Chapter 319 In the car , Francesca called Lauren and spent several minutes chatting in hushed tones .


    When she hung up , her face showed clear disappointment .


    She said with a sigh , Its a shame Lauren cant join us .


    We had nned to attend the showcase together with you , Andrew , but the Rhodes family has been keeping a close eye on hertely .


    Shell have to skip it this time .


    Andrew could not help but think back to Jerry and the others from the day before .


    While they imed to be there to pick Lauren up , their behavior seemed more like they were monitoring her .


    Cedric chimed in , The Rhodes family recently had an important guest arrive from the Blumedale .


    Lauren is probably tied up entertaining them , which is why she couldnte along .


    The three of them chatted casually as they drove , eventually arriving at Jayrodales most famous antique district .


    The streets were already packed with people , forcing Andrew to park the car several blocks away .


    Cedric nced around at the bustling crowd and remarked , This years showcase is even livelier thanst years ! Luckily for us , Im a member of the Jayrodale Antique Society .


    Lets take the VIP entrance ! Andrew observed the scene as they walked , noting the overflowing shops and makeshift stalls lining the streets .


    The area was full of curious trinkets and unusual items , with many people simply browsing for fun rather than making any purchases .


    The world of antiques , as Andrew knew , was notoriously tricky to navigate .


    Big spenders were either seasoned collectors or wealthy individuals who did not mind paying a premium .


    Cedric fell into thetter category his ability to identify valuable pieces was questionable at best , but his deep pockets often made up for hisck of expertise .


    Every year , Cedric would spend hundreds of thousands , sometimes millions , at these showcases without hesitation .


    Yet among the crowd , there were also those rare individuals who could spot hidden treasures for a fraction of their true value .


    These were the true masters of the antique world , often professional collectors or appraisers .


    Such experts were few and far between , though .


    In the antiquemunity , anyone daring to call themselves a master was either a fraud or a genuine heavyweight and thetter were elusive and notoriously difficult to meet .


    After Cedric shed his membership credentials , the three of them were escorted through the VIP entrance and into the main event area .


    The showcase was held in arge outdoor za , which had been transformed into the centerpiece of the days festivities .


    Radiant Group had invited several prominent antique experts to preside over the event .


    These