CHAPTER 123: CHAPTER 123: IDENTITY REVEALED—IS IVY SUMMERS A MASTER APPRAISER?

Damien Lancaster felt an impulse to hide Ivy Summers away when he saw her looking so dazzling, too extraordinary, too easily coveted by others.

"Then close your eyes."

Ivy Summers tried to shake off Damien Lancaster’s hand, but he held her tighter and took a jade bracelet from the side to put on her wrist.

The bracelet had excellent water content, emerald green was the most noble, and the color so rich and even, the quality of the purple jade bracelet was certainly invaluable.

But compared to the one left by Ivy’s mother, it was slightly inferior.

Except that the bracelet had been given by Damien Lancaster to Rachel Shaw.

"For me?" Ivy Summers’ voice turned cold.

"Yes, these are all for you."

"What is this supposed to be, compensation? You gave away the bracelet my mother left me to Rachel Shaw, and now you’re giving me one, do you just love giving women these?"

Damien Lancaster frowned, "What?"

"Can’t remember? The jade bracelet on Rachel Shaw’s hand is mine, my mother left it for me."

Damien Lancaster didn’t remember giving Rachel Shaw any bracelet, let alone taking Ivy Summers’ things to give her.

"I never gave it."

Ivy Summers chuckled softly, then what was that bracelet on Rachel Shaw’s hand, Rachel herself said it was a gift from Damien Lancaster.

"Damien Lancaster, it’s fine if you’ve forgotten, you can ask Rachel Shaw if what I’m saying is true."

With that, Ivy Summers walked out.

Damien Lancaster furrowed his brows. He had given Rachel Shaw many things, but never something belonging to Ivy Summers.

...

The old mansion was bustling at the moment, most of the guests had arrived.

Old Master Lancaster looked much better today, sitting at the main seat, receiving congratulations from friends and family, the atmosphere was joyous and festive.

Sophie and Annelise had already been brought to the mansion by Damien Lancaster in advance.

Seraphina Kennedy held onto Annelise Lancaster, specifically announcing her presence to everyone at this moment, showing just how much Seraphina cared for her.

Meanwhile, Sophie was left neglected aside, Annelise looked at her sideways with a proud glance, pouting and giving a light humph.

"Auntie." A voice rang out, it was the elegantly dressed Rachel Shaw.

Seraphina Kennedy immediately reached out to pull her, "Rachel, you’re here."

Beside Rachel Shaw stood Phillip Shaw and Penelope Page, with another, Nina Summers, following.

Ever since her arm fracture, Rachel Shaw had been much more subdued, deeply fearing Damien Lancaster would bring up sending her abroad again.

"Auntie, where’s Damien?" Rachel Shaw asked, presently very conflicted, wanting to see Damien Lancaster but also fearing him.

"No idea what he’s busy with, hasn’t come yet."

With that, Seraphina Kennedy pulled Rachel Shaw over to introduce her to the nearby ladies, "Everyone, this is Rachel Shaw, the eldest Miss of the Shaw Family, our Lancaster Family’s recognized future daughter-in-law."

Seraphina Kennedy saying this was undoubtedly a recognition of Rachel Shaw.

Rachel Shaw was filled with happiness and offered everyone a courteous smile.

"We all know Eldest Miss Shaw, First Young Master Lancaster sets off fireworks for her birthday every year, it’s so romantic, it makes us all envious."

"Yes, indeed, those two are a perfect couple, surely good news will come soon?"

Rachel Shaw pressed her lips together without speaking, showing a shy demeanor, but Seraphina Kennedy smiled and said, "These two aren’t in a rush, nothing we can do, but they’re still young, playing around for a few more years is alright too."

"Where is First Young Master Lancaster? Haven’t seen him around?"

As soon as the words were spoken, someone pointed towards the entrance.

"Look, isn’t that First Young Master Lancaster?"

"Who’s the woman beside him? She’s so... so... beautiful!"

Just before entering, Damien Lancaster had forcefully made Ivy Summers take his arm, and the two appeared together, instantly capturing everyone’s attention.

"Ivy Summers!" Rachel Shaw squinted her eyes, murmuring to herself.

Looking at Ivy Summers walking in wearing a golden cheongsam, arm in arm with Damien Lancaster, Rachel couldn’t help but show an expression of amazement.

Ivy Summers dressed like this... was indeed too... too beautiful!

An existence that made it impossible to avert one’s eyes.

Even standing beside her, Damien Lancaster was overshadowed by her radiance.

Beautiful?

Coming to her senses, Rachel Shaw bit her lip tightly.

Damn it.

She actually couldn’t help but admit Ivy Summers was beautiful?

"Truly stealing the limelight." Rachel Shaw gritted her teeth.

Just after speaking, she turned to see Seraphina Kennedy, also wearing a red cheongsam, the red even more vibrant than the gold, yet on Seraphina it didn’t feel like overshadowing the host.

So was it truly Ivy Summers’ outfit that was stealing the limelight?

No, it was because Ivy Summers in this outfit was too striking.

This outfit, perhaps worn by anyone else, wouldn’t have such a dazzling effect as Ivy Summers did.

Damien Lancaster led Ivy Summers directly to Old Master Lancaster’s side.

Seeing Sophie sitting alone on the sofa, Ivy Summers immediately brought her along.

The three of them walking together looked just like a family of three.

Old Master Lancaster had quite a few people around, all his old friends.

"Grandpa." Ivy Summers greeted Old Master Lancaster.

Old Master Lancaster lifted his head, seeing the three people before him, was slightly taken aback, and only after a moment did he react, nodding immediately, his face full of kindness and warmth, saying with a smile, "Ivy, you’re here."

A friend beside Old Master Lancaster asked, "Is this Damien’s girlfriend?"

"No." Damien Lancaster’s voice was crisp, "She is my wife."

Ivy Summers did not argue, as in such a setting, she would not be that inconsiderate.

Several old gentlemen smiled knowingly, complimenting Old Master Lancaster on his good fortune.

At this moment, Rachel Shaw and her group also approached, Rachel dared not look at Damien Lancaster, immediately saying politely and appropriately to the elder, "Grandpa Lancaster, happy birthday to you. Here is a gift I prepared for you, and I hope you will like it."

Saying this, Rachel handed over the gift she had prepared.

The elder did not accept it.

Seraphina Kennedy attempted to smooth things over, "Dad, Rachel knows you like antiques, so she specially prepared this gift for you. Please open it and have a look."

The elder did not open it, merely said a word of thanks, and placed it to the side.

Rachel’s expression turned somewhat awkward as she stiffly pulled at the corners of her lips. It was then she noticed Ivy Summers standing empty-handed nearby.

Rachel wanted to divert the awkwardness and deliberately said, "Ivy, today is Grandpa Lancaster’s birthday. What gift did you prepare for him?"

As soon as these words came out, everyone looked towards Ivy Summers.

"Coming empty-handed, guessing she didn’t prepare anything for the elder, despite how much he loves her." Seraphina Kennedy said irritably.

Ivy Summers didn’t pay attention to what they were saying, instead taking the gift she had prepared from Damien Lancaster’s hand and handing it to the elder with both hands.

"Grandpa, this is my birthday gift for you. Wishing you longevity and health."

"Good, good." The elder received it with a smile and immediately opened it.

The noticeably different attitude from the elder made Rachel secretly clench her teeth.

Similarly, Nina Summers also secretly gritted her teeth. She had tried every way to get Rachel to bring her in, dressed up meticulously, but ended up being ignored.

And Ivy Summers? She entered with Damien Lancaster, stunning the whole room.

Both surnamed Summers, why should she have such glory?

When Ivy Summers’ gift was opened, everyone couldn’t help but exclaim.

The elder’s eyes lit up, "This is... the Pine Crane Painting!"

Ivy Summers nodded, "Yes, Grandpa, I hope you will like it."

Rachel Shaw tugged at her lips, saying, "Ivy, this painting looks quite valuable, it should be prepared by Damien, right?"

"This is something she prepared herself for Grandpa." Damien Lancaster spoke lightly from the side.

Immediately someone praised, "The Pine Crane Painting given by Young Madam Lancaster is really great. Pine trees symbolize immortality and longevity, while the crane represents the auspicious sign of a long life. Old Master Lancaster, Young Madam Lancaster is wishing you longevity and health, she is truly filial."

"Moreover, I think this is the work of Master Vaughn, whose works are invaluable."

Everyone was praising, but Seraphina Kennedy said, "Knowing the elder is gravely ill, you still sent such a painting. Are you trying to irritate the elder?"

Seraphina Kennedy’s words seemed to be finding fault. Even if the elder is gravely ill, everyone surely hopes for his longevity, hence they send things with good meanings. Would sending something symbolizing a funeral make her happy?

No one agreed with her, yet no one said anything.

For if something is genuinely bad, a few words of criticism are reasonable; if something is good and you still find fault, it’s not disliking the thing, but the person.

Everyone present was savvy enough to see through this.

It’s a family matter when it’s against a person, and they wouldn’t comment on family affairs.

And just then, an abrupt, discordant voice emerged.

"This painting is fake!"

Rachel Shaw turned back to look at Nina Summers behind her, completely surprised.

Nina Summers, however, walked forward confidently, pointing at the painting in the elder’s hand, saying, "This painting is definitely fake."

This Pine Crane Painting was auctioned off by her, and she knew the buyer wasn’t Ivy Summers.

And there’s only one such painting in the world, the real one was sold, so the one Ivy Summers has must be fake.

Nina Summers explained why she said so.

After explaining, she looked at Ivy Summers, "This painting was sold for eight million eight hundred thousand at an auction a few days ago to a gentleman. Cousin, where did your painting come from?"

As soon as these words came out, Rachel’s eyes immediately brightened. Ivy Summers giving a fake painting to the elder in such an occasion was practically showing no respect to him.

As she is still the daughter-in-law of the Lancasters, her act disgraces the entire Lancaster Family, making it impossible for them to tolerate her further.

Rachel slightly raised her chin, ready to enjoy the drama.

Everyone looked at Ivy Summers, gossiping incessantly.

"Giving a fake painting on the elder’s 80th birthday, how embarrassing, showing no regard for him at all."

"Exactly, what kind of family is the Lancasters, today she really is making them lose face."

"You say it’s fake?" Ivy Summers listened to the discussions around her, calmly turning to Nina Summers, "How are you sure?"

"Just because I personally auctioned off the real painting, and I am familiar with it; this one in your hand is definitely not genuine." Nina Summers stated with absolute certainty.

At this time, Rachel Shaw added, "Grandpa Lancaster, Nina is an auctioneer, well-versed with these antiques and paintings, her statement is likely not wrong."

Then Rachel looked towards Ivy Summers, "Ivy, such an important occasion, even if you can’t afford a real painting, you shouldn’t deceive Grandpa Lancaster with a fake one."

Seraphina Kennedy’s expression suddenly grew unpleasant, "Ivy Summers, must you disgrace our Lancaster Family on such an occasion?"

Ivy Summers paid no mind to what they were saying and instead turned to the elder, "Grandpa, please believe me, this painting is authentic."

"Authentic? Cousin, do you have any evidence for saying this? You can’t say it’s real just because you claim so."

"I do, based on my eyes."

Ivy Summers’ eyes light and confident swept over Nina, her tone steadfast and assured.

"Your eyes? Ha." Nina Summers sneered, "You speak as if you are an appraisal master, well-versed in these paintings."