Chapter 276: The Twist

Vera's POV

Ruby's face went pale. "Impossible! V.G.'s brushwork is so masterful, they must be someone much older. How could it possibly be Vera! This painting has to be fake!"

Christopher's expression darkened immediately when he heard her. "Are you questioning my expertise?"

I smiled at Ruby. "If you still don't believe it, feel free to get any expert to authenticate it."

Ruby sneered. "You know perfectly well there are no authentication experts here, yet you say that. Are you trying to bluff your way through this?"

I kept my composure. "Aren't you supposed to be my sister? Why are you constantly undermining me? Do you really hate seeing me succeed that much?"

"Mr. Gray's authentication skills are highly credible. I don't know what reason this Miss Grant has for doubting the painting's authenticity."

"Don't you remember? She said before that V.G. was going to take her as a student. But now the real V.G. is standing right here, so doesn't that mean everything she said before was a lie?"

Ruby hurriedly explained, "That's not it. I'm just offering my perspective from an objective standpoint. Anyway, since she's the Grant family's young lady and Mrs. Blackwell, if she says she's V.G., then she is. No one can really say for sure if the painting is real or fake."

After speaking, she put on a pitiful, wronged expression.

"I'll authenticate it!" At that moment, a vigorous, authoritative voice rang out.

Everyone turned to look.

"It's Martin from the museum!"

Someone recognized the elderly man and called out in surprise.

The onlookers made way for Martin.

When Christopher saw Martin, he shot Ruby an irritated glare and said, "Martin, get over here and take a look. Give these people who are questioning my authentication skills a good slap in the face!"

A flash of panic crossed Ruby's face. Grandpa's expression was stormy as he glanced at Ruby.

Martin had already pulled out a magnifying glass and begun his examination. He looked very carefully, bit by bit, as if analyzing frame by frame. Moreover, as he looked, he kept nodding, the light in his eyes gradually brightening, the smile at the corners of his mouth impossible to suppress.

However, when he reached the end, the smile at the corners of his mouth suddenly froze. "Something's not quite right."

As soon as Martin spoke those words, Ruby's originally pale, panicked face immediately broke into a smile. She couldn't wait to ask, "Martin, is this painting fake? Not V.G.'s work?"

Seeing Martin's expression was off, Christopher quickly asked, "What's wrong?"

Martin stood up, but then he smiled. "Based on this brushwork, it's definitely V.G.'s painting. However, there's one small regret - it's missing V.G.'s seal."

Christopher had a sudden realization. "That's what I thought. I knew I couldn't be wrong."

I belatedly realized that normally after finishing a painting, I would always stamp it with my seal. Today, painting on the spot in front of so many people, I'd actually forgotten. But before coming, I'd made preparations. I opened my handbag, pulled out a personal seal from inside, and smiled. "Sorry, I forgot."

After speaking, I breathed on the bottom of the seal and pressed it onto the bottom of the painting.

Martin looked at the bright red seal mark, his face immediately lighting up with joy. "Now it's perfect." He looked at me, his eyes full of admiration. "V.G., would you be willing to sell me this painting? How about I offer thirty million for this one?"

Before I could respond, Christopher was already unhappy.

He loudly protested, "Martin, I saw this painting first. You have to give it to me. I'll offer thirty-five million."

Martin didn't back down at all. "Christopher, you can't do this. You already have two pieces. Let me have this one. I'll offer thirty-seven million."

Christopher didn't waste words with him, directly calling out a price: "I'll offer forty million."

"I'll offer forty-five million!"

"I'll offer fifty million!"

Christopher called out boldly.

At these words, there was a collective gasp from the crowd.

"Damn, worthy of V.G. Another fifty-million-dollar painting!"

"The bidding isn't over yet. Martin's loaded too. It might go higher than fifty million!"

As soon as those words fell, sure enough, Martin, unwilling to be outdone, called out, "Fifty-five million!"

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Watching these two old men engage in their bidding war, I helplessly called for a halt.

I apologetically said to the two elders, "I'm really sorry, but this painting is a gift to make amends to my grandfather. I won't sell it for any price."

At these words, both old men's faces immediately fell.

They looked at Bill, their voices full of jealous sourness.

"Bill, you must be pretty pleased with yourself right now. V.G. is actually your granddaughter."

"Bill, how does your family have such good genes? Just this one granddaughter, and she's an absolute treasure!"

Bill smiled with smug satisfaction.

But Christopher turned his gaze to Ruby. He made no effort to hide his disgust toward her. "Not long ago, Bill said you were V.G.'s unofficial student. What happened? You don't even recognize V.G.? And you're constantly opposing her! Don't think I don't know what you're up to!"

Ruby quickly grabbed Grandpa's hand, crying, "Grandpa, when I came out of the gallery with my painting, there really was someone claiming to be V.G. who said I had good potential and wanted to take me as a student. I was deceived too."

Bill kept a stern face and said nothing.

Christopher wasn't about to coddle Ruby. "Do you really think anyone believes that?"