Female Novel
Chapter 450
With that, she reached out to touch the antique emerald ring.
To her surprise, Gwendolyn slapped her on the back of her hand, reprimanding, “Stop it! You're goingto sully the antique emerald ring with your sweaty hands!”
The butler smiled in response and went off to carry out the order. Just as she reached the door, sheexclaimed, “Ms. Jefferson, what are you doing here?”
Hearing that, Gwendolyn and Lydia turned around in unison and saw Bailey approaching.
Lydia immediately threw her handbag onto the couch and trotted toward Bailey, wrapping her armaround the latter's shoulder. With a smile, she said, “Bay, we meet again!”
Bailey's expression stiffened. Bay? Did I hear it wrong? This girl is not only overfriendly but alsostraightforward. Should I call her Liddy in return?
“Bay, you're here.” Gwendolyn's voice was as gentle and loving as ever, causing her eyes to sting, andshe almost shed tears.
“I heard from Mr. Chivers that you've bought an antique emerald ring from the auction and thought I'dcome over to check it out.”
“Is it that one?” Lydia pointed to the antique emerald ring on the table and pouted. “It's just a replica ofan antique emerald ring using the most advanced technology. It looks just like the real one, and thecompositions are identical. Anyway, it's a product of modern craftsmanship—a worthless collectible.After all, how can a modern craft like this be considered an antique?”
Fake? A replica? Gwendolyn, flabbergasted, knitted her brows. “Liddy, I've spent tens of millions on thisantique. How can you say it's a replica?”
“Did you not know about that?” Lydia's eyes widened as she looked at Gwendolyn in disbelief.
Gwendolyn shot her a glared and admonished, “If I knew it was fake, would I still buy it with tens ofmillions? Wait. You know nothing about antique appraisals. How can you conclude that it's a replica?You'd better don't make wild guesses, Liddy.”
Lydia rolled her eyes and pursed her lips disdainfully. “Have you forgotten how the Xanthos familystarted their business? We made a fortune with the knowledge of antique appraisals. As a Xanthos,even if I'm only an amateur, I can still tell whether it's real or fake at a glance.”
Her words rendered Gwendolyn speechless.
After sweeping her eyes across the antique emerald ring, Bailey curled her lips into a smile. This girlhas a good eye. I'm surprised she can identify such an exquisite replica without assistance. Asexpected of the daughter of the Xanthos family. She has good judgment and insight. The daughters ofordinary prestigious families are nothing compared to her.
“This shouldn't be happening.” Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes at the antique ring and frowned. “Ispecifically brought it to Vespera, the expert antique appraiser. She said it's the real thing.”
“She must be an impostor, then,” Lydia remarked bluntly. “If she were the real Vespera, she would havefigured it out. Since she told you it's a real antique, I can only say this Vespera is a fake.”
Realization dawned upon Gwendolyn after she heard that.
Bailey started to like Lydia even more. This girl is honest, lovely, and smart. Edmund and hercomplement each other well. With such a lively and cheerful girl by Edmund's side, I guess he won'tfeel lonely for the rest of his life anymore.
Gwendolyn's face was tinged with rage. She gritted her teeth and said, “So that woman is a fameseeker, huh? No wonder Master Vespera, who has disappeared from the public eye for several years,suddenly appeared in Hallsbay. It turns out someone impersonated her.”
With that said, she reached out to hold Lydia's wrist. “Liddy, since your family's antique business spansthe globe, you should be able to contact the real Master Vespera, right? Can you ask her to come toHallsbay and expose the impostor to prevent more people from being cheated by her?”
“Vespera...” Lydia hesitated, unsure of whether to tell the truth. “Perhaps she's already gone. Somesaid she was involved in a car accident, while others claimed the antique dealers had ended her life.Anyway, these are only rumors. The public has yet to receive any news of her death, and no oneknows the truth. That's why the impostor dares to take Vespera's place recklessly.”
Hearing that, Gwendolyn looked at the antique emerald ring on the table and sighed helplessly. “Greedis indeed dangerous. No, I must go to the Antique Appraisal Association to denounce her and stop herfrom fooling others.”
Bailey smiled faintly and said, “A batch of cultural relics will arrive in Hallsbay a few days later, and theCultural Relics Bureau has invited her to perform the antique appraisal. Maybe we should only exposeher when the time comes.”
Upon hearing that, Lydia blinked with a cunning glint in her eyes. “This is a good idea! Let's do it thisway. Haha! Something fun is going to happen in Hallsbay soon.”
In the infirmary, Glen looked a little awkward as he stared at his grandson, who sat at the end of thebed. “I was too domineering regarding this issue. Luckily, I didn't make a huge mistake. Anyway, Baygetting pregnant is good news. When are the two of you getting married?”
Artemis, hanging his head, spoke after a moment of silence. “I want her to marry me with the mosthonored identity, so now isn't the time yet.”
He still wanted Bailey to return to her roots and marry him as the most honored heiress of the Shurmerfamily.
The public currently insulted Bailey as a baseborn child with an unknown father. Even after she marriedinto the Luther family, that would still be a stain in her life that could never be washed off.
Thus, he had to clear her name at all costs.
Glen, momentarily stunned, narrowed his eyes at Artemis. After a moment of silence, he seemed tohave thought of something and asked in surprise, “Is Bay really the daughter of the Shurmer family?”
Artemis nodded. “She's indeed the daughter of the Shurmer family who was swapped at birth.”
“Why doesn't she take this chance to reclaim her identity and return to her roots?”
Artemis held his forehead and sighed. “Bay's too kind and doesn't want to take away Zoey's identity as
the heiress. She will rather subject herself to public accusations and gossip than tell the Shurmer familythe truth from the past.” novelbin
Glen heaved a sigh. “As I expected. She's kind-hearted and can't bring herself to harm others. Butsince she has taken a step back, will the girl from the Shurmer family do the same?”
Will Zoey take a step back? Definitely not. The Zoey I know will never back out. With that thought inmind, Artemis replied, “She won't. That's why I've been waiting for her to court her own death. Baydoesn't want to reclaim her identity and let Zoey go. If Zoey doesn't cherish Bay's kindness, I'll makeher leave the Shurmer family.”
All of a sudden, Glen laughed aloud. “Brat, you've been full of tricks since childhood. Both Eddy andSimon couldn't beat you in games back then. Now that you've grown up, you've gotten even better atmanipulating others!”
Artemis smirked when he heard that. “Thanks for your compliment, Granddad.”
The next day, a group of tourists was attracted to the Museum of Hallsbay, knowing that the museumhad invited the expert antique appraiser, Vespera, to be their guest speaker.
A sea of people crowded inside the museum.
“Look! Master Vespera is here.”