The Heiress’ Return: Six Brothers at Her Beck and Call (Wynter Quinnell) novel Chapter 1965

Charis gritted his teeth. "You—Very well. I'll make sure you learn the consequences of crossing me."

Wynter ignored him and instead looked directly at Oslo. "We raised the bid to 250 million dollars quite a while ago. Are you still not going to slam the gavel?"

After a pause, Oslo called out, "250 million dollars, going once! 250 million dollars, going twice! 250 million dollars, going thrice! Congratulations to Guest No.18 for winning the bid on Galaxy's Tears! I'd also like to invite the other guests who have won bids to pay for their items as well."

"Hold on," Wynter interrupted, stepping forward. "Why do I get the feeling that this Galaxy's Tears is a fake?"

The guests frowned upon hearing this.

"How could it be a fake? We've held many auctions and also had professionals verify the items' authenticity. They were all genuine."

"That's right. If this Galaxy's Tears is a fake, then what about the items we bid on before? Are they all fakes, too?"

Wynter looked around the venue. "What are all of you getting worked up for? I don't know if the items you bid on were fakes, but the Galaxy's Tears displayed in this acrylic box is."

Oslo looked frightened. "Please don't make nonsensical claims, dear guest. This Galaxy's Tears is a priceless treasure, and we've also had it authenticated before."

"One can tell if it's real or fake at a glance," Wynter stated firmly before glancing sideways at Charis. "What do you think, Mr. Boso?"

Charis frowned. "If there are doubts about its authenticity, then those doubts must be verified."

He couldn't refute Wynter's claims with so many people present. Wynter had tied him to a stake, yet he was powerless to do anything about it.

"Since Mr. Boso is of a similar mind, naturally, we can't let him down."

Wynter strode over to the auction stage and took Galaxy's Tears out of its acrylic box.

"As far as I know, Galaxy's Tears is Lamar's work and is one-of-a-kind," she said, lifting it up. "However, this Galaxy's Tears doesn't have Lamar's signature on the bottom."

After hearing this, Charis slumped down in his chair. This matter should have already been done with, and they'd have been able to leave once the guests finished paying. Yet, Wynter had ruined their plans.

"There's truly no signature! It looks like this Galaxy's Tears really is a fake!"

"Mr. Boso! What are you trying to pull, bringing out a fake Galaxy's Tears?"

"Do you take us all for fools?"

Everyone would jump at the chance to kick someone when they were down—the saying had held true since ancient times. The people who had attempted to get close to Charis were now starting to draw clear lines between him and themselves.

Wynter narrowed her eyes slightly. "According to the rules, if an auctioned item is fake, the final bidder is eligible for ten times the amount of the final bid in compensation. That's what I remember. Am I right, Mr. Boso?"

Charis suddenly smiled. "What does that have to do with me? These items were all donated by other people. I'm just using the auction to benefit children from rural areas. What crime have I committed?"

"It has nothing to do with you, you say?" Wynter repeated with a chuckle. "Do you take everyone for fools? Of all the donated items, you put the worthless ones up for auction, right?"

Silence instantly fell upon the auction hall.

Charis forced down the panic building within him. "I don't know what you're talking about. I've donated all proceeds to the charity foundation. There are also news articles about this, as well as detailed plans regarding the use of the funds."

"Is that so?" Wynter asked, taking a few steps closer to him. "Then, can you please explain why the accounting records I looked through showed that the money was actually transferred to foreign bank accounts?"

As soon as those words left her mouth, the venue exploded into uproar.

"Is this young lady telling the truth, Mr. Boso?"

"You, on the other hand, have stepped on many toes. As such, they'll naturally come to deal with you."

He finished with a smug laugh.

Wynter arched an eyebrow. "Specifically, deputy mayor Leander Livingstone and deputy head Judas Yellowstone from Havenia's Department of the Treasury, deputy commissioner Lemuel Kingsbury from Havenia's Office of National Intelligence, and certain inspectors from Havenia's Maritime Administration. Am I right?"

A hint of fright surfaced in Charis' eyes. "H-How did you know? The only person who knows about that other than me is Freddy Artie… I didn't expect you to take him away."

Wynter smiled. "These people should have their hands full trying to save their own hides right now. Nobody will be able to protect you."

Charis shook his head. "That's impossible. I'm an Emstian. I cannot be arrested in Havenia!"

"Do you think I'm actually stupid just because I feigned ignorance in front of you?" asked Wynter. She held Charis by the wrist and pulled up his sleeve. "As expected, it's you."

Seeing this, Charis hurriedly retracted his arm. "What are you doing?"

Wynter replied nonchalantly, "Someone probably informed you about my arrival in Havenia. You then tried to conceal your identity and waited for an opportunity to eavesdrop on me. Unexpectedly, you left the hotel a step ahead of me after I discovered you.

"I was also very curious. No matter who I asked to look into you, they all got back to me empty-handed. All they could tell me were a couple of words—'Charis Boso' and 'Emstian.'

"After considering it from another perspective, I figured that the Emstians probably gave you a fake identity. That way, 'Charis Boso' would at least exist if someone were to look you up."

Charis lifted his gaze. "So, what exactly are you trying to say?"

He was feeling increasingly terrified of Wynter.

"You're not an Emstian," Wynter stated coldly. "You're just a minor character they've lifted onto a pedestal. You came into your position because someone thinks highly of you. So, where is the person who's backing you?"