Chapter 111: A Forgery? Noelle Lockwood, Yours Is the Forgery.

Chapter 111: Chapter 111: A Forgery? Noelle Lockwood, Yours Is the Forgery.

Soon, the butler returned with Noelle Lockwood’s gift.

Like Estelle Lockwood’s, Noelle’s gift was packaged in a long, rectangular box. At first glance, it was obvious that the item inside was some sort of scroll.

When the butler opened the gift, everyone was dumbfounded.

It was also a Purple Sun Mountain Residence Painting!

Just like the previous one, the two paintings were absolutely identical in size, color, and material. However, it was widely known that there was only one such antique in the world. Therefore, one of these two paintings had to be a fake!

Estelle narrowed her eyes.

Noelle’s eyes lit up, clearly not expecting this pleasant surprise. Earlier, she had assumed Estelle had stolen her gift, but now, it was glaringly obvious that Estelle had presented a forgery. What a perfect opportunity!

Noelle could hardly contain her excitement, but she feigned surprise on her face. "This... Two Purple Sun Mountain Residence Paintings?"

She hesitated for a moment before gently advising, "Yara, where did you buy your Purple Sun Mountain Residence Painting? If you need help, I can call the police for you."

The crowd froze for a moment, failing to process the situation immediately.

Estelle, however, understood perfectly. Her gaze shifted as she shot Noelle a glance.

Noelle was implying that her Purple Sun Mountain Residence Painting was the fake. But this painting had been collected by Old Mr. Kendrick years ago, and it was impossible for the Kendrick Family to purchase a forgery. So, whose painting was the actual fake?

Seeing Estelle remain silent, Noelle bit her lower lip and played the part of a good Samaritan. "Yara, I know forgeries are made incredibly realistic nowadays, and a layman couldn’t possibly tell the difference. It’s not your fault. Just tell me who the seller was, and I’ll help you recover your losses no matter what."

The crowd finally caught on. Oh, so Yara’s painting was the fake!

No wonder. They had been wondering how there could possibly be two Purple Sun Mountain Residence Paintings in the world. Besides, someone had just mentioned that Noelle bought hers at the Jade Pavilion. How could the Jade Pavilion possibly sell a forgery? The owner of the Jade Pavilion was none other than the eldest young master of the Kendrick Family in Capital City!

Seeing Noelle being so kind-hearted, the crowd began chiming in.

"It looks like Ms. Yara bought a fake. We absolutely cannot tolerate this kind of situation! Forging antiques for sale is a crime!"

"That’s right, Ms. Yara. Where and from whom did you buy this painting?"

"Spit it out, and we’ll definitely get justice for you!"

Noelle curled her lips slightly with a pointed remark, "Yara, it’s okay. You don’t understand these things. Don’t take it to heart even if you were scammed."

Laura Jennings, on the other hand, was entirely different. Having finally found an opportunity, she mocked loudly, "So it’s a fake!

"Iris, what’s wrong with you? The junior you’ve taken such a liking to actually gifted you a forgery at your birthday banquet!

"Tsk, tsk. Even though a layman can’t tell the difference, how come our Noelle bought the genuine piece while Yara gave a fake? Isn’t it just because Yara didn’t put any heart into it?

"If you ask me, when buying this kind of antique painting or calligraphy, you should go to a legitimate place. It might be a bit more expensive, but at least it guarantees authenticity. Yara, you didn’t just try to score a cheap deal, did you?"

Iris Sloan’s face turned pale. She looked at Estelle, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes.

She didn’t suspect that Estelle would intentionally buy a forgery; she assumed Estelle had been tricked. However, as long as this painting was fake, Laura and Noelle would find the chance to attack her!

After speaking, Laura shot a look at the crowd. A few people immediately picked up on the cue.

"That’s right. Although buying a fake isn’t Ms. Yara’s fault, it does show that she didn’t put enough thought into Miss Sloan’s gift."

"If she really cared, shouldn’t she have hired an appraiser after buying it? Shouldn’t she have bought it through proper channels?"

"If Miss Noelle hadn’t coincidentally gifted a Purple Sun Mountain Residence Painting today, Yara’s forgery would never have been exposed. Everyone would have thought she spent an astronomical price on this painting for Miss Sloan, and the Sloan Family would have owed her a favor. Wouldn’t the Sloan Family have been taken for complete suckers then!"

"Sigh, now that you mention it, I’m starting to doubt whether Yara knew it was a fake all along. Maybe she bought a cheap forgery on purpose, betting that Miss Sloan didn’t know enough about antique paintings to expose her?"

"Tsk, tsk. Greed truly knows no bounds. Thankfully, we have Miss Noelle here today..."

As the murmurs grew increasingly ugly, Noelle finally smiled, then quickly shook her head in feigned anxiety.

"No, please don’t say that. I believe Yara wouldn’t do such a thing. She just doesn’t understand the market and was scammed!"

After saying that, Noelle turned her head and hastily added, "Yara, don’t take their words to heart. Anyway, Aunt Iris and I definitely believe you."

Listening to these words, Iris felt that something was amiss.

Estelle chuckled.

Noelle was truly a habitual offender when it came to twisting the truth. With just a few simple words, she had squarely pinned the label of ’gifting a forgery’ onto her. But was what she gifted truly a forgery?

Noelle pretended to be magnanimous. "Alright, alright, let’s not bring it up anymore. Please take this fake painting away first."

Even while playing the bigger person, Noelle still heavily emphasized the word ’fake’.

The butler looked at Iris and eventually nodded. A forgery indeed had no place here.

Just as the butler was about to step forward, Estelle suddenly smiled. "Wait."

Everyone’s gaze instantly darted toward Estelle.

Noelle asked with gentle helplessness, "Yara, is there anything else?"

Estelle didn’t back down in the slightest. "Are you sure this is a fake?"

Noelle seemed momentarily taken aback before her eyes grew slightly red, as if her good intentions had been completely misunderstood. She shook her head helplessly. "Yara, I know you can’t accept it in your heart, but it’s impossible for there to be two Purple Sun Mountain Residence Paintings in the world, so..."

"Since it’s impossible for there to be two Purple Sun Mountain Residence Paintings in the world, why is the fake one mine, instead of..." Estelle slowly raised her eyes, her gaze profoundly meaningful. "...yours?"

The surroundings fell dead silent as everyone stared in absolute shock.

What was Estelle saying? Was she claiming that Noelle’s painting was the fake?!

Laura let out two barks of laughter and shrieked sharply, "Truly an ignorant country bumpkin! To actually think that Noelle’s is the fake! Yara, I advise you to stop putting up a stubborn resistance. Just obediently admit your mistake and say you were scammed too. We might still forgive you!

"But to think you’d refuse to admit it to the bitter end and even try to drag Noelle down with you!"

With red eyes, Noelle shook her head. "Yara... I bought this painting at the Jade Pavilion. Do you even know what kind of place the Jade Pavilion is?"

Estelle felt the name Jade Pavilion sounded a bit familiar. After thinking seriously for a moment, it suddenly dawned on her. It seemed to be an antique shop under her eldest brother’s name.