Honey, You're a Billionaire?

Jonathan was lost in thought as he gazed at Rose.

Finley noticed his mesmerized expression and raised an eyebrow. However, some matters needed to be addressed, and he reluctantly had to snap Jonathan out of it.

"Should we take additional measures to ensure Mrs. Finch's safety tonight?" he asked, carefully choosing his words.

While Carl had made his move, seemingly targeting Ezra, Lizzie's true target had always been Rose.

"What is Lizzie planning to do to Mrs. Finch?" he wondered.

Connecting the dots between Ezra and Lizzie, Finley began to suspect something sinister. His face darkened at the thought. If his guess were correct, Lizzie's intentions would be truly evil.

He glanced at Jonathan, only to be startled by the icy expression on his face. Jonathan said nothing, but the cold and menacing aura he radiated spoke volumes.

In Eleanor's study, Jonathan retrieved the box containing the Lindisfarne Gospels. When he returned to the hall, everyone's attention shifted toward him and the box he carried. It was clear that whatever was inside held immense value.

As everyone recalled Eleanor's mention of a "token of gratitude," the purpose of this item finally clicked. The gift had been meticulously prepared in advance, and even the display of Lizzie's calligraphy served as a prelude to its presentation. "What could be inside the box?" they wondered.

"Jonathan, hurry. Show the gift to Mr. Xanth," Eleanor urged enthusiastically.

Jonathan approached Elijah and carefully opened the box. As the scroll was unveiled, Eleanor eagerly introduced it.

"Mr. Xanth, this is the original Lindisfarne Gospels manuscript. I've heard you appreciate calligraphy, and since this rare piece has been in the Finch family's collection. I thought it would be the perfect gift for your generous gesture. I hope you won't find it lacking." No one could refuse a masterpiece like this.

The crowd couldn't help but marvel at the Finch family's wealth and influence. The calligraphy was worth billions, and they were willing to offer it as a token of gratitude. Surely, this was a gift that would resonate with Elijah.

All eyes were fixed on Elijah.

Although a man of his stature might have appreciated the gift, he maintained a stoic demeanor. Standing beside him, Clover stepped forward and took the scroll from the box.

However, as he unfurled it, his brow furrowed, and the light in his eyes seemed to dim.

Elijah glanced at the scroll before casually diverting his gaze. This was not the reaction Eleanor had expected at all.

Her expression stiffened slightly as she asked, "Mr. Xanth, what do you think of the gift?"© NôvelDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

Elijah politely responded, "It's a wonderful gift, Mrs. Finch Senior. Thank you. However, it's far too valuable. I insist that you take it back."

Eleanor felt a wave of relief wash over her as she realized his hesitation stemmed from the gift's significant worth.

She quickly assured him, saying, "It's not too valuable, not at all. A gift is just a way to express one's feelings, so please accept it, Mr. Xanth." "This..." Elijah hesitated, looking conflicted.

The onlookers assumed he was simply too polite to accept such an extravagant gift. Eleanor thought the same.

Encouraging him further, she added, "It's really nothing extraordinary. It's just a token of my sincerity. Please, don't refuse it any longer."

Eleanor was quite satisfied with Elijah's reaction. His reluctance and modesty reassured her that he would feel obligated to repay the Finch family in the future. The more he declined, the more he would remember to offer favors to them. With this, their path to expanding into overseas markets would become smoother. As Eleanor was indulging in these thoughts, Clover's voice suddenly cut through the air.

"It really isn't anything extraordinary," he said with a cold chuckle, making his distaste for the Finch family evident.

After all, Lizzie had plotted against

Rose's life, and now Eleanor was using Lizzie's birthday as a pretense to draw, Elijah into their web of flattery and manipulation. Besides, there was another reason why he disapproved of this so-called gift.

Clover's laugh was filled with disdain, causing Eleanor to stiffen.

"Hold on! I only said it wasn't anything extraordinary out of humility. It wasn't supposed to be taken literally! This gift is worth billions!" she thought.

"Ha... ha ha ha..." She forced a smile, her discomfort evident. She was accustomed to criticizing others but now found herself desperately seeking ways to showcase the gift's value. Just then, Clover's following statement struck like a clap of thunder. "It's a counterfeit..."

"Clover!" Elijah snapped, his face darkening as he chided his nephew. "Where are your manners?"

"But Uncle Elijah, I'm not wrong. It is a counterfeit!" Clover protested, clearly frustrated.

"A counterfeit? This piece of Lindisfarne Gospels is a fake?" the crowd thought as the room was enveloped in stunned silence, tension hanging heavy in the air.

It took Eleanor a moment to process Clover's claim. Visibly shaken, she forced a tight smile. "Mr. Clover, how could this possibly be a counterfeit?" she questioned. After all, she belonged to the prestigious Finch family. Their collection wouldn't include a forgery. If the piece were indeed fake, their reputation would be tarnished. "You didn't know?" Clover responded, raising an eyebrow before smirking again. "Seems like even you've been tricked, Mrs. Finch Senior.

"The real Lindisfarne Gospels have been hanging in my uncle's study for as long as I can remember. So, if this isn't a fake, what is it?"

He cast another glance at the alleged forgery and offered an unexpected compliment. "It's a remarkably good imitation though. It's almost indistinguishable from the real thing."

"Almost like the real thing... That just means it's still a fake. But why is he so certain the one in Elijah's study is the real one? No, something's not adding up..." Eleanor's mind raced. Suddenly, her eyes widened as a thought struck her. She began, "If Mr. Xanth already possesses the real Lindisfarne Gospels, then why has he been searching for it all this time?" "You're actually aware of my uncle's search for the Lindisfarne Gospels?" Clover asked with a look of genuine surprise as if to say, "Your information network is truly impressive." He then shook his head before continuing, "But, Mr. Finch Senior, there appears to be a misunderstanding."

He paused. "Well, it's not exactly a misunderstanding. My uncle has indeed been searching for the Lindisfarne Gospels. You might not be aware, but the calligraphy is divided into two volumes. My uncle possesses the first volume and is searching for the second one."

He cast a glance at the gifted scroll, and an awkward chuckle escaped his lips. "But this..."

The implication was evident, even as his words trailed off.

Unaware of the Lindisfarne Gospels having two volumes, Eleanor found herself momentarily speechless. She could no longer muster a defense for her meticulously prepared gift.

The guests around them began to regain their senses as well. Their shock gradually gave way to realization.

"Good heavens! A counterfeit! The Finch family's treasured 'authentic masterpiece' is fake! And Eleanor has presented this forgery to the esteemed Elijah.

"This isn't just a minor embarrassment. It's a major offense! The Finch family has offended the Xanth family," they thought.

An air of nervous tension and excitement filled the hall, though no one dared express their sentiments openly.

The atmosphere grew unnervingly

quiet, the silence heavy and fraught

with anticipation. Gradually, all eyes turned toward Elijah as they observed him intently, hoping for a hint of his reaction.

However, much to their dismay, Elijah's expression remained inscrutable.