Chapter 4

While they talked, they cast a dismissive look at Yvette. Though they claimed to be murmuring, it seemed they were deliberately speaking loud enough for her to catch every word. Yvette ignored them. She knew that the next time they met, they would be the ones treating her respectfully and addressing her as "Ms. Sutton". At that moment, the sale of the previous item ended. The next item was brought onto the stage. It was a sculpture called "Regal Lion Gargoyle", made from a high-quality gemstone. The craftsmanship was flawless, but what really caught everyone's attention was the host's announcement. The sculpture was a masterpiece by Philip Thorne, known as the Pioneer of Modern Gemstone Sculpture. When Jasmine heard Philip's name, her eyes brightened. She immediately raised her paddle and excitedly turned to Zachary. "Zachary, this has incredible collectible value! "Mrs. Lawson Senior's birthday is the day after tomorrow. This would be the perfect gift for her!" When Yvette heard Philip's name, she instinctively glanced at the sculpture on stage. However, after a quick look, she turned her eyes elsewhere. Her voice, as serene as a calm lake, hit Jasmine's excitement like a cold shock. "That's fake" Jasmine stared at her incredulously. She nearly blurted out, "What could someone like you from the countryside possibly know?" But when she noticed Zachary seated next to her, she swallowed her irritation and asked with a smile, "How can you tell, Ms. Sutton?" "Because the young lady of the Sutton family gifted the original to her grandmother." There was only one like it in existence, and it was at her house. So the one being displayed was definitely a counterfeit. She intended to help Jasmine not get scam. But as soon as the words were spoken, Jasmine erupted into laughter. Even Zachary's friends behind them joined in, mocking her, "Yvette, stop acting like you know things you clearly don't. It's humiliating." "Right, the young lady of the Sutton family gifted the original to her grandmother? Did you hide under the bed to witness it firsthand? "Just because you have the same last name, do you think you're connected to Ms. Sutton or something?" The jeers intensified until Zachary silenced them with a steely look. Facing Yvette, he grasped her hand and said, "Yve, I realize you've been delving into appraisal books recently, but real expertise in this area isn't something books alone can teach. "Jasmine, on the other hand, has been going to auctions since young and has extensively studied gemstone sculpture. It's only natural that she knows more than you." His words weren't explicitly harsh, but they carried the implication that he thought she was speaking without knowledge. Yvette chuckled quietly and didn't say more. Ultimately, Jasmine paid a whopping 100 million to acquire that gemstone sculpture at an inflated price. As Jasmine swiped her card, Yvette grinned. She couldn't help but wonder how Maria Stone, Zachary's grandmother, would react upon discovering that Jasmine had spent 100 million on a counterfeit gemstone sculpture as a gift for her. She didn't intervene, nor did she mind. She stood up and headed to the restroom. As she finished washing her hands, a familiar voice spoke from behind her, "Yvette, I thought I was clear. How dare you linger around so shamelessly? Do you really want to be a homewrecker that much?" Jasmine's voice was piercing and high-pitched, a stark contrast to the graceful and refined woman she had been just moments earlier. Yvette lifted her eyes slightly, turned to face her, and said, "Ms. Anderson, let's be clear. I've been with him for five years. The term 'homewrecker' doesn't apply to me." After saying that, Yvette was ready to walk away, but Jasmine blocked her path. With a sneer, she continued to taunt her. "Five years together and he still hasn't proposed? Haven't you ever questioned the reason? I'm the Jasmine Anderson, and he's the heir to Lawson Group. We fit together perfectly! "But you? Your father gambles, and your mother is ill. With such a pathetic background and nothing to offer. What makes you deserving of him?" Yvette stopped in her tracks. Her family background she concocted was purely her own creation, and she never expected Zachary to share it with Jasmine. A bitter laugh escaped her lips. If that background were true, then wasn't it Zachary, the one who claimed to love only her, who had given Jasmine the confidence to treat her in such a way? "I'm truly not worthy," she admitted, feeling a sharp pang in her heart. Looking back at Jasmine, the heaviness in her chest lifted. "You both are perfect for each other. I wish you all the happiness." With those words, she turned and walked away. She hadn't gone far when her phone rang. It was Lily. Lily said, "Yvette, come back quickly! The whole family is waiting for you, and we have heaps of gifts ready for you! "Your dad and I purchased a villa for you abroad. Your aunt got you a diamond tiara. It's rumored to have been worn by Queen Engria. And your uncle has a garage filled with luxury cars ready for you!" As Lily continued listing all the presents her family had arranged for her homecoming, Yvette looked on with a sense of resignation. "Mom, I'm returning to take over the company, not ruin it." As soon as she said that, a voice pipped up behind her, "Taking over the company, you say?"