?Chapter 467:


    And the other two, about William’s age, were likely Isabe and Davion. Ste had skimmed through some family profiles beforehand, so these names weren’t entirely unfamiliar.


    She pulled her gaze away just as William spoke. “Where’s the painting?”


    “Oh, William, you’re back,” Stephanie chimed in with a sharp edge to her voice. “It’s really not that serious. It’s just a painting. Whether it’s real or not, your grandpa just got overly worked up.”


    William shot her a look. “I have eyes. I can see for myself how Grandpa’s doing.”


    Stephanie’s face twisted at the jab. He’d never respected her as an elder. Never spared her any dignity in this family. If Dexter didn’t dote on him so much, she wouldn’t put up with this attitude.


    “Is that how you talk to me?” she snapped. “I’m still your aunt. That’s not how you treat your elders. If your grandpa wasn’t so worked up, he wouldn’t let you speak to me like this.”


    William ignored herpletely and waved Ste over to look at the painting on the table.


    The moment Ste saw it, her eyes lit up. She hadn’t expected this piece. She stepped closer, studied the brushwork, the texture, and the signature. Then she said inly, “Yeah… it’s a fake.”


    Stephanie’s face fell. “How can that be? Isabe brought that back from abroad. She knew how much her grandpa loved this kind of artwork. She gave it to him as a gift! How could it be fake?”


    Then she turned and gave Ste a full once-over. “William, even if you are questioning the painting, you can’t just grab some random woman off the street to evaluate it. That’s reckless.”


    Ste was in jeans and a T-shirt today—simple, no frills. And in Stephanie’s eyes, that automatically made her unqualified. Untrustworthy. No way she knew anything about artwork.


    “People like you aren’t wee in this house,” Stephanie sneered. “If you’re looking to scam someone, try somewhere else.”


    William finally looked up—and the weight in his eyes shut the whole room up. “I brought her here. It’s not in your ce to ask her to leave.”


    Stephanie stiffened, lips pressed tight, eyes full of resentment. But even with all her bitterness, she didn’t dare say another word.


    Just then, Isabe, who had been silent in the corner, finally spoke. “If they say it’s fake, then it’s fake. Whatever. Even if I had bought the real thing, he wouldn’t have believed it anyway. It’s not like Grandpa’s dislike for me is new. He’s never liked me.”


    Stephanie’s eyes grew misty at Isabe’s words. “Isabe, you can’t just admit it like that. If it’s not a fake, then it’s not. Don’t let them pin anything on you.”


    Ste raised a brow. So dramatic.


    Ste lowered her gaze, scrutinizing the painting for a moment. Then she finally spoke up, her voice steady. “This painting’s definitely fake. The artist usually hides small personal details in his work. This one has none. Even the signature’s off.”


    Dexter, lying on the sofa with a towel on his forehead, opened his eyes and looked at her. “Are you certain?”


    Ste nodded. “If you’re not convinced,pare it with his other pieces.” The butler stepped forward. “Dexter has several of his paintings. I’ll bring one over.”


    A momentter, another piece was brought from the collection room. Ste ced it beside the fake and pointed out the differences.


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