Chapter 47

"This was a gift from my husband, how could it be fake?"

Elora stood up angrily, drawing everyone's attention to her. At this moment, she had become the laughingstock of the entire room.

"Who knows? You should go back and ask your husband."

Within a few minutes, a waiter came out with the pair of earrings and whispered something in Joanna's ear, after which she nodded.

"Ms. Kingsley, I'm sorry, but your earrings cannot be auctioned because they are fake."

"Impossible, how could he give me fake jewelry? Did you make a mistake?"

"Even someone like me, who loves collecting jewelry, can tell they are fake. Do you think the experts would make a mistake?"

"If Ms. Kingsley doesn't believe us, you can call your husband and we can confront him together."

"I..."

Elora clutched the hem of her dress, clearly too afraid to call her so-called husband, Brandon.

Karen, already upset from the earlier incident with the ring, couldn't stand Elora's behavior and pulled her down: "Sit down already, you're embarrassing yourself."

Joanna smiled lightly: "Since Ms. Kingsley has no items for auction, please refrain from speaking later to avoid disturbing our other guests."

With that, Joanna led Kathy and me to the front row, while Elora and Karen sat sullenly at the back.

Kathy laughed and held my hand: "Did you see that? Elora looked like she was about to grind her teeth to dust. She must hate us now."

"Looks like Brandon is quite smart, giving his mistress fake jewelry. A mistress and fake jewelry are a perfect match."

I couldn't help but smile at Kathy's words.

From this moment on, Elora probably realized what kind of person Brandon really was.

The auction officially began, and the items presented by the ladies were all exquisite, with a dazzling array of antique jewelry.

I also took a liking to a necklace and successfully bid for it.

I've come to understand that there's no need for me to scrimp and save for this family. Although the earrings Brandon gave Elora were fake, he did buy Karen a villa with our joint marital assets.

I will settle this score with Brandon and Elora sooner or later.

As the auction ended, a waiter suddenly approached me with the diamond ring Karen had brought out: "Ms. Thorne said this is for you."

I looked up and exchanged a glance with Joanna, who winked at me.

Understanding her intention, I got up and handed the ring to Karen: "Mom, this is a gift from Ms. Thorne for me. You should take it."

Karen was extremely embarrassed by the ring and wanted to leave, but after a moment's hesitation, she took the ring and left.

I looked at Elora, who was sitting there with a face full of mixed emotions.

"Why don't you ask your husband? Maybe he was too busy and bought a fake by mistake."

Elora gritted her teeth and nodded: "Yes, I'll ask him when I get back."

I then asked her: "How are you getting home later?"

Elora's expression suddenly turned smug: "My husband is coming to pick me up. What about you, Caroline?"

I shook my head helplessly: "I'll probably go back with Kathy."

Seeing Elora's smug look, I guessed that Brandon was coming to pick her up personally, but there was no way I would let that happen.

I told Kathy to say goodbye to Joanna for me and left the banquet early.

Sure enough, Brandon was sitting in his car at the entrance, smoking a cigarette.

When he saw me, his eyes widened in surprise: "Caroline?"

His eyes couldn't hide his amazement. I smiled: "What are you doing here?"

Brandon's face was full of awkwardness as he smiled: "I heard you were here, so I came to pick you up and take you home."

At the same time, I saw Elora coming out with an expectant look on her face, only to see me standing by Brandon's car.

Her expectant expression immediately turned into jealousy and resentment.

"Thank you, Brandon. I was just wondering how to get home."

With that, I opened the car door and got in without hesitation, looking out the window in Elora's direction.

"Elora, isn't your husband coming to pick you up?"

Elora looked at Brandon and gritted her teeth: "He just told me he had something to do, so I'll take a cab home."

I looked at Brandon in the driver's seat: "It's quite late, and it's not safe for Elora to go back alone. Why don't we give her a ride?"

Elora heard this and was about to walk to the back door to get in.

Brandon said bluntly: "There are plenty of cabs around here. What's unsafe about it? Let her go back on her own. We're not going the same way."

With that, Brandon stepped on the gas and drove off.

I couldn't see Elora's reaction, but I knew she must be furious.

Sure enough, that night when we got home, Brandon tried to get intimate with me: "Caroline, you look so beautiful today. How about we..."

Just then, Brandon's phone rang. He ignored it, but the calls kept coming one after another. I saw the caller ID with the last name Kingsley and knew it was Elora.

Brandon's mood was completely ruined by the calls. He answered impatiently: "Why do you keep calling? Didn't I say I'd come over in a few days? I'm busy right now."

"Why do you care what I'm doing? Just mind your own business."

He angrily hung up the phone. I asked him: "Who was that?"

Brandon replied irritably: "Earl, he's pushing me to take care of something. I might have to go on a business trip for a couple of days. Take care of yourself."

I immediately understood that Brandon wasn't going on a business trip; he was going to see Elora.

After today's incident, she was probably very angry and eager to take Brandon away from me to prove a point.

Thinking back, Brandon had mentioned several business trips before, which were likely all to see Elora, and I had never noticed.

"Alright, take care and go ahead."

I turned over and went to sleep, afraid that Brandon might suddenly get in the mood and touch me.

Brandon was already tired and soon fell asleep.

Just then, Simon sent me a message. I quickly opened it and saw a photo of Elora and Earl entering a hotel together.

He said: "Look what I found!"

I replied: "Elora and Earl have an affair? Then her child..."

Simon answered: "It's possible."

I thought about Jason's appearance. Although he looked a lot like Brandon, he also resembled Earl when he was young. I had initially assumed he was Brandon's child, but now it seemed uncertain.

Simon had given me a delightful surprise before bed, making me very happy.

The more chaotic the Jordan family became, the happier I was, and the more I could focus on my own plans.