Chapter 336
“However-” Andrew began.
Just then, Christina cut in excitedly. “While everyone was nervous, Mr. Cooper remained completely calm! That’s how you knew both bowls were fake. He would have been panicking about their safety if they were real.”
“Exactly.” Andrew nodded with approval.
Christina felt conflicted. She was smart enough to run Jayrodale as CEO, but she would never have thought of such a brilliantly simple method. It seemed that her intelligence was nothing compared to Andrew’s.
The crowd erupted in amazement as the mystery was solved.
“Incredible! He used psychology to authenticate antiques. Mr. Lloyd, you’re truly the best!”
Another expert clainted, “This is pure genius! I’ve been authenticating pieces for 20 years, but today’s lesson has shown me I’ve still got more to learn!”
“There’s no doubt that Mr. Kelce has lost!”
Aspen desperately searched for another angle to refute Andrew’s claims but found none. She thought bitterly, ‘He really beat Mr. Kelce. As fellow Bridgefields residents, we’ve embarrassed ourselves.‘
Aspen felt like Andrew had just slapped her hard across the face. She bit her lip, standing silently on the edge of the crowd, unable to say a word. Her gaze flickered to Orion, and the sight of him made her heart sink–he was clearly furious but she did not dare to show it, pacing anxiously like a cornered animal, completely out of options.
‘Mr. Kelce, I’m sorry,‘ Aspen thought to herself with a faint sense of pity. ‘But even I can’t help you now.”
Without realizing it, she edged further away from the crowd, unwilling to get involved.
“Mr. Kelce, you lost.” Francesca’s voice rang out loud and clear, filled with malice. “And since you lost, shouldn’t you follow through on what you promised? Isn’t it time to kneel before him?”
Francesca was not about to let Orion off the hook. She loathed the man, and this was her chance for payback.
Her words immediately turned the crowd’s attention to him, their eyes brimming with expectation and disdain. The message was obvious: kneel and admit his flaws, or the hundreds of collectors and dealers gathered here would not let him walk away unscathed.
Orion gritted his teeth. “Fine, I’ll admit it–I underestimated you. But to kneel and apologize? Do you even realize what it would mean if someone like me, Orion Kelce, bowed down to you? Could you even handle it?”
+25 BONUS
Chapter 330
Andrew clasped his hands behind his back, his expression calm but laced with a mocking smile. “Mr. Kelce, that’s such a strange thing to say. Why wouldn’t I be able to handle it? Having a renowned figure like you admitting his mistakes and kneeling before me sounds great, doesn’t it?”
His smile widened as he added, “Honestly, I’d be thrilled!”
Orion’s face turned red with rage, and his voice thundered, “You insolent brat! Do you really intend to humiliate me to the very end?”
He had not even lanelt yet, and this arrogant kid was already acting like he was the elder in charge. Orion had spent his entire life towering over others, receiving their bows and gratitude as they called him respectfully.
Never not once–had he been forced to kmeel before someone. To him, this was not just a loss; it was the ultimate insult. And it was utterly unbearable.
