I'll shoulder it.”
Without giving it a thought, Artemis accepted his offer. “Sure, as you wish.”
Uh... novelbin
Artemis shoved the box into his pocket unceremoniously and strode out of the venue with his armaround Bailey's shoulder.
The boss glared at the assistant beside him and questioned in a low voice, “How much did she bid forthis necklace?”
“Six... Six hundred million,” answered the assistant cautiously as he gulped.
Six hundred million?
The boss widened his eyes in disbelief.
That's enough to acquire a pawnshop!
“It's six hundred million in Anglandurn currency, which means you'll have to pay almost four billion inour currency,” the assistant added, adding salt to the wound.
The boss gasped and clutched his chest. Unable to cope with the shock, he eventually collapsed with
his eyes rolled over.
Behind the stage, Lina was talking to the executive with a troubled expression.
“Mr. Watson, I can't do this. I can pose as Vespera and help you fool the buyers, but I'll be exposed ifyou make me deal with those cultural relics!” she complained.
The man shot her a glare and insisted, “You'll have to do it no matter what. There's no turning backnow. After tonight, someone from the Cultural Relics Bureau will probably contact you. Cooperate withme if you don't want people to know what you did.”
“B-But what if Vespera shows up? I'll still be caught that way.”
“What are you scared of? No one has ever seen her. Even if she appears, she won't be able to proveher identity. Besides, I got reliable news that Vespera died from cancer a year ago. She's dead.”
His statement shut Lina up.
...
Meanwhile, as Artemis and Bailey left the place, she told him about what happened at the auction.
After listening to her, Artemis laughed. “You're so smart. This is quite a pressure on me! Don't they saythat pregnant women become less intelligent? How come you're getting smarter and smarter?”
Bailey rolled her eyes in response.
Nonetheless, she did think that she was quite clever.
If she hadn't come to a realization while she was in the corridor, Beauty's Tear would have gonemissing again. She would never have gotten her hands on it.
“Is the banquet downstairs over?” she then inquired.
Artemis looked at her and sighed. “No. How could I wait for it to finish before coming to you? I feelanxious whenever you're out of my sight. I'm scared that you'll get hurt.”
Suddenly, he remembered Bailey's strange behavior at the banquet earlier and couldn't help asking, “Isthere any problem with Sophia? Why were you so emotional after seeing her?”
Bailey pursed her lips before clenching her jaw. “She looks like my mother... My mother in name,Sophia Carr.”
Her words surprised Artemis. “Didn't Clarence's first wife die in a fire? They didn't even find herremains.”