Filed to story: The CEO’s Wife Is a Secret Boss Novel (Allison & Jeremy) Free Online
Tam so happy with this gift Where’s Lauren? I want to give her a hug!” Newton beamed.
“Ms. Lauren says she won’t join us because she’s sick. She’ll meet you in person later,” Ben reported.
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tarted a bidding war with me and made me buy the painting. How could you do this to me?”
Jeremy looked glum as he shot icy glares at Alyssa.
“I made you buy it? When did I do that? Alyssa’s eyes glimmered, looking as though she was in shock.
Jonah was the first to stand up for Alyssa. He snickered. “Ms. Gardner, the auction is open to the public. It was a fair game, Allison could not have forced you to buy the painting against your will. Don’t you think it was your personal decision?”
“She knew I wanted the painting. That’s why she started the bidding war with me. Whenever I raised my paddle, she’d follow suit. This continued until the price was 900 thousand from the starting price of 100 thousand.
“She suddenly gave up after I bid a million for the painting. Wasn’t she misleading me into buying a counterfeit at a high price? Liana.
igh, that child ¡ª Newton lamented. “Ben, frame the painting and put it up in my study. That way, I can look at it whenever I feel like it.”
Ben nodded and carefully put the painting away. Betty was wordless with anger when she observed Newton’s interest and care for Lauren’s gift.
Betty thought that Lauren, who never had much allowance, might humiliate herself by purchasing a miserly gift. To her dismay, Lauren decided to be creative by presenting a handmade gift.
In the end, the vase that Betty splurged hundreds of thousands on was overshadowed by a shabby painting of Lauren’s!
“Oh Lauren just wait and see. You’re dead meat!” Betty thought.
On the other hand, Liana was pacing the corridor. She had sent someone for Sophia. Sophia showed up, arms crossed on her chest and looking sulien.
“Aunt Sophia, what do we do?” Liana almost tore her hair out. “Our little trick does not change Grandpa’s perception of Allison. Not only that, they’ve gotten closer because of it!”
“That was unexpected. The older he gets, the weirder he acts. He’s ridiculous.” Sophia squinted her eyes dangerously and whispered, “Lia, It looks like it’s time to put plan B in action today.”
“Right now?” Liana gritted her teeth with a malicious gleam in her eyes.
“No. We need to wait.” Sophia patted Liana on the shoulder and smirked.”Another VIP is showing up soon. I have a way to make Allison the brunt of jokes and ruin her reputation!”
More gifts were presented to Newton. The Georgian¨Cera drinkware that Jeremy bought for Newton was the event’s climax. Friends of Newton, who were antique experts, were eager to check out the beauty of the antique drinkware.
Worried that the old fellows might break the valuable gift, Newton hugged the box tightly and pouted. “No one’s touching the gift from my grandson.”
Everyone guffawed at his antics, including Alyssa, who covered her mouth and chuckled.
“Grandpa this drinkware was donated by Mrs. Taylor of the KS Group to the charity auction. I bid for it as it was a rare item. I’m glad that you like it” Jeremy felt obliged to explain the gift’s background because Jonah was also at the event.
“Oh! This must be one of the items in Mr. Taylor’s personal collection. He’s the top collector in Solana City when it comes to antiques.” Newton sighed as he caressed the box.
“Dad would love it if he heard that you treasure an item from his collection,” Jonah chimed in warmly.
Jonah was a natural peacemaker, for he was able to graciously resolve any conflict with his calm composure and humble attitude.
“Grandpa, here’s my gift for you!” Liana butted in with a cloying voice. Everyone turned to her with a little disdain. Those who were disceming could tell that Newton disliked her. Her road to marrying Jeremy might not be smooth sailing.
“Dad. Lia spent a lot of effort on your gift. After she heard you liked old paintings, she bid on a Georgian¨Cera painting for your birthday.” Javier attempted to pave the way for Liana, especially because she was Sophia’s niece.
“Oh? A genuine painting from the Georgian era?” Newton’s eyes lit up in excitement.
Liana had someone bring in the framed painting in white gloves. The staff carefully displayed the painting, which the antique collectors crowded around for a look at.
“That’s ridiculous!” Liana struggled to keep the smile on her face. “I bought this from the Harpers’ auction house. It can’t be a counterfeit?
After she dragged the Harpers into the mess, Landon snickered. “Ms. Gardner, you are probably unfamiliar with the industry because you haven’t been involved with auctions. Parry’s Auction of the Harper Group Is the biggest auction house in the nation,
“The items we take in have undergone stringent inspection and verification. It Is Impossible to buy counterfeits from us. It’s one thing to be ignorant; it’s another thing to ruin my family’s reputation.”
The look in Jeremy’s eyes deepened. He recalled Allison’s smirk when she indirectly led Liana to buy the replica at ten times the starting price at the charity auction. Could she have foreseen that Llana would buy the painting for Newton?
Was it all a coincidence or a trap from the start?
“Ms. Gardner, a counterfeit item is different from a replica,” an expert voiced out his opinion to clear the name of the Harpers. “Some works of paintings are replicas but considered antique. It is hard for a replica to look the same as the original. A top¨Cgrade replica can fetch a high price.”
The expert continued, “However, the replica you bought is a little inferior. If not, I wouldn’t have been able to tell it apart right away.”
“It can’t be a replica! I bought it for a million from Parry’s Auction!” Liana blurted out in the heat of the moment.
How could she have bought a counterfeit with one million? She must have been wrong in the head. The people around chuckled at her confession, including Betty, who had to cover her mouth to stop herself from laughing loudly.
Oh, how the tables had turned!
“A million? Gosh, this painting is worth at most 100 thousand. I could only say that you have contributed a lot to charity with that winning bid price!”
Liana’s mind went blank. Even Sophia suffered from second¨Chand embarrassment and looked away, refusing to stand up for her loser niece.
“Let the matter rest. Regardless of the price, Ms. Gardner bought it with good intentions.” Newton might not have approved of Liana, but he would not fuss over the authenticity of a painting. He said coolly, “Ben, please take the painting.”
“Allison Burton, what do you have against me? Why would you do this to me?” Ashamed, Liana directed a pointed question at Allison. She finally broke down from the humiliation she had received since the beginning of the event.
Startled, everyone turned to Allison. She merely blinked innocently. “Ms. Gardner, what makes you say that? I have no clue what you’re talking about.”
Jonah and Landon were astonished by the interaction between the two ladies. Did Allison outplay Liana by being a bigger bitch?
“It’s you who tricked me! I wouldn’t have bought a counterfeit item with a million! It’s all because of you!” Liana pointed at Allison’s face, her voice hoarse from the anger.
Liana continued, “I might not be able to tell the art apart, but you must have known it was a counterfeit! You even started a bidding war with me and made me buy the painting. How could you do this to me?”
Jeremy looked glum as he shot icy glares at Alyssa.
“I made you buy it? When did I do that?” Alyssa’s eyes glimmered, looking as though she was in shock.
Jonah was the first to stand up for Alyssa. He snickered. “Ms. Gardner, the auction is open to the public. It was a fair game. Allison could not have forced you to buy the painting against your will. Don’t you think it was your personal decision?”
“She knew I wanted the painting. That’s why she started the bidding war with me. Whenever I raised my paddle, she’d follow suit. This continued until the price was 900 thousand from the starting price of 100 thousand
Liana shouted, “Why didn’t she continue bidding if she wanted the painting? She never planned to buy it in the first place the only Wanted to trick mel
The onlookers shifted their opinions about the situation.
“Could Ms. Burton have done that to Ms. Gardner because she was upset with the divort
“That’s unnecessarily petty, What’s the meaning of pulling that after a divorce?
“It is not meaningless. She must have been indignant after losing her marriage with the distinguished Mr. Walsh
“She looks proper on the outside but mean on the inside. Women like her only use their brains on petty todet
Liana felt great hearing the barrage of criticisms on Allison.
“Ms. Burton, did you really do that? Javier knitted his brows and looked sternly at Alyssa. Similarly, Newton was waiting for her answer.
“Ms. Gardner, it was a misunderstanding.” Alyssa took a step forward. Her face scrunched up into a pitiful expression. “I was the one who first bid for the painting. You followed suit.
“I liked the painting and wanted to contribute to charity at the same time. Those were the reasons I bid for it at a higher price¨Cto win the bid at once. Jeremy and Landon could attest my word because they were there.”
There seemed to be a twist in the incident.
“You-” Liana scrambled for words as she jumped in anger.
“I can vouch for her!” Landon jumped out to defend his crush without hesitation. “Ms. Burton started the bid, followed by Ms. Gardner. Ms. Burton was the one who wanted the painting.”
There was a gleam in Jeremy’s eyes. Landon seemed to be everywhere these days.
“I intended to purchase the painting for my collection. Grandpa has the original painting in his study, and I like it. Even if it was a replica. I would like to collect it. The sight of it reminds me of the good time I spent with Grandpa.”
Looking helpless, Alyssa pursed her lips. “Ms. Gardner seemed to want the painting as well I bid against her for a few rounds, but I decided that I should not deprive her of what she wanted and gave up on the bidding war.”
Alyssa continued, “What exactly was my fault? Ms. Gardner, why would you accuse me in that manner? If it makes you feel unfair, I’m willing to purchase the painting from you and make up for your losses.”