Chapter 84
Chapter 84:
Her eyes narrowed slightly. The same gift? What on earth was going on here?
Yelena quickly composed herself, her calm exterior masking the flurry of thoughts racing through her mind. The agarwood bracelet was something she had specifically tasked Brody to purchase from Grottowell Auction House—a reliable source that rarely, if ever, made mistakes.
Brody was meticulous in his work, and she had no reason to doubt his capabilities.
If something was amiss, the fault would most likely lie with the auction house.
Her brows furrowed slightly as she turned her gaze to Ernest, her tone measured but firm. “Mr. Williamson, can you explain this? You assured me this agarwood bracelet was one of a kind. How is it possible that there are now two identical pieces p>
Ernest, equally taken aback, maintained his composure. Though confusion flickered briefly in his eyes, his voice was steady as he replied, “Please rest assured, Grottowell Auction House does not make such errors p>
He paused, his tone sharpening with conviction. “The bracelet you purchased was authenticated and sold for ten million. There is no doubt about its provenance. If there is another bracelet identical to this one, then I can say with certainty—it must be a counterfeit p>
Bella, standing rigidly nearby, whipped her head toward Ernest, her voice slicing through the room. “That’s absurd! I also purchased my bracelet at the Grottowell Auction House for ten million. I have the invoice and transfer records to prove it. How dare you insinuate mine is a counterfeit p>
How preposterous!
Ernest, the so-called expert, was questioning the authenticity of Bella’s gift? The one she had painstakingly chosen and paid a fortune for?
Ernest met Bella’s outburst with his signature composure, his expression unflinching. “Miss, I am not questioning your integrity. However, we have recently encountered cases where clients were unknowingly deceived by intermediaries claiming to sell items through our auction house p>
“What? Are you suggesting I got scammed because I didn’t know better? I bought mine through proper channels!” Bella’s face flushed a furious red, her fists clenching at her sides.
𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓬𝓬 𝗮𝓬𝓬𝓮𝓼𝓼 ⓯𝓻𝗼𝓶 gⲁ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⫷𝖼𝗈𝗺
Ernest’s brow furrowed slightly, though his voice remained level. He knew the bracelet he had delivered was authentic—Grottowell’s meticulous standards left no room for error.
Yet the bracelet currently in Elianna’s possession was uncannily convincing. The situation was becoming increasingly perplexing.
What was going on?
Around them, the murmurs in the crowd swelled like a tide. “Ernest’s reputation is impeccable. He’s been in this business for decades without a single mistake p>
“Everything I’ve ever auctioned through him has been authentic. If he’s questioning something, there’s a good reason p>
“Exactly! I trust him completely. He’s meticulous to a fault p>
The subtle shift in the crowd’s tone made Bella’s stomach twist. The eyes now trained on her weren’t just curious—they were skeptical, some even pitying.
She gritted her teeth, forcing herself to keep her head high. There was no way her bracelet was fake. No way!
Her voice broke through the whispers, loud and defiant. “The bracelet I bought is genuine. It can’t be fake. Do you honestly think I’d give my grandmother a counterfeit gift p>
Yelena, standing serenely amidst the rising tension, tilted her head slightly. “Whether it’s genuine or not, a professional appraiser can tell us p>