Chapter 159:
“Why is this here?” he muttered under his breath.
The room’s attention shifted to the gem as if drawn by an invisible thread, curiosity flickering in their eyes. Was there more to this gift than met the eye?
Leah, meanwhile, mistook the sudden interest for admiration. Pride flickered in her chest, though she maintained an outwardly composed demeanor.
“This is a rare gem once cherished by royalty. Something I acquired with great care. Is there an issue with it?”
Donnelly’s smile grew subtly as he absently fiddled with the bracelet between his fingers. His casual demeanor belied the sharpness in his tone.
“Items like these… they’re meant to be enjoyed.”
The gem had reached such a convincing level of craftsmanship that it could fool even veteran antique connoisseurs. If not for catching Corrine’s fleeting glance, he might not have paid it any mind.
Diego, sensing the undercurrent of tension, deliberated for a moment before speaking cautiously.
“Mr. Gilbert, are you implying this gem might not be genuine?”
Donnelly clasped the bracelet back on his wrist and lightly patted Diego’s shoulder.
“Let’s discuss it another time.”
The subtle weight in his voice was enough to make Diego stop pressing for answers.
Leah, however, standing off to the side, felt her confidence waver. Something was amiss. Without hesitation, she hurried after him, her tone urgent and defensive.
“Mr. Gilbert, this gem came from Timeless Treasures!”
Donnelly suddenly stopped in his tracks, his gaze slicing toward Leah with a razor-sharp intensity.
“Do you think Timeless Treasures is some run-of-the-mill establishment?”
That cold, penetrating glare was like a blade pressed against her throat, forcing Leah to hold her breath. Her pupils quivered as she met his unyielding stare.
Donnelly’s lips curved into a faint smile, but the warmth in it was absent.
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“I’ve already spared you from disgrace in front of everyone, Miss Burgess. Don’t make me regret it.”
As Donnelly walked away, Leah stood frozen, the weight of his words sinking in. It wasn’t until he disappeared from view that reality came crashing down on her.
The events of the day spiraled wildly out of her control, far exceeding anything she had envisioned.
She had assumed that the extravagant gem she had painstakingly procured for Farris would earn his admiration—enough to overshadow everyone present, especially Corrine.
But fate had other plans. The antique pen holder Corrine had brought turned out to be genuine, exposing her as the owner of Timeless Treasures. Meanwhile, Leah’s meticulously chosen gift was revealed to be a counterfeit. The contrast was stark, leaving her to plummet from the pedestal she had placed herself on to the depths of humiliation.
And it was all because of Corrine!
Every time Leah schemed to put Corrine in her place, she somehow ended up being the one humiliated. Her career had suffered because of Corrine, and now her reputation was in shambles. Corrine was undeniably her nemesis.
Leah’s eyes followed Corrine as she walked away, her figure gradually fading into the distance. Unable to suppress the burning resentment any longer, she stormed after her.
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