Chapter 9

Tyler’s family, the Grants, had once had deep ties to organized crime.

After going legitimate, they turned their old network into a private intelligence and investigations firm, which Tyler now ran.

Once Eric had given him the details, he finished his cigarette but made no move to go back inside.

Instead, he lit another.

A moment later, his expression went blank.

He pulled the cigarette from his mouth, crushed it between his fingers, and tossed the remains into a trash can.

---

Back inside the exhibition hall, the appraisal portion of the evening was drawing to a close.

“And now, for our final piece of the night, a special item brought to us by Mr. Walter Collins.”

At the host’s announcement, a staff member carefully carried out a velvet-lined tray and placed the final piece beneath the high-resolution cameras.

The presentation case opened.

Under the bright lights sat an elegant pale-blue porcelain vase with a long, slender neck.

Its proportions were graceful, the glaze soft and luminous. Delicate patterns of smooth, flowing lines on the surface gave the piece the subtle depth and age of genuine eighteenth-century porcelain.

It was understated rather than flashy.

Quietly beautiful.

Exactly the kind of piece serious collectors noticed.

Once the host finished the introduction, Walter rose with his usual good-natured smile.

“A friend asked me to bring this piece tonight. I thought I’d let everyone here take a look and see what you make of it. Authentic or not, period, provenance, whatever catches your eye.”

Stella straightened slightly in her seat.

Here it was.

Close-up images of the vase appeared across the large screen.

Several of the experts had already been approached by Lucas beforehand and knew they were expected to give Claire the spotlight.

After examining the piece, one after another politely admitted that it was difficult to judge with confidence.

Eventually, the vase was placed in front of Claire.

Claire picked up her magnifying glass and examined it carefully.

Her hidden earpiece remained silent.

As the seconds dragged on, her composure began to slip.

Then Stella’s cool voice finally sounded in her ear.

“Fake.”

Claire paused.

Then she set down the magnifying glass with complete confidence.

“I believe this is a reproduction.”

Several of the senior experts beside her visibly hesitated.

One of them spoke cautiously.

“Miss Moore, you may want to take another look. This is the sort of piece where even experienced appraisers can make mistakes.”

Claire smiled.

“I’ve looked closely, Professor Davis. This is a very sophisticated modern reproduction.”

Walter’s smile remained in place.

But his eyes cooled.

“Oh? What makes you say that?”

Claire repeated Stella’s analysis almost word for word.

“At first glance, the vase is nearly indistinguishable from an authentic period piece.

“Most reproductions imitate only the shape, color, and decorative style. This one goes much further. The maker appears to have used reclaimed period porcelain and sophisticated aging techniques to recreate the body, glaze, craquelure, patina, and natural wear.

“With ordinary equipment or the naked eye, it would be extremely difficult to distinguish from the real thing.”

The room fell silent.

Stella lowered her voice even further, but there was a growing lightness to her tone.

“The problem is that it’s too perfect.

“Period porcelain was handmade. Even the finest craftsmen left tiny irregularities in proportion, firing, glazing, and finish. Those imperfections are part of what makes an authentic piece feel alive.

“This vase reproduces everything beautifully, but the curves are too controlled, the finish too consistent. It lacks the subtle irregularities you’d expect from genuine eighteenth-century work.

“It’s one of the most convincing high-end reproductions I’ve seen. The kind that could fool even veteran collectors.”

Claire calmly swept her gaze across the room.

“So there’s no question in my mind.

“It’s a fake.”

Even several of the senior experts beside her looked persuaded and began nodding.

“That’s enough.”

Walter cut her off.

The smile had completely disappeared from his face.

His voice turned cold.

“Miss Moore, there’s something you apparently don’t know.

“This vase was recovered only a few days ago during a documented archaeological excavation. It was examined and authenticated by Vincent Wells and several other senior researchers from the National Museum.

“The director of the Ravenwood Museum personally brought it here tonight for this event.”

Claire’s face froze.

Walter continued, his tone almost ruthless now.

“So if you insist this piece is fake, there are only a couple of possibilities.

“Either you’re suggesting that I or the museum director swapped out the authenticated piece and kept the original for ourselves...

“Or you believe your judgment is superior to Vincent Wells and an entire National Museum research team.”

He looked directly at her.

“Miss Moore, you seem to have quite the reputation.

“I’m beginning to wonder whether you’ve actually earned it.”

As president of the Ravenwood Antique Dealers Association and one of the most respected collectors in the industry, Walter’s opinion carried enormous weight.

With that single remark, he had effectively shut Claire out of the elite circles she’d been so desperate to enter.

Claire went rigid.

The confident smile on her face cracked.

“I didn’t mean anything like that. I...”

But Walter had already lost interest in hearing her explanation.

He had the vase packed away, then got up and left.

The others quickly began distancing themselves from Claire, a stark contrast to the way they’d been applauding and praising her only minutes earlier.

Everything had gone far too smoothly for Claire these past two years.

She’d been praised and flattered for so long that she’d almost forgotten what it felt like to be ignored.

To be dismissed.

And this was all Stella’s fault.

Her gaze immediately shot toward Stella’s corner.

Through the hidden earpiece came Stella’s cool, mocking voice.

“Like my little surprise?”