Chapter 332: Guess Who Has the Genuine Article?

Chapter 332: Chapter 332: Guess Who Has the Genuine Article?

"You must be joking, Mr. Sloan. How could you..."

Nathaniel Sloan lifted his eyelids and looked at her. "After all, if I were to appear, many would discuss Estelle’s and my identities. But at today’s banquet, Estelle, as Miss Yeats, is the protagonist. Any other identity would draw away the crowd’s attention, so I didn’t make an appearance."

After saying that, Nathaniel chuckled. "However, while I understand this principle, it seems someone else does not."

Listening to this blatant mockery, Claire Yeats could barely maintain her smile.

"I don’t quite understand what you’re talking about, Mr. Sloan. I just came over to say hello."

Nathaniel was completely unceremonious, his gaze icy. "You are a smart person, Miss Yeats. How could you not understand? If you truly understood nothing, you wouldn’t have gifted that painting at the banquet."

Claire’s eyes reddened. "You’ve misunderstood me, Mr. Sloan. I didn’t think that much when I presented the painting. It wasn’t until Grandpa pointed it out that I realized how out of line I was.

"But the painting had already been given. It wasn’t my intention, and I didn’t expect to steal Estelle’s thunder... Usually, since we’re all family, we don’t make such distinctions. I didn’t expect Estelle to mind it."

Nathaniel’s smile did not reach his eyes. "So, are you complaining to me that Estelle is being petty?"

Claire’s smile stiffened once more.

She wondered why Nathaniel was so immune to both hard and soft tactics.

Nathaniel’s eyes turned frosty. Before Claire could speak, he articulated every word clearly.

"Miss Yeats, today is a joyous occasion for Estelle’s return home. I don’t want to see any blood. If there is a next time, it won’t be resolved so simply. Do you understand?"

Claire bit her lip hard.

"Oh, one more thing," Nathaniel said, leaning back against the sofa. With a languid expression, he took a light sip of his Longjing tea. "You know very well in your heart whether the painting you gave to the old man is real or fake, Miss Yeats."

Claire shuddered all over, her eyes widening in shock.

What did Nathaniel mean by that?

Even if the Quinns were to authenticate that painting, they wouldn’t find any flaws. Yet Nathaniel was saying it was a fake?

No... no... Nathaniel probably didn’t mean that. He might have just said it offhandedly.

But regardless, Claire could no longer try to cozy up to him.

In Capital City, men usually racked their brains to win her favor. She hadn’t expected to run into such a tough nut to crack like Nathaniel. She gritted her teeth in unwillingness and managed to squeeze out a sentence.

"Thank you for your concern, Mr. Sloan. The painting is real, of course. Old Mr. Quinn used to dote on me quite a bit as well."

After saying that, she didn’t even look at Nathaniel’s expression and hurriedly left.

Nathaniel sneered and set down his teacup.

Luke White bowed. "Sir, is that painting a fake? If so, why not expose her?"

"I am going to tell the old man," Nathaniel said indifferently. "Let’s go. Come with me."

"Yes." Seeing Nathaniel get up, Luke followed him. However, he still didn’t understand. "Since you plan to expose her, why did you ’remind’ Claire? Didn’t that give her time to prepare?"

A faint smile surfaced on Nathaniel’s lips. "How can she prepare?"

Luke still didn’t understand.

Nathaniel’s tone was profound. "Do you think Old Mr. Yeats doesn’t know? Or rather... if that painting is a fake, guess who has the real one?"

In the banquet hall.

Estelle caught a glimpse of the painting, furrowed her brows slightly, and then leaned in to whisper something to the old man.

Old Mr. Yeats’ eyes lit up. He suppressed the joy in his eyes and asked, "Oh? How can you tell?"

Estelle was indeed well-versed in traditional Chinese painting. Because her grandfather liked it, she had learned it from him. Up until now, she had been painting for over twenty years. It was just that after returning to the country, she had been busy with affairs and hadn’t practiced.

And Old Mr. Quinn had a very good relationship with her grandfather. The two of them shared much common ground when it came to painting.

Therefore, the moment Estelle saw this painting, she knew it was a clumsy imitation.

...No, she couldn’t call it clumsy, because to onlookers, it truly seemed to be the work of Old Mr. Quinn.

Estelle smiled with interest. "Didn’t you see it too? Why ask me?"

"Tsk, tsk. In the past, only Eleanor would speak to me like that."

Old Mr. Yeats couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

From their conversation, the people around them had already caught onto Estelle’s meaning.

Did Miss Lockwood think this painting was a fake?!

Claire had gone to great lengths to find this painting. How could it be a fake?

Evan Yeats widened his bloodshot eyes. He couldn’t seem to understand how Estelle could be so vicious. "Estelle Lockwood! Enough is enough! You’re saying this is a fake?! This is Claire’s heartfelt gift to Grandpa; how could it be a fake!"

Estelle raised an eyebrow and looked at the exasperated Evan. "What are you so anxious about?"

Evan looked as if he was about to die from anger, his cheeks flushing red. "Because of you, Claire can’t even show her face at the banquet! Yet you spout nonsense and call her heartfelt gift a fake! Do you think I don’t know what you’re trying to do?!"

Estelle looked at Old Mr. Yeats, then at Evan, and finally back at Old Mr. Yeats. She was truly shocked.

So Evan genuinely didn’t know this painting was a fake? That shouldn’t be the case.

As for who had the real *Painting of Stone Lake*... did Evan really not care at all?

She was genuinely astounded.

Perhaps clearly seeing the astonishment in Estelle’s eyes, Old Mr. Yeats coughed lightly.

However, before he could speak, Evan grew so angry that his face turned entirely red. "Aren’t you just trying to badmouth her in front of Grandpa? You want him to think that Claire doesn’t respect him, doesn’t care about him, and found a fake painting to fool him!

"But Claire’s heart is entirely focused on Grandpa! She only wants him to be happy! What about you?! You show complete disregard and, without any proof, claim this painting is a fake! Old Mr. Quinn and Grandpa were friends for years, and he had many dealings with the Yeats Family. Wouldn’t we know better than you whether it’s a fake?!"

Evan’s voice was loud, drawing the attention of guests from afar.

Some of those unaware of the truth subconsciously looked at Estelle upon hearing Evan’s words.

Although they didn’t dare speak openly, there was inevitably some whispered gossip.

"Is she asserting dominance over Claire on her very first day home as the true heiress? Is she worried that Claire might threaten her position?"

"But Claire is also a member of the Yeats Family... They aren’t exactly in a true-and-fake-heiress situation."

"I can actually understand her targeting Claire. After all, Claire has been the favored one in the Yeats Family for so many years. It’s inevitable that Miss Lockwood would feel somewhat jealous."

"But Old Mr. Quinn was Old Mr. Yeats’ close friend, and he has already passed away. He didn’t leave many paintings behind. Miss Yeats went through so much trouble to find one as a gift, but Estelle insists it’s a fake."

"You all know very well that Old Mr. Yeats despises fakes more than anything. If a forgery ends up in his hands, it usually gets destroyed."

"But this painting is real! If Old Mr. Yeats believes Estelle’s words, wouldn’t he end up destroying a genuine masterpiece? Jealousy is understandable, but Estelle is clearly acting out of malice to ruin Old Mr. Quinn’s artwork!"