Chapter 453

Chapter 453:

It was Jada’s friend, Isabella. Madisyn glanced over and recognized the woman, a well-known socialite of Ansport. Her father, a renowned connoisseur of antiques, had filled their home with priceless treasures. This wealth and prestige had made Isabella notoriously arrogant.

“Miss Alpert, all of our antiques have been meticulously authenticated by experts,” the host explained. “Even though this is a charity auction, we would never offer a fake item.”

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Isabella sneered, her tone dripping with disdain. “No one has laid eyes on Queen Sophia’s crown in years. Even so-called experts might struggle to verify its authenticity. This wouldn’t be the first time something like this has happened. The evaluation may say it’s genuine, but it could very well be a fake.”

The host fell silent, acknowledging the truth in Isabella’s words. Indeed, this had happened before. For a moment, doubt crept into everyone’s mind regarding the authenticity of Queen Sophia’s crown. Was this crown truly a fake?

“I demand another evaluation,” Isabella declared. “Luck would have it, my father has in-depth knowledge of Queen Sophia’s crown. I can determine whether it is genuine.”

The host was caught in a dilemma, facing an unprecedented situation at the auction. He glanced at the influential figures offstage—Andrew, Dane, and several other high-profile investors. Noting their approving nods, the host reluctantly agreed.

Isabella quickly made her way onto the stage. Her antiques prompted her to always bring her evaluation tools with her. She began examining the crown for authenticity. The crowd held their breath, their eyes locked on the crown as they anxiously awaited the verdict on its authenticity.

“I’m done,” Isabella said abruptly, her face long. “It’s a fake. Just look! The diamond glimmers too brightly—it’s clearly man-made. The diamond on the real crown emits a soft, hazy glow.” The audience erupted in uproar.

“A fake?”

“How could someone offer a fake at this auction?”

All eyes turned to Madisyn, seeking an explanation. Madisyn’s face remained serene and composed. She said lightly, “It appears that my crown has been replaced.”

“Ha-ha, I doubt you intended to auction the real one.” Isabella glared at Madisyn with disgust. “You’ve gone too far. How could you deceive us with a fake on such an important occasion?” Her disdain was deeply personal; her father had once purchased a fake at a charity auction, fueling her intense hatred for such deceptions.

She sneered, “If you didn’t want to auction the crown, you could have just offered something else. Imagine the disappointment if the buyer discovers it’s fake after purchasing it. Madisyn, you owe everyone an apology!”

The hall fell so silent that even the faintest sound could be clearly heard. Isabella’s direct confrontation took everyone by surprise. After all, Madisyn came from the influential Johns family, while the Alpert family was comparatively less powerful. Yet, some people felt that Isabella had a point.

“Yes, even though this is a charity auction, using fakes is unacceptable.”

“Exactly!”

“What Madisyn has done brings shame to the Johns family!”

“Well, Isabella,” Jada stood up and said, attempting to soothe the tension, “I understand that you’ve had a bad experience with fakes before, which makes you sensitive to this issue. But Madisyn likely had no ill intentions. She simply wanted to showcase Queen Sophia’s crown. It’s her first time at a charity auction. Let’s not be too harsh on her.”

Isabella, feeling angry, retorted, “Can wrongdoing simply be forgiven? How shameless of Madisyn! If this continues, the reputation of the charity auction will be ruined. Who will want to attend in the future? If Madisyn doesn’t apologize, I won’t be attending anymore!” Her impassioned words resonated with some in the crowd.

“After all, no one wants to buy a fake.”

“It’s truly Miss Johns’s fault.”

“She should definitely apologize! This is a crown worth hundreds of millions of dollars.”

“If she doesn’t apologize, I don’t think I’ll be attending the charity auction again. It’s only getting worse.”

Despite the mounting pressure, Madisyn remained remarkably calm. As Andrew was about to speak, Madisyn spoke up first. Facing Isabella, she declared, “I can guarantee that the crown I offered is genuine. If it’s a fake now, then someone must have replaced it.”

“Replaced it?” Isabella scoffed, finding the notion absurd. “Fine, then check the surveillance footage to see who swapped out your crown!”

The auction items had been tucked away in the storage room before the auction. The host requested someone to retrieve the surveillance footage. The video revealed that Madisyn and a staff member had placed the crown into the storage room. No one else approached the room until the auction was about to start. Subsequently, the staff member had come to inspect the auction items and then moved them to another location.

“See? No one has touched your crown.” Isabella regarded Madisyn with a look of contempt. Everyone had seen the video clearly. It seemed that Madisyn’s crown was indeed fake. Suddenly, disappointment spread across their faces.

The Johns family had always been held in high regard—why was Madisyn tarnishing that reputation? “Who said no one touched it?” Madisyn replied, her tone indifferent.

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