"Ivy, it actually doesn’t matter if the painting is real or not; it’s the thought that counts." Rachel intentionally said this.
Nina, however, continued, "Rachel, what you said isn’t right. What does giving a fake painting signify? It ans Ivy Sumrs doesn’t hold Old Master Lancaster in high regard; otherwise, even if she couldn’t afford a real one, she wouldn’t buy a fake."
"Alright, Nina, Ivy is your cousin after all, give her so face on such an occasion."
After Rachel said this, the people around looked at Ivy Sumrs with even more sarcasm in their eyes.
Seraphina Kennedy’s face grew even more displeased, "Aren’t you going to quickly take your worthless painting away, or is being embarrassed not enough?"
Saying this, Seraphina Kennedy reached out to tear the painting apart, but Ivy Sumrs raised a hand to block her, "The painting is real."
"Ivy Sumrs, are you still trying to argue? Aren’t you embarrassed in front of everyone?"
"Auntie Kennedy, even if you really don’t like , there’s no need to decide my painting is fake just based on what others say one-sidedly."
"People have explained it so clearly already, do you still think you’re being wronged?"
At this mont, the old man chuckled softly, shook his head, and said to the butler beside him, "I heard Elder Linus Lynn is here today too."
The old butler imdiately said, "Yes, Old Master."
"Go invite him over."
The butler went imdiately.
Soone seeing this asked, "Old Master Lancaster, the person you’re talking about is the famous appraiser Linus Lynn, Master Lynn?"
The old man nodded, "Indeed."
"As expected of the Lancaster Family, they even invited soone as esteed as Master Lynn from the antique world."
"Yes, it’s truly rare to see such a master normally."
"Then, wouldn’t Young Madam Lancaster be even more embarrassed? Master Lynn could probably tell a fake painting at a glance."
Seraphina Kennedy frowned, "Dad, isn’t this embarrassing enough already?"
The old man fell silent and didn’t respond to Seraphina Kennedy.
Rachel smirked secretly; the old man was also inviting an appraiser to verify it, clearly not trusting Ivy Sumrs either.
Nina looked triumphant as she glanced at Ivy Sumrs, then quietly moved closer to Damien Lancaster when she saw his handso face, "First Young Master Lancaster, my cousin is really embarrassing, I’m sorry you have to see this."
Damien Lancaster glanced at her coldly, not even wanting to give her another look.
Nina mistakenly thought he was agreeing with her, and continued, "Actually, my cousin has always been like this, so no one in the family likes her. First Young Master Lancaster, soone like her truly disgraces you and doesn’t deserve to be Young Madam Lancaster."
"Embarrassing? Doesn’t deserve to be Young Madam Lancaster?" Damien Lancaster’s lips curled slightly, but there was no smile in his eyes, "Then who does? You?"
With this question, Nina leaned closer to Damien Lancaster like a peacock flaunting its tail, and said shyly, "First Young Master Lancaster, actually, I’ve liked you for a long ti."
"You like ?"
Nina nodded vigorously, her eyes full of excitent as she looked at Damien Lancaster.
She’s been wanting to beco Young Madam Lancaster for so ti now.
She thinks she isn’t any worse than Ivy Sumrs, so why can Ivy but not her?
Damien Lancaster’s gaze fell on her face full of flattery, and he sneered, "But I only find you disgusting."
"W-What?"
Nina’s breath caught, her shy expression hadn’t faded before embarrassnt slowly crept up her face.
Rachel standing nearby coldly laughed upon hearing them.
Another wild chicken dreaming of becoming a phoenix.
Nina’s face stiffened as she shrank back, too humiliated to raise her head.
Soon, an elderly man looking about seventy or eighty was invited over by the butler.
The person is indeed Linus Lynn, Elder Lynn.
"Elder Lynn, co take a look at this painting. It was a gift from my granddaughter-in-law," the old man’s tone was calm, but if listened carefully, there was a hint of pride.
"What a fine painting, let see."
Rachel’s lips curled even further.
And Ivy Sumrs stood there with a still calm expression.
The butler had a long table brought in, and the entire painting was spread out. Elder Lynn stepped forward to take a closer look.
Nina said nothing further in front of Damien Lancaster, looking towards Elder Lynn, just waiting for him to give an answer to let Ivy Sumrs lose face completely.
Elder Lynn looked at it for a long ti, seemingly captivated in appreciation.
Rachel hurriedly asked for the answer, "Elder Lynn, may I ask if this painting is real or fake?"
"Fake?" Elder Lynn lifted his head.
Rachel didn’t hear the question in his tone, took it as confirmation, and she and Nina imdiately looked at Ivy Sumrs.
Nina raised her head, "Cousin, do you have anything to say? You’re giving a fake painting and still won’t admit it; now being exposed a second ti, are you happy?"
Rachel continued, "Ivy, you didn’t need to do this, it’s just making everyone awkward."
Ivy Sumrs almost couldn’t resist rolling her eyes.
"Elder Lynn, so people insist this painting is fake, can you please clarify for them?"
Hearing the voice, Elder Lynn looked up, took off his reading glasses, and looked at Ivy Sumrs, "You?"
Ivy Sumrs smiled gently, "Elder Lynn, nice to see you again."
After confirming the person in front of him, Elder Lynn moved forward with excitent and admiration, "It really is you."
Ivy Sumrs nodded.
Elder Lynn laughed heartily, "I knew we’d et again after all these years."
After speaking, Elder Lynn looked back at Old Master Lancaster, "Old Man Lancaster, is this your granddaughter-in-law?"
"Indeed."
Elder Lynn laughed, "Young and promising, you are lucky, Old Boy. Back then, my grandson pursued Ivy, but got rejected after one eting."
"You would still try to take my granddaughter-in-law? Dream on."
Elder Lynn laughed heartily.
Hearing this, Damien Lancaster’s face showed slight displeasure, and he pulled Ivy Sumrs to his side, "His grandson pursued you?"
Ivy Sumrs glanced at him, "What’s it to you."
Rachel and Nina, who had just been smiling, imdiately lost their smiles.
What’s going on?
Why did the atmosphere suddenly change?
Elder Lynn and the old man were conversing when Nina walked up and quickly asked, "Elder Lynn, is this painting fake?"
Elder Lynn turned his head and looked at Nina with a frown, "Fake? Why would anyone ask if this painting is fake? Are you also an appraiser?"
Nina imdiately revealed her identity, "I’m Auctioneer Nina from Chronos Auctions, and I can appraise a bit."
Elder Lynn chuckled twice, as if he’d seen sothing amusing.
Then Nina heard Elder Lynn say, "If you think this painting is fake, and yet you claim to know appraisals, if I were you, I wouldn’t speak up either to avoid making a fool of myself."
"I..." Nina twitched her lips, "What do you an?"
Elder Lynn clicked his tongue, "You young folks, if you can’t understand this, maybe you should go back and study so language first. This painting couldn’t possibly be more authentic, understand?"
"This... how is that possible." Nina didn’t believe it, "That’s impossible, this painting is clearly a fake."
"Are you doubting , or are you doubting her?" Elder Lynn pointed at Ivy Sumrs.
Ivy remained calm from beginning to end. She knew better than anyone whether the painting was real or fake; she was rely accompanying the two in this ga.
"Young ones, you should go back and practice more. Neither she nor I are people you can question."
With one sentence, Elder Lynn raised Ivy to the sa level as himself, leaving Nina completely flustered, "This can’t be, this can’t be!"
Rachel Shaw didn’t believe it either and stepped forward, "Elder Lynn, do you want to take another look? What if you’re mistaken."
Elder Lynn was even more displeased, "Old Man Lancaster, why are there so many buzzkills at your birthday banquet?"
Elder Lynn had made it very clear.
Everyone else understood that the painting was genuine.
Yet these two dared to doubt Elder Lynn, causing those around to laugh.
"Elder Lynn has already said it’s real, and those two still doubt. Do they think they’re more capable than Elder Lynn?"
"Exactly, they don’t even consider their own abilities, just spouting nonsense here."
"But Elder Lynn just praised Young Madam Lancaster? Elder Lynn usually doesn’t praise people, what’s Young Madam Lancaster’s status that even Elder Lynn looks at her with such admiration."
Only Damien Lancaster and Old Master Lancaster knew Ivy’s identity at the event. Naturally, if Ivy herself didn’t say, they wouldn’t either.
Damien Lancaster spoke, "Throw the buzzkills out."
Throw!
Damien said to throw them out, not even bothering to use ’invite,’ showing his anger.
Nina panicked, anxiously looking towards Damien, "First Young Master Lancaster, you have to believe , that b**ch really used a fake painting to fool the old man."
Damien didn’t give her another glance, as Julian Jacobs had already stepped forward with people.
Nina wanted to say sothing more.
Two bodyguards grabbed her arms from both sides and directly carried her out.
"Let go, this painting is truly fake, that b**ch just used a fake painting to fool the old man, let go, Rachel, save , save ..."
Rachel Shaw no longer dared to speak, shrinking her neck in fear that the trouble would spill over to her.
She couldn’t understand how it ended up like this.
She had heard of Elder Lynn’s status, and it was unexpected that he looked at Ivy Sumrs so admiringly.
What on earth is going on?
After the commotion, Old Man Lancaster instructed the butler to hang the painting in the most conspicuous place in the Lancaster Family residence, showing his fondness for it.
"Ivy, co by Grandpa’s side."
Ivy walked to the old man’s side, and the old man asked the full room, "Does anyone else have any doubts?"
No one dared to speak further.
The sensible guests began to praise Ivy Sumrs for her filial piety and sensibility, while Rachel Shaw was completely ignored, and even Seraphina Kennedy didn’t get a friendly face.
...
With the trouble resolved, the banquet officially began.
The old man had Ivy sit by his side, closer even than Damien Lancaster, the eldest grandson.
Midway through the banquet, as Sophie, sitting between Ivy and Damien, finished eating, she wanted to go to the bathroom. Seeing the old man talking to Ivy, Sophie decided to go on her own.
On her return, she ran into Annelise Lancaster in the hallway outside.
Annelise was accompanied by a few other kids, who looked about her age.
Annelise led the group closer to Sophie; during the banquet, Sophie could sit next to Damien, getting his attention, while Annelise had to be looked after by servants at a remote table.
Annelise was very unhappy about it.
Seeing the approaching group, Sophie was a bit frightened, "What do you want to do?"
Annelise stepped forward and pushed Sophie hard, her face still youthful yet filled with malice, "Didn’t I tell you not to steal my dad?"
Sophie was pushed down but imdiately got up, angrily staring at Annelise, "I didn’t try to steal your dad."
"No? Then why are you sitting next to my dad?"
Sophie got up again only to be pushed down by Annelise.
Given her young age, Sophie couldn’t fight Annelise.
Plus, Annelise had other kids on her side as well.
These kids were all brought by their families, and since Seraphina had announced Annelise’s identity, their clever parents made sure their kids befriended Annelise.
Sophie, unwilling to admit defeat, got up with clenched fists.
But knowing she couldn’t win against the group, Sophie turned to run.
Annelise shouted, "Hold her down."
Sophie couldn’t outrun the bigger kids, and was soon pushed and pinned to the ground. Annelise walked over, sat on Sophie, and grabbed and scratched her face, "This is for stealing my dad! For stealing my dad!"
Sophie gritted her teeth, glaring at Annelise, swinging her little hands to fight back, even when in pain, not shedding a single tear.
A passing servant saw a bunch of kids on the ground ahead and asked, "Miss Annelise, what are you doing?"
Annelise imdiately covered Sophie’s mouth, "We’re just playing."
Due to the number of kids, the servant didn’t notice Sophie being pinned down and left them alone.
Annelise looked down at Sophie, "Need to teach you a lesson so you know not to steal my dad. Let’s drag her to a secluded spot."
Just as the kids were about to drag Sophie away, in the next second, Annelise, still riding on top of Sophie, was kicked and sent flying.
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