Before long, the expert team from Ember City Museum popped up on the screen, stationed at a different spot on Antique Street.There, in the studio, was a familiar face—Sadie.Madeline was dumbfounded.They were not even trying to be discreet.Did Sadie not mention that she was going to Opal City for studies? What was she doing hobnobbing with the Ember City Museum crowd?Sadie's eyes narrowed as she caught sight of Madeline, her look turning sour in a flash.She would not have bothered with that live broadcast if Hector had not mentioned that Madeline was her rival.The expert on the other side was all smiles as he explained, "We've got a young lady here, and since I'm not exactly a spring chicken, it wouldn't be fair for me to swoop in. So, I brought in another young lady to even the playing field."He went on to introduce Sadie as Yash's protege, raised and trained by Yash herself, with an eye for antiques that rivaled even the most seasoned collectors."Do you mind stepping
Sadie was showing off a plate with a sunny yellow backdrop and intricate blue floral designs—roses, to be exact—which were highly prized in ancient times.Madeline's mind flashed back to an auction where a plate from the Edo period, adorned ith chrysanthemums and a yellow glaze, fetched upward of 600 thousand dollars.That style, with its mix of underglaze and overglaze, first popped up in Japanese kilns back during the Edo era and was a hit with the collector crowd.That plate could easily rake in close to 1.2 million dollars.In the world of antiques, it was like finding a diamond in the rough. For years, treasures like those had been the stuff of legends. The clueless vendor had let it go for a mere pittance—just a few thousand dollars. Sadie's luck had been off the charts.Madeline could only marvel, her tongue clicking in disbelief.The chat in the live stream was going wild.[With just that one find, Sadie's ruling the stream. Madeline's chances of winning are slim to no
Willa was floored.Everyone tuned into the live stream could tell the shop owner was pulling a fast one, but Madeline seemed clueless.The chat was blowing up with comments.[Look at that guy—a total scam artist. Madeline can't be that gullible, right?][Who knows? Maybe she's trying to one-up Sadie, thinking she's got it too easy?][Come on. If you're gonna take a risk, at least go for something legit! Madeline's just being naive.]Meanwhile, Sadie was watching the stream and could not help but laugh."That's so fake. Someone tell Madeline not to fall for it. We're just putting on a show here, all in good fun. No need to throw away money like that. "Her words set off a wave of agreement in the chat.[Exactly, it's all for laughs. Don't be the one who gets played.][Seriously, what's the point of bidding on a fake painting?]However, Madeline still eyed the painting intently, and she reminded the shop owner, "You haven't named your price yet." Willa tried to get her atten
The online crowd was momentarily stunned, then the comments exploded across the screen.[Hah! You thought Madeline would get played, but she's the one playing you for being so gullible.][I knew it! With Madeline's sharp eye, how could she not spot a fake?][Hahaha! The shop owner caved so fast. Did he think Madeline's offer was too generous?][Not at all. The guy even spun a tale to make the sale. He's just scraping by.][Seriously, this shop owner's got zero business sense. Of all the artists to fake, he picks Raphael? Like no one would notice?][He thought he could fool Madeline like some naive college kid.][As a college student, I object. Even we can tell it's a phony.][Why on earth did Madeline snag a fake painting? She must've spaced out and thought she was on a casual shopping spree instead of in the middle of a showdown.][Right? Sadie's already scooped up loot worth a whopping 1.5 million bucks, and Madeline's sitting pretty with a measly 45-dollar trinket. Is she e
Knock, knock.Daniel knocked on the door to Trevon's office and announced, "Mr. Gibson, we've got it all figured out. The stuff Ms. Ferguson bought was prepared by Mr. Hector Ferguson ahead of time."Mr. Hector Ferguson seems to have challenged Mrs. Gibson to a bet. Looks like he had a game plan for this wager from the get-go."Trevon's expression turned stormy. "Does Stephen have any clue what his siblings are up to?"Daniel stayed silent, his face saying it all."So, do we send a care package to Mrs. Gibson? At this rate, she's heading for a loss."So far, Madeline had only snagged a painting for 45 bucks."What's the stake Hector put up?"Daniel adjusted his glasses. "Um… Mr. Hector Ferguson got Ms. Sanders to let Lydia go."Trevon paused, taken aback. "They're acquainted?"Daniel was at a loss for words.Trevon let out a wry chuckle. "Let it be. I've been blind to her true colors all these years."Lydia had been overseas for three years, so it would not be odd for her t
Madeline, sporting a baby bump, could not comfortably squat down.The show's director had thoughtfully arranged for a table to be brought over so the seller could lay out his items, making it easier for Madeline to take a look.The seller's collection was modest."This Kutani Vase has been in my family for generations. My dad says it's ancient, practically from the same era as the one in the museum."This painting, 'The Hay Wain' by John Constable, though I've had it checked out by experts, and they told me it's a copy.He also had some jade pieces and a bunch of old coins, each introduced with care. At the end, he eyed Madeline cautiously."They're all quality pieces, so I'm counting on a good offer from you."The online comments exploded with laughter.[Haha! This dude's scared Madeline will just throw out a number like 75 bucks.][Come on, there's no way it'll be 75 dollars. It's 45 dollars tops, not a cent more.][His stuff isn't half bad, definitely worth a closer look.]
The vendor's face flushed with anger. "A copy?! No way! This piece was on an appraisal show, and every expert there vouched for its authenticity! Do you even know what you're talking about, lady?"The old man gave Madeline a surprised once-over but kept mum.Madeline offered a sheepish smile. She was messing with the vendor's livelihood, so his agitation was somewhat justified."The gentleman earlier pointed out the vase's features. Plus, the real deal's supposed to be heavier. This one is too lightweight."The forget must have wanted the vase to dazzle, to be the epitome of beauty and finesse, but they missed the mark on the subtle artistry that sets the real deal apart.The old man listened to her, and with a more scrutinizing look, he saw the truth in her words. The excitement that had lit up his face dimmed significantly.Madeline went on. "Also, the colors on the vase… They're kind of slapped on, you know? They don't have that crystal-clear, pure vibe."In short, the vase w
Stephen stood by Hector's car, a dark smile on his handsome face.Hector shuddered, pocketed his phone, and ended the call. With a sense of defeat, he opened the door and stepped out."Bro..."Stephen's laugh was icy. "Don't call me that. I'm not your brother."If Dallas had not called him, Stephen would have been clueless that Hector had sneaked three big items out of the storage."Why do you always have Madeline's back?" Hector blurted out, unable to contain his curiosity any longer.It seemed to him that Stephen's protective streak for Madeline went way beyond what he would expect for a sibling. Heck, even Sadie came in second to her.Stephen was not the type to lose his head over a crush.Stephen's eyes narrowed into slits. "Do you really want to know?"Hector nodded eagerly.With a mocking laugh, Stephen said, "Alright. You're into betting, right? Let's make it interesting."A chill ran down Hector's spine as he listened."If Madeline loses, I'll spill the beans and yo