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
The owner could not hold back and blurted out the question on everyone's mind.Madeline gave a small, knowing smile. "You need the cash for medical bills, and I just can't ignore that."The director sprang into action, quickly confirming the authenticity of the owner's item. It was the real deal, and the price matched Madeline's estimate almost to the dollar.The owner was gobsmacked.His treasured porcelain, which he was told was a fake, had him fretting over how he would pay for his wife's treatment.Then, Madeline told him his supposed fake painting was genuine.The highs and lows were overwhelming. He stared at Madeline, speechless.The online comments that had been slamming Madeline for shady dealings went silent.[Didn't they say Madeline was on the hook for someone's life? Why so quiet now?][She could've won but she chose not to. She's got a heart of gold.][To walk away from millions just like that... I don't know if I could do it. Hats off to her.][What does it ma
That batch of red wine did not look too strong, but it packed a punch.As the trio kept drinking, they slowly started to feel the buzz.Yeneth, glass in hand, her cheeks a rosy red, ranted, "Don't employees' lives count for anything? Overtime, day in and day out! It's enough to wear out a horse!"That darn Camden, always harping on about performance, about profits! Is game development just about the bottom line? What happened to the heart? Rubbish!"For a moment, she thought she saw Camden's face, and in a fit of anger, Yeneth tried to slap it away, nearly tumbling into her wine glass instead.Madeline, startled, rushed to steady her.Yeneth, still wobbly, stood up on her own, fixing Trevon with a steely gaze and said icily, "You're just another greedy capitalist."Trevon sat there, calm and collected, but his delayed movements and the occasional glint of bewilderment in his eyes betrayed his inebriation to Madeline.When Yeneth spoke up, he turned his head slowly, locking eyes
Madeline, caught up in the conversation with Caleb and Yeneth, turned around in shock at Trevon's question.He had just declared he would not touch a drop, and he was suddenly reaching for the wine?However, she let it go without a question.The red wine was smooth and inviting. If he felt like drinking, why not?Trevon grunted a greeting into his phone. "Mr. Caleb Jabs."Caleb snapped out of his reverie, returning the greeting with a subdued nod, his gaze deepening.Yeneth, caught between awkwardness and concern, glanced at Caleb. She was about to speak when a glamorous doctor in a white coat appeared beside him on the screen.The doctor, Camila Jervis, peered at the screen, her smile teasing. "Mr. Caleb Jabs, are you chatting with your girlfriend?"Two women were on the screen, leaving it unclear whom she meant.Caleb shook his head, offering no explanation, and instead asked, "Dr. Jervis, what's up?"Camila arched an eyebrow, not prying further. "The professor's ready to s
Yahir sipped his cola, feeling utterly dejected.He had bolted from the Lewis family feast, even at the risk of getting caught, just to pocket two bottles of Lafite.They were not the prized '1982' edition, but they were still pretty decent.His mom's constant marriage talk was a drag, but her taste in wine was impeccable. He was all set for a night of no-holds-barred drinking with Trevon.However, Trevon dragged him over to Madeline's, and under the pretext of her pregnancy, confiscated all the wine.Then, it sat tauntingly in the wine cabinet.Yahir gazed at it, each bottle seeming to whisper seductively."Come on, come have a taste."It was pure torture!He took another swig of cola."Whoa!"Yeneth's shout came out of nowhere.Yahir choked mid-sip.The cola fizz popped like fireworks in his throat, sending him into a coughing frenzy, his face flushing a deep crimson as the soda splashed across the floor.Madeline jumped at his coughing spectacle, hastily grabbing a tis
Madeline swung open the kitchen door to find Yahir wrapping his arms around Yeneth from behind, as if he could not bear to let her go.Her mind, already a whirlwind of thoughts, was completely thrown."What in the world..."Madeline was puzzled as she returned from the kitchen. She had only stepped away to make a call, and then Yeneth and Yahir were locked in an embrace.Yeneth tried to explain, "Madeline, this isn't what it looks like. I was just—"However, Yahir clamped a hand over her mouth, grinning at Madeline. "We're just playing around, Madeline. Hey, do you have any wine glasses? We need four. Let's celebrate!"Trevon stepped out from behind Madeline, his composed facade unbroken. "Lost your head? She's pregnant. Think she can drink?"Yahir smacked his forehead. "Oh, man. I totally spaced on that."Once Yeneth wriggled free, she took a deep breath and delivered a sharp kick to Yahir's leg. "Get off me!"She kicked with all her might, hitting Yahir's shin and sending a
At that moment, Trevon seemed to freeze, then he straightened his posture. "Madeline, Liam's role is to be your close protection, to ensure your safety."Madeline had faced too many close calls, and he could not shake his concern for her.However, she was fiercely independent. If it were up to him, he would keep her tethered to his side.Madeline let out a derisive snort. She knew Xoan well enough to know he could dig up information on Yoana, but not with such speed and precision.Xoan claimed Liam was the one who had lent a hand.Madeline knew Liam. That had Trevon's fingerprints all over it."Do you really think I've become so dim-witted from pregnancy that I can't think straight?"Trevon looked at her, a mix of frustration and affection in his eyes.She had once been so sweet and compliant. Then, she became so sharp and quick-witted, a match even for him.However, he preferred her that way."Madeline, I'm just looking out for you."Trevon had an insatiable need to know ev
"Madeline, I've got the scoop on Yoana," Xoan said.Madeline was taken aback. "So soon?"Xoan let out a sly chuckle. "It wouldn't have been this quick, but Liam lent us a hand."Madeline stole a quick look at Trevon, then cast her gaze downward.Fifteen years back, Yoana was forced out of the Sanders Group—a victim of Cilix's cunning plot.It was not just a simple resignation as Bella had naively believed. Yoana was secretly saddled with a mountain of debt.Cilix did not stop there. He tarnished Yoana's name throughout the industry.She could not land a respectable job to save her life.Her personal life was total chaos.Her husband, Jim Livingston, who was once a low-level office worker, had dived into business on the back of Yoana's earnings and made a pretty penny.However, when the bill came due, Yoana hit a wall. Jim had sent all his cash back to his folks, leaving peanuts behind.Yoana was floored. A decade of hard work, and not a dime to show for it.When she begged
Madeline swung the door open to find Trevon on her doorstep, her eyebrows knitting together in a frown.Before she could get a word out, Yahir popped up from behind him with a grin. "Happy New Year, Madeline!"He waved a container of homemade goodies.Those two had nearly fought that morning, and then they were as chummy as can be—though Trevon looked like he would rather be anywhere else. However, he bit his tongue and kept quiet.With the Gibsons and the Lewises all cozied up for a New Year's feast, what on earth were those two doing there?Yahir's face fell. "Madeline, you've got no idea. My mom's a force of nature. Can you believe she's still dragging me to blind dates on New Year's Eve? I just had to bail."Madeline could not help but think about Liliana's earlier enthusiasm for rallying the troops and was at a loss for words."What about you, Trevon? What brings you here?" Madeline asked.Trevon pursed his lips. He was looking a little quiet too.Edith had been on his ca
Madeline walked into her house and immediately sensed something was up. She nudged the door wider and there was Yeneth, sparking an involuntary grin on her face."I thought you were going to be hibernating today?"Yeneth had been swamped with the Skylandia project, barely getting any sleep. She had texted Madeline about sleeping in on her day off.With a shrug and a smirk, Yeneth said, "Guess I'm just wired to work. Woke up at the crack of dawn, hung around in bed not to wake you, and by the time I showed up, you were already out and about."Madeline shut the door behind her, musing aloud."I've been turning it over in my mind. All this press and pest hunting is kid's play for the Sanders Group. To really take them on, we've got to… Yank the carpet out from under them?" Yeneth's smile was the answer Madeline needed as she shared her strategy."How's that sound?"Yeneth's thumbs-up was quick, but her frown came just as fast. "Fashion's a shark tank, and jumping in now? That's r
Madeline's request left Yoana taken aback.A wry smile crossed her face. "What can I possibly help you with at my age?"Madeline grasped her hand with conviction. "No, Mrs. Reed, you're the only one who can do this favor for me."Yoana looked down, her expression unreadable, and whispered, "You're giving me too much credit. Besides, with my background, there's no way I can go back to working with the Sanders Group. I have a couple of pairs of baby shoes here. Take them as a baby shower gift for your little ones."Madeline realized Yoana had gotten the wrong idea, thinking she was there about the Sanders Group or Cilix, and felt a twinge of disappointment."Mrs. Reed, please don't reject my request just yet. I'm planning to start my own fashion label. Everything Is underway, but I'm still missing one crucial piece—a designer."Madeline shared her vision.Yoana's eyebrows shot up in surprise when she heard Madeline's vision for her new company."That sounds just like the Sanders