Chapter 5 Who Gave You The Right To Lay Hands On Caduceus's Present

Every head in the room turned toward Elliana.

Though her beauty easily drew attention, the air buzzed more with doubt than admiration.

Renee's gaze landed on Elliana's empty hands, and a mocking smirk played at her lips.

"You really crashed the Vista Banquet just to get close to Caduceus, didn't you? I bet you spent everything renting that dress just to get through the door. Couldn't manage even a token for the healer? Unless you thought dressing up like this would make you the gift?"

Her words sent a ripple of laughter through the crowd, especially from the men, whose stares became even more shameless.

Dominic's jaw tightened as his mood soured.

Disgust twisted through him as he watched what he thought was Elliana's shameless bid for attention.

All he could see was a woman from nowhere, desperately trying to play a part that did not suit her, making a fool of him in front of everyone.

His glare grew sharp, as he silently wished she would get the message and leave quietly.

Elliana, unfazed, sat back in her chair and lazily swirled her wine. Her eyes lifted, mesmerizing and calm, drifting past Dominic to rest on the jade hairpin Renee clutched. Not once did she spare Dominic a single glance. A cool, barely-there smile curved her lips.

When she finally spoke, her words rang out, edged with cold sarcasm.

"So tell me, Miss Fowler, are you speaking on behalf of the Stanley Group?"

Renee lifted her chin with pride. "Naturally."

Elliana let the wine touch her lips, the deep color drawing every eye for a moment.

A colder sharpness settled in her gaze.

"Then I'm curious. Has the Stanley Group fallen so low that they've resorted to presenting counterfeits?"

A collective gasp swept through the room.

This was a gift meant for Caduceus.

Everyone knew that even the healthiest people strained their wallets and imaginations to offer something meaningful, because a healer of that caliber was a once‑in‑a‑lifetime lifeline.

Even if one didn't need a miracle now, securing Caduceus's favor meant future protection.

To present a fake was not just foolish.

It was a public disgrace.

Renee felt the weight of those implications immediately.

But she barely flinched, her smirk only growing bolder.

"Elliana, if you do not know what you are talking about, it's best to stay quiet. You are only putting your ignorance on display. Playing dress-up does not make you one of us."

She lifted the jade hairpin higher, displaying it for the crowd to see.

"This is a one-of-a-kind piece by the master carver, Rocco Wallace! There is not another like it anywhere. The design, inspired by the art of healing, has earned the National Museum Collection Gold Award. Every detail can be verified. The Stanley Group's regard for Caduceus is sincere and unwavering."

Her impassioned defense had Dominic watching her with new admiration, feeling a rush of pride just for being in her orbit.

This was the kind of woman he believed should stand by his side.

Meanwhile, Elliana calmly placed her glass down and crossed the floor with steady grace.

"Real jade should feel cool and silky, with a clarity and glow that runs deep. Bright color alone does not mean quality. The person who forged this piece used clever techniques, hiding traces of dye with intricate carving and playing with the light to mask inferior stone. The thing is, even the best tricks fall apart under proper inspection. All you need is a standard appraisal flashlight."

Without missing a beat, Trevor arranged for someone to fetch a flashlight and handed it straight to Elliana himself.

Elliana extended her hand toward Renee, her stare cold and unflinching.

"Are you brave enough to let everyone see the truth?"

Clad in a vibrant red dress, she looked both fearless and utterly composed, her presence lighting up the room.

She radiated confidence-never flustered, never backing down.

From a quiet corner in the VIP lounge, a man leaned forward, fingers drumming lightly on his knee as he watched the exchange unfold.

There was something about Elliana that kept his attention locked. He gestured for his attendant to hold back the gift presentation. "Hold on. Let's see how this plays out."

...

On stage, a ripple of unease passed over Renee's face.

She remembered how the black-market dealer promised her it was an authentic Rocco Wallace, though he could never fully guarantee its origin.

She had attended enough auctions abroad to know the basics of judging jade, but doubt was starting to creep in.

Snagging a piece by Rocco Wallace for half a million felt like a bargain too good to pass up.

Renee had given the hairpin a quick inspection herself before handing over the money, then told Dominic it cost her two million.

There hadn't been time for a proper appraisal by an expert.

Now, Elliana's accusations made her stomach twist with doubt.

Her hand snapped the lid shut on the box.

"You can't just go poking at something this rare. Testing jade isn't a game. Who gave you the right to lay hands on Caduceus's present? If you damage it, who's going to answer for that?"

Dominic's frown grew stormy.

He climbed onto the stage, took Elliana by the arm, and pulled her aside.

"That's enough. You're an orphan without even a college degree. What makes you think you can judge something like this? Step down-now."