Chapter 321

Andrew chuckled. “There’s nothing strange about this. The antiques market has always been full of counterfeits, knockoffs, and replicas with exorbitant price tags. If they find someone clueless, they’ll rip them off. But with an expert, even a king’s treasure could be marked down to pennies.”

Elsie chuckled, her cheeks flushing as she playfully glared at Andrew. “Mr. Lloyd, your analogy is amusing, but accurate.”

Francesca clenched her teeth. “Those shameless crooks! If Ms. Santana hadn’t been here, that old man would have scammed me.” Her opinion of Elsie had clearly improved.

Elsie guided them through the plaza. Francesca, unfamiliar with antiques, chose items based on appearance, favoring colorful or uniquely shaped pieces. With Elsie present, she felt safe to indulge. Andrew, however, bought nothing, content to accompany the women.

Returning to their seats, Elsie hesitantly asked, “Mr. Lloyd, was there nothing you liked? Is this fair below your standards?” Silas had instructed her to ensure Andrew’s satisfaction.

Andrew waved off her concern. “Ms. Santana, you’re overthinking it. There are impressive items, but nothing to my taste.”

Relieved, Elsie sighed. Her biggest worry had been Andrew’s high standards. After a pause, she added, “Mr. Lloyd, you seem quite knowledgeable about antiques.”

Andrew replied modestly, “I know a little, but compared to you, I still have much to learn.” Elsie downplayed his compliment, though secretly thrilled to impress him.

A commotion erupted from the center of the plaza. Two loud voices argued. Francesca’s expression changed. “Andrew, that sounds like my grandfather!”

Andrew recognized Cedric’s voice—furious and flustered. Standing, he said, “Let’s check it out.”

They pushed through the crowd to the largest antiques booth. Cedric held a bronze religious statue, arguing vehemently with an older man in a gray robe who wore a smug expression.

Cedric’s face was red. “Orion, you bastard! You tricked me into wasting a million dollars on this junk! You’re despicable!”

Orion Kelce smirked. “Cedric, you’re a skilled doctor, but you know nothing about antiques. You fell for this statue. If I told you to eat dirt, would you do it?”

Cedric stomped his foot. “You said it was a lost relic from an ancient monastery! That’s why I bought it!”

Orion rolled his eyes. “If you believe everything I say, that’s your problem. You were swindled at the last fair, yet you repeat the same mistakes. Stick to being a second-rate doctor and leave antiques to the experts!”