And The Daddy Is… The Infertile Guy?!

Chapter 40

“Someone must’ve lined your pockets, the way you’re talking. Grand Gavel Auction House has never once had a fake pass through its doors!” Vivien flushed a deep crimson, her voice breaking through the tense atmosphere like a siren’s wail.

Sean shook his head sadly. “The paper’s age is spot on, and the ink and inkstone are the real deal! But the painting is a forgery! The forger’s skill was so divine that it even fooled me. Just get close to the painting, take a good sniff, and you’ll catch the scent of fresh ink hidden beneath the artificial aging.”

A painting that’s been around for ages should have lost its ink fragrance long ago.

“No way!”

“Who would dare to sniff a painting that close, no wonder.”

“A fake, after all. I knew something was off with Serene Harmony vanishing from history!”

The forger was clever, using paper from the Renaissance to throw the experts off the scent.

Bainbridge felt as though he’d just had a bucket of ice water dumped over him, freezing him to his core.

“No… it can’t be!” Vivien bit her lip, her face a fiery red, “Bainbridge, don’t listen to him. This old fool…”

Π

on his neck like ropes,

repeatedly, “Mr. Bainbridge, what a shame! If only I’d arrived sooner… But a fake’s a fake, and no

the buyer assumed all risk.

thirty–five million had gone down the drain, and now he’d be the laughing stock for not spotting a fake from triumph to

his cup, his face pale with shock, “Bainbridge, thanks for bidding high. The painting’s a fake, but nobody

was seeing red, heat flooding his face and the taste of blood filling his

“Mr. Bainbridge!”

scare me! Call an

laugh. “Ha! He’s passed out from pure rage, what goes

detached, his austerity adding an air of

demeanor.

auction house. His good mood was infectious, and she couldn’t help but

followed, chattering

owned up to the fake, everyone would’ve admired his grace. But

pride,

Gwendolyn agreed wholeheartedly.

take you home,” Howard said