Chapter 12

"Mr. Foster, is this what you meant by 'inexpensive'?" Anson let out a nervous chuckle. "It really is inexpensive." However, Anson was confused as well. The bracelet on the stage was exactly the same as the one he brought, but there was no way it could be genuine. He had chanced upon the bracelet while he was living abroad three years ago. It was just a collector's piece. The price would be one million at most. No matter how wealthy he was, he would never squander his money on something like this. If he did, what difference was there between him and a wastrel? The most incomprehensible thing of all was that he had written everything out in detail during the registration as a way to announce his grand return. So why was he anonymous now? Instead of worrying about the bracelet's authenticity, Anson was even more concerned that someone might have impersonated him. He simply could not accept not gaining any benefit in return for the money he had spent. "Mr. Foster has become modest after living abroad. Remaining anonymous for an item that's worth 50 million dollars. Could it be that the staff had made a mistake? I'll get someone over to explain what's going on," Bernard suddenly suggested. The reason Bernard was being such a bootlicker was because he wanted to protect his self-interest. He was not about to spend 50 million on a bracelet. He had said that in a rather loud voice. Some of the people around them had heard him and turned their attention to Anson. "Oh, he's from the Foster family. It's no wonder that he is so generous." "I've heard that the Fosters are well acquainted with the Clarkes. They must have informed each other beforehand. They're probably just trying to put on a show now." While the other attendees were discussing among themselves, Bernard had beckoned a staff member over to verify the situation and to rectify the donation's details so as to reintroduce Anson accordingly. The staff member verified the details multiple times in front of everyone and finally came to a conclusion. "I'm sorry, but we have verified that this bracelet is authentic. However, Mr. Foster had also donated an identical bracelet. It has not been presented yet." As soon as the statement came out, everyone, including Anson, was dumbfounded. The staff member had made it crystal clear that this was a case of two parties donating the exact same item. The issue at hand was if the item that was currently on the stage was authentic, it meant that Anson's donation was the replica. With the sudden turn of events, Anson was effectively caught in a tight spot. Even though it was common for counterfeits to be auctioned, such matters were never broadcast on stage. If news about this were to get out, his reputation as the dignified heir to a wealthy family in Thenswy would be tarnished. "Mr. Foster is of noble status. He would never offer a counterfeit to be auctioned. It must have been a mistake by your staff members. Please put these two items away for now." Bernice must have also sensed that this was a serious issue and scrambled to find an excuse in order to de-escalate the situation. The staff member was torn. "I'll need to consult the consignor of the lot as the value is too substantial for me to make the decision," the auctioneer said rather loudly so that Andrew could hear it. This matter had piqued the other attendees' interest. They opined, "We're basically well-acquainted with one another here. What's there to hide about?" "That's right. What's with the secrecy? Just reveal yourself so that we can pay homage to such a benevolent person. Only a handful wealthy families could pull this off. Could it have been the Thompsons who donated it?" "There's another possibility. It could be that the origins of this bracelet are unverified. If this is the case…" The person did not even need to finish his sentence. Everyone knew what he meant. Their expressions changed slightly. The staff members were a little worried. If it was really stolen, the owner would be implicated. Andrew had intended to lay low, but after hearing the people debating, he smiled helplessly and said, "It's mine." He might have spoken softly, but his words still reached everyone. The people cast their gazes to a corner, only to see a young man dressed in plain clothing. "Andrew!" "How is it possible?" "Know your place. Do you even know what this is? How dare you run your mouth here?" The ones who reacted aggressively the most were Bernice and Bernard. The duo were in disbelief. Nobody else in the room knew Andrew better than the two of them. This was someone who did not even have a few hundred dollars in his pocket. To say that he was the owner of such an invaluable item was absurd. "Who is this guy? Why have we never seen him before? Since when did such a wealthy young man exist in Thenswy?" Everyone else was full of questions. Andrew ignored all the inquisition and calmly said, "It doesn't matter whether you believe or not. That bracelet is mine." "What a load of crap!" "You're really shameless, aren't you? How could a worthless freeloader like you own such a rare treasure? Do you even have any proof that this is yours?" Bernard remained incredulous. Bernice had her brows knitted together as she glared at Andrew with complicated feelings. "This is not the kind of place for you to fool around. If you're just trying to attract my attention by using this trick, you're only humiliating yourself." Andrew found it funny that Bernice was still the self-righteous person that she had always been. Everyone was questioning Andrew. At that crucial moment, an employee rushed over to explain, "There must be some misunderstanding here. It was this gentleman who gave me the bracelet. There's no mistake about it." After the staff member explained himself, the people became quieter. At first, it was thought that this would be the end of this issue. After all, it was a charity banquet; authenticity did not matter as long as it was donated out of sincerity. But Bernard could not stand watching Andrew be complacent. Besides, he did not believe that a loser like him could have that much money. "I got it!" Bernard suddenly thought of a possibility. "You must have gotten the news beforehand, prepared an exact replica of Mr. Foster's bracelet, and switched it when nobody was watching. Mr. Foster did not dispute this matter because he's a humble person who doesn't enjoy being put on a pedestal. You, on the other hand, found out about this and used it to your advantage." This was the only plausible explanation Bernard could come up with after giving it some thought. Once his proposition was out, everyone's attention was directed toward Anson once again. With the Foster family's reputation on the line, it was unlikely that Anson would commit fraud. But Anson knew deep down in his heart that the item he brought was a counterfeit. He had intended to downplay the matter, but Bernard drove him into a corner with his statement. It was now his family's reputation on the line. He had no choice but to claim the bracelet that was on the stage as his own. "I'm not sure if it's a coincidence, but I got the bracelet from a tycoon overseas. It has also been appraised to be the one and only authentic piece," Anson said without flinching. All those years of attending various occasions gave him the ability to stay perfectly composed in any situation. Andrew was taken aback by the other party's brazenly fake confession, a sarcastic sneer creeping onto his face. However, Bernard interpreted that smile as one of guilt. "I've always thought that you're just a loser through and through. I never expected you to be a thief as well." Bernice looked at Andrew with deprecating eyes and said, "It must have been tiring to put on an act for three whole years. So this is your true nature, huh?" Bernice jumped to this conclusion without even giving Andrew a chance to explain. She even began to believe that this vile person standing in front of her was the real Andrew. "That's enough! Enough with your accusations! Mr. Hughes is not the kind of person you think he is!" Someone exclaimed from a distance, a hint of anger lacing their voice.