?Chapter 942:


    Margot had handled countless antiques in her lifetime, yet even she could not dere with certainty whether this piece was genuine. Every brushstroke, every detail felt real. But if Magnus deemed it a forgery, that would be the instant the crowd turned on Christina—and high society would tear her to pieces. Margot’s thoughts wrestled with the decision. She was just about to turn to Dn for his opinion when Christina’s clear,manding voice rang through the air.


    Gazing at Margot, Christina said, “Mrs. Scott, would you be so kind as to invite Mr. Cruz to authenticate the painting before everyone here?”


    Christina stood tall and unyielding, her posture as graceful as a swan with its neck arched in quiet elegance. From her emanated an unshakable aura of majesty—effortless yet overwhelming—casting an invisible weight over the room. The guests looked on, utterly taken aback, as though their very breath had been stolen. Who was this woman? How could she possess suchmanding presence?


    Margot, too, found herself startled as her gaze locked with Christina’s unwavering eyes. For the first time, she felt from another woman a force of presence equal to her own grandson’s. Christina’s identity, she realized, might hold far moreyers than it appeared.


    Margot’s moment of doubt vanished, reced by swift resolve. “Alright. As it happens, Magnus is on the guest list. I’ll see when he arrives.”


    By chance, Magnus was scheduled to deliver Margot a birthday gift, though he had not yet finished his earlier engagements and was not expected ahead of time. He was likely already on the road, if not nearly at the door.


    Without hesitation, Margot reached for her phone. When the call connected, she asked warmly, “Magnus, are you on your way?”


    “Almost there. Is something wrong?” came his puzzled reply.


    With a smile in her voice, Margot answered, “Nothing rming. Someone has restored the oil painting—the Half-Faced Warrior. There’s some doubt about its authenticity, so we’d like you to authenticate it.”<fnb503> Discover more novels at find?novel</fnb503>


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    “What?” Magnus’s voice shot up in astonishment. In the back seat of his car, he straightened sharply, unable to conceal his excitement.


    The news struck him deeply, and for a moment, he struggled to regain hisposure. If someone had truly seeded in restoring the Half-Faced Warrior, he would willingly bow his head and be their student, lest he miss the chance of a lifetime.


    Years ago, Kurt had invited Magnus to inspect the piece, hoping to secure his services for restoration at a generous fee. Yet, the Half-Faced Warrior had been grievously damaged, and even before that, it had not been preserved with the care it deserved. The work required was beyond daunting.


    By his own admission, it was simply impossible to restore—and he had long felt that piece was a great pity. On the world stage, his name stood among the very finest in the field of antiquities restoration.


    To hear now that someone had aplished what he could not—how could he possibly remain calm?


    “Margot, are you certain someone has restored the Half-Faced Warrior?” Magnus asked, his voice tight with restrained excitement.


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