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
Sadie held three things.A large plate with a yellow background and blue peony flowers, a piece of bluish-white jade charm, and a chicken blood stone ornament she picked up without much thought at the end.The chicken blood stone, despite its attractive color, was practically worthless, especially when compared to the other two items. It was just there to fill out the count.Madeline's haul was even more comical. She did not even manage to gather enough items.She had just two things. A painting valued at 45 dollars and a jade bracelet worth 78 dollars.The director looked at Madeline, his face a mix of conflicted emotions. 'Couldn't you just randomly pick one more item to go with the 45-dollar and 75-dollar ones?'Madeline's face was slightly pale, but she managed a smile and stayed silent. She was simply exhausted.Trevon, standing on the outskirts of the crowd, saw Madeline's pallor and his expression turned grim.What was the museum thinking with that setup?Madeline arriv