It was time for Alyssa to present her present.
When the antique rosewood chair was carried in, every antique fanatic and collector in the venue erupted into excitement.
âThat is a stunning relic!â
âOh goodness, I wish I could get my hands on it!â
âThis is probably the most precious thing Mr. Beckett Senior would have gotten tonight besides the porcelain set!â
âWho is this Alice White? How did she get her hands on something so priceless? Looks like Mr.
Beckettâs exâwife might have been an heiress in hiding!â
Jasperâs heart had leaped into his throat. He gazed fixedly at Alice. He had never expected her to give the old man an antique the Taylor family had won at the auction. This chair itself was worth over a hundred million!
It seemed like the Taylor family really doted on her.
âThis is our gift to you, Grandpa. May you be blessed with prosperity and happiness, and live forevermore!â Alyssa said to Newton.
Beside her, Jonah bowed his head slightly. âI wish you a happy birthday, Mr. Beckett Senior. May you be blessed with boundless youth and wisdom, and remain strong as a yew.â
The sight of the two people beside one another, looking so regal and matching, was captivating.
Jasper felt like he couldnât breathe. He instinctively reached up to cup his chest where his heart was pounding before quickly putting his hand away. He couldnât risk anyone else seeing him like this.
âThis is too precious a gift, Alice,â Newton cried, feeling grateful. âYou really shouldnât have. I would have loved anything you prepared for me. That goes to you too, Mr. Taylor.â
Jonah grinned. âMr. Beckett Senior, weâre happy you like our gift, sir. It really is nothing.â
âYou should just keep it, Grandpa. Itâs not like she put a lot of effort into getting it,â Betty sneered. âHow convenient to be able to give what belongs to someone else instead and then steal the spotlight for it. I should really learn from you, Ms. White.â
Alice smiled kindly. âI couldnât have possibly taken that big of an advantage. Thatâs why I have prepared my own gift, though it is nothing compared to Jonahâs.â
Betty stared at her in shock.
What did she have up her sleeve now?
Newtonâs eyes brightened upon hearing that. âOh? Iâm excited to see it!â
Aliceâs eyes glinted mischievously as she clapped her hands twice in the air. A moment later, Sean walked in from outside with a glass showcase in his hands.
The box contained a piece of boulder opal with a stunningly carved scene of mountains, valleys, and rivers on its surface.
âOh goodness!â The crowd went wild again.
Jasper and Landon were both captivated by the carving. The craftsmanship was insane!
âIsnât thisâIsnât this Herman Fowlerâs debut work. The Morning Viewâ? Where did you get this, Alice?â
Newton exclaimed incredulously. Herman Fowler? Worldârenowned, deceased stone carver? His works were exceedingly rare to find on the market nowadays!
âYou think too highly of me, Grandpa,â Alice said shyly. âThis is my mimic of it. I call it âA Glimpse of Morningâ. Iâve done my best to create a replica of the original masterpiece. However, it pales in comparison to the real deal.â
The crowd gawked in awe at her.
Il paled in comparison? What was she talking about?!
$15 BOWS Unly someone who had mastered the art of stone carving could render such an intricate scenery on crystalth nearly indistinguishable from the real thing!
Who was this talented young woman? Could she have been one of Herman Fowlerâs private students?
The crowd murmured amongst themselves, utterly amazed by Alyssa.
Sophia and Betty, however, had horrid expressions on their faces.
They no longer recognized the timid woman who once lived with them in their household. Alyssa was getting more formidable as the went by.
âAlice, oh my dear child, you really are incredible!â Newton chuckled heartily, incredibly pleased.
âWhat a woman her husband is so lucky to have her Landon sighed drearity, Jasper shot him a glare.
Lucky to have her? The thought ran through his mind like a freight train.
He stared at Alice in the distance, seeing how slowly he was being pushed away from her world.
Why had he never even seen a glimpse of this in their three years of marriage