Chapter 282 Backing Out


    The wager was set, and as the challengemenced, everyone geared up to witness what they


    expected to be an unveiling of the truth. Daniel took the knife to the vase, making a cut across its


    body. With a simple twist, he broke the vase in half—it was a fake containing another newer vase


    inside.


    He pulled out the inner vase, turned it over and found an inscription on the bottom. "New York,


    2018!" Everyone was shocked at the brazen date marking on what was supposed to be an antique.


    Mason was dumbfounded, and even Emily was baffled. However, neither of them was the type to be


    embarrassed easily. Determined to save face, Emily tried to divert attention by questioning Daniel


    about the vodka.


    "Country boy, you im these bottles are fifty-year-old vodka and each is worth a million dors.


    How will you prove it?"


    "That''s easy!" Daniel replied. "With Mason''s vast connections in New York, surely he knows many


    vodka collectors, right? Let him find someone willing to buy my vodka for a million dors a bottle.


    That should be proof enough. And since the vase you provided turned out to be a fraud, the BMW


    X1 now belongs to Brittany."


    "Who agreed to that? I wasn''t aware," said Emily slyly, as if never part of the bet.


    Heh, the typical Emily. But I never had any interest in that old BMW of yours anyway; even if you


    offered it to me, I wouldn’t take it!"


    Brittany knew Emily was unlikely to give her the car. She never expected it and only wanted to


    shame Emily. Brittany aimed to make Emily think twice before opposing her again.


    Without responding directly, Emily told Mason, "You’re good friends with Nathan Brooks from the


    county, who collects fine liquor, right? Why don''t you call him toe over and appraise these


    bottles to see if they''re really fifty-year-old vodka worth a million dors each?"


    Mason was indeed close to Nathan, so he confidently made the call, certain that with Nathan’s


    evaluation, the bottles would not be identified as aged vodka worth a million dors.


    "Fine, I’m calling Nathan now."


    Soon after he made the call, Mason wore a self-satisfied look. "Nathan is a busy man—he''s


    currently delivering vodka to a legitor. He''s bringing eighty cases! As soon as he''s done serving


    the legitor, he''lle right over."


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    "You see? Only Mason has such clout. Nathan, serving a legitor, wille straight over at his


    call."


    Emily’s words prompted a scoff from Brittany. "Heh! What did you say? You''re saying legitors


    drink vodka?"


    "Of course they drink vodka! The legitor’s liquor of choice is premium vodka. What, do you think


    they drink cheap spirits worth a few tens of bucks per bottle?"


    Brittany turned to Daniel and asked, "Can legitors drink vodka?"


    "Absolutely not, unless they''re looking for trouble! I can''t speak for what the legitor did in the


    past, but for thest three years, he''s definitely been abstinent."


    Suddenly, the room went silent, and the certainty of victory Mason and Emily had felt began to


    waver under the weight of their own hubris and deceit.