Chapter 319
In the car, Francesca called Lauren and spent several minutes chatting in hushed tones. When she hung up, her face showed clear disappointment.
She said with a sigh, “It’s a shame Lauren can’t join us. We had planned to attend the showcase together with you, Andrew, but the Rhodes family has been keeping a close eye on her lately. She’ll have to skip it this time.”
Andrew could not help but think back to Jerry and the others from the day before. While they claimed to be there to pick Lauren up, their behavior seemed more like they were monitoring
her.
Cedric chimed in, “The Rhodes family recently had an important guest arrive from the Blumedale. Lauren is probably tied up entertaining them, which is why she couldn’t come along.”
The three of them chatted casually as they drove, eventually arriving at Jayrodale’s most famous antique district. The streets were already packed with people, forcing Andrew to park the car several blocks away.
Cedric glanced around at the bustling crowd and remarked, “This year’s showcase is even livelier than last year’s! Luckily for us, I’m a member of the Jayrodale Antique Society. Let’s take the VIP entrance!”
Andrew observed the scene as they walked, noting the overflowing shops and makeshift stalls lining the streets. The area was full of curious trinkets and unusual items, with many people simply browsing for fun rather than making any purchases.
The world of antiques, as Andrew knew, was notoriously tricky to navigate. Big spenders were either seasoned collectors or wealthy individuals who did not mind paying a premium.
Cedric fell into the latter category–his ability to identify valuable pieces was questionable at best, but his deep pockets often made up for his lack of expertise.
Every year, Cedric would spend hundreds of thousands, sometimes millions, at these showcases without hesitation. Yet among the crowd, there were also those rare individuals who could spot hidden treasures for a fraction of their true value. These were the true masters of the antique world, often professional collectors or appraisers.
Such experts were few and far between, though. In the antique community, anyone daring to call themselves a “master” was either a fraud or a genuine heavyweight–and the latter were elusive and notoriously difficult to meet.
After Cedric flashed his membership credentials, the three of them were escorted through the VIP entrance and into the main event area. The showcase was held in a large outdoor plaza, which had been transformed into the centerpiece of the day’s festivities.
Radiant Group had invited several prominent antique experts to preside over the event. These
