The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 289

Lavinia had to follow up three times. Garnett dragged his feet until the very day before the jewelry exhibition before finally handing the jadeite bangle over to the security firm.

She had originally intended to bring in an appraisal expert to verify it beforehand, but with the schedule cut this close, there was absolutely no time left.

On the day of the exhibition, the entire floor of the Four Seasons Hotel ballroom was booked out.

Members of both the Gilmore and Harper families were present, along with Blossom City's top socialites, wealthy elites, and relevant government officials.

As the chief organizer, Lavinia was running the show. The itinerary, VIP reception, security, and media relations—every single detail had to be approved by her. She was so busy her feet barely touched the ground.

Judith smiled warmly as she cut the ceremonial ribbon, posed for the media with the oversized scissors, and then promptly grabbed Maeve's arm and slipped away.

The matriarch was getting older and had no patience for entertaining a room full of strangers, happily leaving the socializing to the younger generation.

Lavinia had just finished seeing off a group of guests when she turned around and spotted Sigrid.

Sigrid was standing near the signature wall, wearing an elegant emerald-green velvet evening gown. A stunning emerald necklace rested against her collarbone, and a jadeite bangle adorned her wrist. As the lights hit her, she exuded effortless confidence, acting as if she were the hostess of the event.

Lavinia's gaze dropped to Sigrid's wrist. The bangle was a vibrant, flawless green. The translucency was exquisite, glowing with a rich, oily luster beneath the crystal chandeliers.

The longer Lavinia stared at it, the more something felt off. Why did it look even more lustrous than the one sitting inside the main display case?

She was just about to walk over for a closer look when Garnett approached Sigrid from another direction.

He stopped in front of Sigrid, leaning in slightly to whisper something to her.

Sigrid tilted her head back and smiled, and Garnett reached up to gently adjust the clasp of her necklace. His gesture was intimate and tender, completely oblivious to anyone else in the room.

Lavinia retracted her gaze. She brushed her fingers against the jadeite collar pin on her dress. Then, she turned and walked away to deal with other matters.

Once the exhibition officially opened, Lavinia took on the role of head docent.

She led the executives of the four major international jewelry leasing agencies through the hall, explaining the history and craftsmanship of each piece.

Lavinia recognized the man. It was Silas Wainwright, the chief appraiser from Aurelian Appraisals. In his fifties, tall and slender with rimless glasses, he was an advisory consultant for the International Colored Gemstone Association, famous in the industry for having an eagle eye and a razor-sharp tongue.

Silas pointed at the bangle under the light. "Premium old-mine glass-grade jadeite from the 1800s was hand-polished with traditional tools, which leaves an irregular, 'orange-peel' texture on the surface. This surface is far too uniform. These are the marks of modern machine-polishing."

Silas clicked on his small flashlight, shining a concentrated beam of UV light onto the jade. "The fluorescent reaction is a dead giveaway for polymer-treated fakes. This has been chemically enhanced."

He turned his head, his gaze landing on the jadeite collar pin pinned to Lavinia's dress.

"Now that piece you're wearing," he noted, "is leagues above what's sitting in this case. True antique old-mine material doesn't need any chemical enhancements."

A murmur rippled through the crowd. Several groups of guests began flocking toward the commotion.

Zenia had been seething with resentment all night.

These jewels used to be locked away in her personal safe. And now, today, Lavinia—a girl from a nobody background—was parading around like the lady of the manor, giving tours of the jewelry that had once belonged to her.