Caught Him Cheating My Life Restarted (Natalie) novel Chapter 33

Marie was about to lose her mind. Darren touched her arm gently. "There's no need to compete with a child. We can find another way."

"I've already given my word. If I can't secure this painting, Old Mr. Fairchild will see us as both incompetent and untrustworthy. So no matter how much he bids, I have to get it."

"Twenty million!"

As Marie raised the bid, Lucas, with his father's backing, called out a new price without hesitation.

"Fifty million!"

Marie's face turned ashen. Logic told her she couldn't continue.

But then she heard Lucas say to Natalie, "Just wait a little longer, Natalie. I promise I'll get it for you."

Hearing this, Marie gritted her teeth in fury and raised her paddle.

"One hundred million."

Lucas was about to counter again, but Natalie grabbed his hand.

"Lucas, stop bidding."

Just then, the auctioneer began the final countdown.

"One hundred million going once, one hundred million going twice..."

"Natalie, why stop? My dad's here. Someone's paying, so what's the problem?"

Terence remained silent. His son was treating him like an ATM, but he found he didn't mind.

Natalie whispered, "That's a painting I did in school. I don't know how someone aged it and passed it off as an original."

At the same time, the auctioneer's voice rang out.

"One hundred million, sold! Congratulations, Ms. Ward."

"Mr. Lockwood, that's not what I meant. It's just that the young master doesn't know Natalie well, doesn't know where she comes from. I, on the other hand, am very familiar with Natalie Verdan. She's just a housewife. How could she possibly know how to paint, let alone create something so convincing? It's absurd. Of course, it's not the young master's fault. It's just that Natalie, this housewife, is an excellent liar."

The crowd started murmuring.

"Ms. Ward has a point. She's just a housewife. How could she paint, and so well at that?"

"That painting is so exquisite. How could it be a fake? And how could Ms. Ward not know the difference?"

Lucas spoke up arrogantly, "If you want to know if it's fake, just get it appraised."

"Appraised? Do the artworks I, Marie Ward, present need to be verified? Are you questioning my judgment because of the nonsensical ramblings of a do-nothing housewife? That's an insult to my intelligence."

Lucas replied calmly, "You live and you learn. A little more intelligence would do you good."

Marie almost exploded with anger, but her opponent was, unfortunately, the young master of the Lockwood family.