Chapter 443


    A sh of panic could be seen in the young woman''s eyes.


    A sh of panic could be seen in the young woman''s eyes.


    She was not Vespera.


    Her name was Lina Young, and she was an ordinary appraiser from a pawnshop overseas.


    Even if she trained for another twenty years, she would likely never reach Vespera''s level.


    However, with so many people watching her, she dared not admit her true identity.


    “What nonsense are you saying? Of course, I am. The ne is authentic, so isn''t that enough to


    prove that I am Vespera? Why would they invite an impostor here?”


    A smile crept across Bailey''s face as she nodded and agreed, “You''re right. By the way, the Museum of


    Hallsbay just posted a notice the other day. They are expecting a batch of national treasures to be


    shipped in from abroad, and they need a renowned appraiser to appraise those relics. Since you''re a


    top expert in the field, I''m sure you''ll take the task, right?”


    Lina shuddered involuntarily at Bailey''s words.


    Can I take the job? But what if the real Vespera appears after word gets out? I will be the


    “I...”


    “Since Master Vespera has returned to the country, she will surely agree to take the task,” the


    pawnshop executive at the side chimed in.


    Next, he shot Lina a look.


    Don''t you mess around! If you dare reveal that I asked you to pretend to be Vespera, I won''t let you off


    the hook!


    Intimidated by the man''s threatening re, Lina could not bring herself to say anything else. She


    steeled herself and said, “You''re ttering me, Ms. Jefferson. I''m just one among the many talented


    appraisers in this world. There are countless people who are more capable than me. Nevertheless, if


    Cultural Relics Bureau needs my help, I am more than willing to offer my service.”


    “That''s great.”


    Bailey gazed at her intently before turning around to Artemis. “Let''s leave after paying. I don''t want to


    disrupt the auction.”Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Just then, a plump middle-aged man rushed out from backstage.


    He was the boss of Auro Pawnshop. While everything was transpiring earlier, he was getting it on with


    a C-list celebrity in the suite next door.


    When he got a call from his assistant and found out that Artemis showed up and even mentioned


    acquiring Auro Pawnshop in his anger, he was scared witless.


    In an instant, he lost the mood to fool around with the woman he picked up and immediately got


    dressed to head toward the venue.


    “M-Mr. Luther, I heard that your wife had her eye on Beauty''s Tear and made a winning bid for it. This is


    truly Auro Pawnshop''s honor! Please keep the ne. As for the payment... I''ll shoulder it.”


    Without giving it a thought, Artemis epted his offer. “Sure, as you wish.”


    Uh...


    Artemis shoved the box into his pocket unceremoniously and strode out of the venue with his arm


    around Bailey''s shoulder.


    The boss red at the assistant beside him and questioned in a low voice, “How much did she bid for


    this ne?”


    “Six... Six hundred million,” answered the assistant cautiously as he gulped.


    Six hundred million?


    The boss widened his eyes in disbelief.


    That''s enough to acquire a pawnshop!


    “It''s six hundred million in Anndurn currency, which means you''ll have to pay almost four billion in


    our currency,” the assistant added, adding salt to the wound.


    The boss gasped and clutched his chest. Unable to cope with the shock, he eventually copsed with


    his eyes rolled over.


    Behind the stage, Lina was talking to the executive with a troubled expression.


    “Mr. Watson, I can''t do this. I can pose as Vespera and help you fool the buyers, but I''ll be exposed if


    you make me deal with those cultural relics!” sheined.


    The man shot her a re and insisted, “You''ll have to do it no matter what. There''s no turning back


    now. After tonight, someone from the Cultural Relics Bureau will probably contact you. Cooperate with


    me if you don''t want people to know what you did.”


    “B-But what if Vespera shows up? I''ll still be caught that way.”


    “What are you scared of? No one has ever seen her. Even if she appears, she won''t be able to prove


    her identity. Besides, I got reliable news that Vespera died from cancer a year ago. She''s dead.”


    His statement shut Lina up.


    ...


    Meanwhile, as Artemis and Bailey left the ce, she told him about what happened at the auction.


    After listening to her, Artemisughed. “You''re so smart. This is quite a pressure on me! Don''t they say


    that pregnant women be less intelligent? Howe you''re getting smarter and smarter?”


    Bailey rolled her eyes in response.


    Nheless, she did think that she was quite clever.


    If she hadn''te to a realization while she was in the corridor, Beauty''s Tear would have gone


    missing again. She would never have gotten her hands on it.


    “Is the banquet downstairs over?” she then inquired.


    Artemis looked at her and sighed. “No. How could I wait for it to finish beforeing to you? I feel


    anxious whenever you''re out of my sight. I''m scared that you''ll get hurt.”


    Suddenly, he remembered Bailey''s strange behavior at the banquet earlier and couldn''t help asking, “Is


    there any problem with Sophia? Why were you so emotional after seeing her?”


    Bailey pursed her lips before clenching her jaw. “She looks like my mother... My mother in name,


    Sophia Carr.”


    Her words surprised Artemis. “Didn''t rence''s first wife die in a fire? They didn''t even find her


    remains.”