The Jilted Heiress' Return To The High Life

Chapter 104 Still Stubborn

"I'm just concerned this might be a knockoff," Bruce's aunt, Gloria Ashton, said, her voice cutting through the murmurs as she stepped forward, her expression feigning polite curiosity. She cast a pointed look at Corrine and added with a sly smile, "If Leah had given it, that would make sense. But from Corrine? Well, that's truly unfortunate."

A ripple of agreement spread through the guests, punctuated by hushed comments. "An amount like 9.54 million is no small sum," someone whispered. "Miss Holland has probably never even seen that much money in her life."

"Why bother with an appraisal? It's obviously fake," another muttered, a smug laugh following the remark.

Though most guests were unaware of Corrine's background, the Ashton family knew exactly who she was. To them, she was a low-born country girl who got lucky and secured a spot at Lyhaton University. Otherwise, they assumed, she'd have married some elderly farmer and lived a life of obscurity in the countryside.

Rita, recovering from her initial shock, let out a scornful laugh. "An antique from the 19th century, rare as it is, just conveniently found? That's laughable!"

She crossed her arms, her voice sharp with disdain. “Bringing a knockoff to an occasion like this-she's practically mocking the Ashton family in front of everyone!"

"If she's struggling financially, why not just admit it instead of pretending?" someone scoffed. "Now that it's exposed, let's hear how she explains herself!".

Leah stepped forward with a delicate sigh, her expression one of practiced

concern.

"A small token can still carry deep meaning," she said softly, as though defending Corrine. "Miss Holland meant well, even if she's inexperienced. It's easy to be deceived when you don't know much about antiques."

Her words, though framed as kind, subtly underscored the accusation that Corrine had presented a counterfeit.

The Ashton family, though not at the level of Lyhaton's four great powerhouses, held their reputation as a prominent family with pride.

Presenting a fake gift at Farris' 80th birthday wasn't just an insult to him but a stain on the family's honor.

The guests, being key figures in Lyhaton society, would surely spread the tale far and wide. How could the Ashtons recover from such public embarrassment if this scandal reached the city's elite?

Even with Farris' fondness for Corrine, it seemed unlikely he could defend her

now.

A flicker of triumph gleamed in Leah's eyes. Corrine had managed to alienate the entire Ashton family, and Leah could hardly wait to see how she intended to escape the fallout.

The guests exchanged a medley of amused and curious glances. Detached from the situation, they treated the unfolding drama as a spectacle, occasionally sneaking glances at Farris, who presided silently at the head of the table.

Since the revelation of the pen holder as a forgery, Farris had remained quiet, his features unreadable, adding to the tension in the room.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he spoke, his voice steady. "Corrine, your thoughtfulness means a great deal to me. I truly appreciate this gift."

His calm acceptance sent ripples of surprise through the room.

Most had expected him to erupt in fury or at least express some dissatisfaction; yet, he seemed unbothered and unwilling to escalate the matter.

Corrine's gaze remained composed as she replied evenly, "It's just a small token. I'm glad you like it."

"Some people refuse to own up to their mistakes until they're backed into a corner!" Rita's cutting voice sliced through the air as she threw Corrine a scornful glance, her lips curving into a derisive smirk. “Even now, she won't admit the truth. Does she really think we're all ignorant about antiques?"

Someone among the guests piped up with a smirk, "It's simple enough-bring in an expert to appraise it. If it's authentic, Miss Holland's name is cleared. If not-"

"If not," Rita interjected sharply, her eyes blazing with malice, "then Miss Holland can smash the pen holder herself and kneel before my grandfather to apologize!"noveldrama