Chapter 108 Timeless Treasures Sold…
Donnelly exchanged light pleasantries with Diego, but his focus shifted as he caught sight of Corrine seated calmly in her chair. A knowing smile crept across his face, warming his sharp features.
He moved past Diego without hesitation and strode over to her. “Well, well, what’s got you here today?” he asked with an air of easy familiarity.
The casual greeting froze the room in stunned silence.
Could it be that Donnelly actually knew Corrine?
Rita, standing among the onlookers, felt a sudden, inexplicable panic well up inside her. Her gaze darted to the plain pen holder sitting on the table, her heart sinking.
Was this simple piece truly connected to the Timeless Treasures?
But wasn’t Corrine just a country girl?
Without clout or connections, how could she possibly have ties to Timeless Treasures?
Corrine set her cup down delicately, her tone cool and composed. “So, has the Timeless Treasures taken to selling counterfeits now?”
“What brazen nonsense are you spouting!” Donnelly retorted, though amusement flickered in his eyes rather than anger. “You know full well I can’t stand counterfeits. As long as I’m around, not a single fake makes it past the Timeless Treasures‘ doors.”
His reputation wasn’t mere talk. Donnelly wasn’t just the president of the Lyhaton Antique Association but also the strict gatekeeper for the Timeless Treasures.
No item could make it into their collection without his rigorous approval.
“Then perhaps you should inspect that pen holder,” Corrine suggested, arching an eyebrow and tilting her head toward the unassuming piece on the table.
Following her gaze, Donnelly let out a soft chuckle. “Inspect it? Do I really need to? You
Corrine’s calm, steady glance cut him off mid–sentence. Something in her expression silenced him, and he nodded, his humor giving way to thoughtfulness.
“Alright then,” he said, his tone shifting slightly. “Perhaps I should take a closer look.”
Even as he spoke, Donnelly cast a cautious glance at Corrine, whose serene demeanor remained unshaken, as if the entire ordeal was none of her concern.
Clearing his throat, Donnelly retrieved a small magnifying glass from his chest pocket, holding it up to the light with practiced ease. He bent slightly, his movements precise as he meticulously inspected the pen holder. At last, he straightened and spoke in a tone as casual as it was decisive. “It’s genuine.”
His words landed like a thunderclap. Rita’s face drained of color, her legs wobbling as if they might give out beneath her.
“Could it really be the legendary pen holder once displayed in the Timeless Treasures?” Diego’s voice quivered with awe, his wide eyes glistening as he stared at the object with
reverence.
Donnelly slipped the magnifying glass back into his pocket, his fingers idly toying with the bracelet. “Indeed.”
The confirmation rippled through the crowd, igniting a buzz of shock and disbelief.
“But… but I heard this pen holder fetched 9.54 million at auction! How could the Timeless Treasures bear to let it go?” Diego stammered, nervously dabbing at the cold sweat forming on his brow.
Donnelly let out a soft chuckle, his tone tinged with amusement. “The Timeless Treasures isn’t just about hoarding collectibles. When an item finds its destined owner, it’s sold willingly.”
Gloria’s voice cut through the murmurs, her disbelief spilling out before she could stop
herself. “But an amount of 9.54 million. That’s impossible…”
Where would Corrine get that kind of money?
Corrine set her cup down with deliberate calm, her gaze steady as she replied, “Miss Burgess compensated me ten million. It was just enough to cover the cost.”
Her composed tone sliced through Leah like a razor, leaving her reeling as the truth struck deep.
The crowd turned their eyes toward Rita, their gazes a mixture of mockery and pity. Each stare seemed to peel away a layer of her composure.
Rita’s chest tightened, and her face grew hot as she felt every pointed look.
She stood frozen, her breathing uneven as bitterness clawed at her insides. It was unbearable.
The pen holder was genuine.
What now?
She couldn’t kneel.
She clenched her fists, her thoughts spiraling in panic. As the Ashton family’s heiress, kneeling before Corrine would ruin her forever. How could she ever recover from such public humiliation?
Farris shifted uncomfortably, watching Corrine’s calm demeanor with a growing sense of unease. Donnelly’s confirmation left him cold. The significance of the gift no longer mattered.
What loomed over him now was the crushing weight of potential disgrace on the Ashton family.
His gaze flicked toward Corrine, searching for a hint of leniency. She paid him no mind, her eyes locked on Rita. A faint smile curved her lips, her tone light but cutting. “Miss
Ashton, isn’t it time to honor your word?”
