Chapter 336

“However—” Andrew began.

Just then, Christina interjected excitedly. “While everyone was nervous, Mr. Cooper remained completely calm! That’s how you knew both bowls were fake. He would have been panicking if they were real.”

“Exactly,” Andrew nodded in approval.

Christina felt conflicted. She was intelligent enough to run Jayrodale as CEO, but she would never have conceived of such a brilliantly simple method. Her intelligence seemed insignificant compared to Andrew’s.

The crowd erupted in amazement as the mystery was solved.

“Incredible! He used psychology to authenticate antiques. Mr. Lloyd, you’re truly the best!”

Another expert exclaimed, “This is pure genius! I’ve been authenticating pieces for twenty years, but today’s lesson has shown me I’ve still got much to learn!”

“There’s no doubt Mr. Kelce has lost!”

Aspen desperately searched for a counterargument but found none. She thought bitterly, ‘He really beat Mr. Kelce. As fellow Bridgefields residents, we’ve embarrassed ourselves.’

Aspen felt as if Andrew had slapped her. She bit her lip, standing silently at the edge of the crowd, speechless. Her gaze flickered to Orion, and the sight of him made her heart sink—he was clearly furious, pacing anxiously like a cornered animal, completely out of options.

‘Mr. Kelce, I’m sorry,’ Aspen thought with a faint sense of pity. ‘But even I can’t help you now.’

Unconsciously, she drifted further from the crowd, unwilling to become involved.

“Mr. Kelce, you lost,” Francesca’s voice rang out, sharp and malicious. “And since you lost, shouldn’t you follow through on your promise? Isn’t it time to kneel before him?”

Francesca wouldn’t let Orion off the hook. She loathed him, and this was her chance for revenge.

Her words immediately focused the crowd’s attention on him, their eyes brimming with expectation and disdain. The message was clear: kneel and admit his flaws, or the hundreds of collectors and dealers present would not let him leave unscathed.

Orion gritted his teeth. “Fine, I’ll admit it—I underestimated you. But to kneel and apologize? Do you even realize what it would mean if someone like me, Orion Kelce, bowed down to you? Could you even handle it?”

Chapter 330

Andrew clasped his hands behind his back, his expression calm but laced with a mocking smile. “Mr. Kelce, that’s a strange thing to say. Why wouldn’t I be able to handle it? Having a renowned figure like you admitting his mistakes and kneeling before me sounds delightful, doesn’t it?”

His smile widened. “Honestly, I’d be thrilled!”

Orion’s face flushed crimson with rage, and his voice thundered, “You insolent brat! Do you really intend to humiliate me to the very end?”

He hadn’t even knelt yet, and this arrogant youth was already acting superior. Orion had spent his life towering over others, receiving their bows and gratitude.

Never—not once—had he been forced to kneel before anyone. To him, this was not just a loss; it was the ultimate insult. And it was unbearable.