Chapter 103 Extraodinary Value
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 only 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!”
“I…” 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 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 hold it in.
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.
