His Ex-Wife Is A Billionaire? novel Chapter 98

"Are you kidding me!" Acacia was angry, her smile stiffening, "I bought this painting from the auction at the Jareth group. How could it be fake?!"

This implicated that the Jareth Group had been dragged into it.

Jareth couldn't help but sneer, "Ms. Acacia, you seem to be unfamiliar with auctions, aren't you? Parkray Auction, under the Jareth group, is the largest in the country. The items auctioned go through strict evaluations, there's no way a forgery would slip through. You may not know much about art, but don't try to tarnish the reputation of the Jareth group."

Thaddeus's gaze darkened.

He remembered at the charity auction, when Ilana persuaded Acacia to buy this fake painting for ten times its price, her lips curving up slightly in a mysterious smile.

Could it be that Ilana foresaw Acacia gifting this painting to Mr. Hamilton?

Was this a coincidence, or was Ilana setting a trap for Acacia from the start?

"Ms. Acacia, there's a difference between a forgery and a replica." An art expert stepped up to defend the Jareth group, "Some paintings may be replicas, but they're original works. For example, many artists copy famous paintings. You can't say those are forgeries, right? If a replica is expertly made and looks very real, that's also very difficult, so top-quality replicas can also fetch high prices. However... yours is a little sub-par, otherwise I wouldn't have noticed the issue right away."

"It can't be a replica... How can it be a replica?! I bought this for a million from Parkray Auction!"

Acacia's face paled in panic!

A million! How could she have spent so much money on a fake? Was she an idiot?

Laughter broke out around her.

Glynnis had to cover her mouth to prevent herself from laughing out loud.

What a spectacle!

"A million? This painting is worth about a hundred thousand at most. You've really made a significant contribution to charity by buying it at such a high price."

Acacia felt like the room was spinning.

Elspeth was so embarrassed she turned away, having no intention of defending the hapless Ms. Acacia.

"Never mind the value, this is a gift from Ms. Acacia." Hamilton may not think highly of Acacia, but he was an elder, and wouldn't nitpick over a painting, "Mr. Murray, take the painting."

Suddenly, Acacia's eyes welled up with tears. She turned to Evadne and asked angrily, "Ilana! What grudge do you have against me? Why are you doing this to me?!"

From the start of the birthday party, she had been ridiculed and mistreated. Now, she couldn't hold back anymore.

Everyone turned to look at Evadne in surprise.

Evadne frowned and blinked innocently, "I'm hurting you? Ms. Acacia, what are you talking about? I really have no idea what you mean."

Cassius and Jareth were both shocked.

Was this the proverbial fighting fire with fire?

"It's your trap! Otherwise, how could I have bought this replica for a million? It's all your fault!" Acacia pointed at Evadne's innocent face, her voice hoarse from yelling, "I may not know how to identify art, but you must've known there was something wrong with this painting! Even so, you inflated the price and made me buy it! How could you?!"

Thaddeus's lips were pressed together in a thin line, his cold gaze fixed on Evadne, his eyes full of ice.

"What are you talking about? When did I ever persuade you?" Evadne looked genuinely innocent, as if she were the one who was scared.

"Ms. Acacia, auctions are public. Everyone can bid freely. Could Ilana force you to buy it if you didn't want to? Wasn't it all your own doing?"

Cassius quickly stepped in to protect Evadne, with a hint of mischief in his smile.

"When Ilana saw I wanted the painting, she deliberately bid against me! Every time I bid, she followed! She forced the price from a hundred thousand to nine hundred thousand! And when I bid a million, she suddenly stopped. Isn't this behavior meant to trick me into buying the fake at a high price?!" Acacia demanded angrily.