Chapter 51

Rylie caught the smugness beneath Paola's voice but didn't react. She stayed calm in her seat and looked up at Celia on the stage. "It's quite a coincidence, but my jewelry isn't fake."

Paola faltered for a moment, trying to mask the irritation curling in her chest. She forced a smile and said, "Rylie, Miss Buckley's father owns a jewelry empire. Do you really think she'd fail to tell the difference between real and fake? Save yourself the embarrassment. Just take it off."

Isabella let out a laugh. "Paola, don't waste your breath. Rylie's too stubborn. She'd rather face Miss Buckley head-on than admit she's wrong."

Celia,still onstage, had already noticed the attention circling around Rylie and the matching necklace.

After wrapping up her speech, she stepped down carefully, gathering the hem of her dress as she made her way to the table.

In the private box above, Brad swirled his wine lazily.Brock leaned closer and murmured, "Dr. Owen's about to get chewed up. That knockoff necklace looks just like Celia's. She's surrounded by sharks. Should we step in?"

Brad gave a dry laugh. "That depends. Who do you think the shark really is right now?"

"You mean to say Dr. Owen's necklace might be real?"asked Brock.

"I haven't confirmed anything," Brad replied, smirking "But she invited me here for entertainment. Let's just say she never fails to put on a show."

Celia reached the table, lifted her glass, and tapped Johnny's with a soft clink. "That eigteen-carat red diamond your grandmother likes is among the auction items tonight. Keep an eye on it, or it might disappear."

Johnny nodded and took a sip. "Appreciate the heads -up."

Just then, Isabella raised her voice. "Miss Buckley,your necklace looks identical to Miss Owen's. Was there ever a second one made? Isn't it odd you're both wearing them tonight?"

Celia turned toward Rylie and gave her a long look."This necklace is an heirloom. It's been in my family for three centuries. A queen once owned it. There is only one like it."

Then she looked directly at her. "Miss Owen, mind sharing where yours came from?"

Rylie brought her fingers to the sapphire resting at her collar. "Miss Buckley, are you certain yours is the authentic one?"

Celia's brows dipped faintly as she answered, steady and sure, "Of course it is. This piece is called 'Ocean's Tear.' It hasn't left our vault in over three centuries."

Rylie lifted her head, her voice calm yet pointed."Now that's interesting. This one, too, came from royal lineage, crafted three hundred years ago using age-old methods. The stones were hand-cut by court jewelers, each one bearing the royal mark."

Celia's face wavered for a second, but she laughed lightly and replied, "Miss Owen, imitations these days are surprisingly convincing. Still, the precision and artistry of true heirlooms can't be copied."

Paola quickly backed her up. "Exactly. Miss Buckley's necklace has been passed down in her family for generations. It wouldn't be right to suggest hers is a fake.You should stop acting like this."

Rylie didn't flinch. She simply turned her necklace around so the back was visible to the room.

"If we're talking about craftsmanship, why not let everyone judge for themselves?" Her voice was even,almost too composed. "Genuine royal pieces are marked in secret spots. It helps stop counterfeits from circulating." She held up the clasp. "This one has 'E.V.1732' etched into it. That stands for Edmund Verne, a master jeweler from the royal court."

At that, several guests leaned closer. When they spotted the engraving, murmurs rippled through the crowd, and some even leaned over to get a better look at Celia's necklace. Those familiar with antique jewelry began to exchange looks.

"It's not the same," whispered someone.

Celia's hand darted to her own necklace. Her fingers trembled as they brushed against the metal. There was no engraving.

Rylie didn't miss a beat. "Also, real royal sapphires produce a velvet-like glow under proper lighting.That glow can't be copied. It comes from the minerals formed under intense pressure."

She turned just enough for the chandelier's light to land on the necklace.

In a flash, the gems around Rylie's neck seemed to stir with life, rippling like the sea and glinting like stars scattered across a midnight sky.

Celia's necklace, by comparison, looked flat. The blue hue was bright, but it lacked any real glow.

Nobody in the room made a sound.

Isabella went pale. Paola clenched her gown so hard that her nails dug into the fabric. Neither could understand how someone like Rylie, with no high society upbringing and a background in only medicine,could speak so confidently about rare jewels.

Isabella snapped, her voice rising, "You're just making things up! What could you possibly know about jewelry? Miss Buckley has lived among gems since childhood.She wouldn't be wrong about her own necklace!"

Paola,clearly rattled, tried to hush the situation. "Rylie,stop this nonsense. You know where you are tonight.Apologize to Miss Buckley,now."

But Rylie didn't pay any attention to those two troublemakers. Her focus wvas fixed on Celia. "Miss Buckley, would you care to explain why your so-called heirloom has no marking and no velvet shimmer?"

Celia's breathing picked up, though she held her composure behind a faint smile. "That could be due to how it was stored. A slight change in preservation might explain the difference in appearance."

"Is that what you believe?" Rylie let out a soft laugh."That necklace was first auctioned at Wainwright Auction House. It came with full documentation of its history. But it was switched mid-auction by a thief. Its last confirmed sighting was five years ago on the black market overseas. Someone paid a fortune for it."

She paused briefly before adding, "Back then,it was valued at one hundred million. If that's the piece your family bought, then I'm afraid you've been scammed That's a very expensive mistake."

Celia's steps faltered, her color drained. "That's not true. You're lying."

Rylie answered gently, "I wish I were. But it's the truth."

By now, the stir around their table had drawn attention from others nearby. Keeping her tone even, Rylie spoke again. "Miss Buckley, will the auction continue as planned, or should we call some experts to take a proper look at both necklaces right here?"