Unmasking Mrs. Newton's Secret Identities novel Chapter 1265

"What's going on here?" someone asked in confusion. "Didn't Ms. Fletcher just say that only the middle painting is genuine? Why is this lady taking the fakes too? Is she worried about them being sold on the market?"

"Who said the other two are fakes?" Helen interjected with a bright smile.

The person broke into laughter upon hearing this. "Seriously? Ms. Quarto's student has authenticated them herself. What's there to argue about? It seems you're just an amateur."

"I may not be a professional in art, but I do know a thing or two," Helen said, maintaining her composure. "Ms. Fletcher is right about the second piece being genuine, but the other two are authentic as well."

A glint of satisfaction flashed in Sadie's eyes. As a mere entertainer, Helen couldn't possibly understand the subtleties of such refined art.

Nonetheless, Sadie quickly concealed her emotions and spoke with a veneer of kindness, "In truth, the value of a painting often comes down to personal taste. As long as someone appreciates it, whether it's genuine or not isn't really a concern."

Her underlying message subtly reminded the so-called experts that respecting a collector's preferences—whether for genuine or replica pieces—was more appropriate than criticizing them.

At the same time, her comments cleverly reinforced the perception that Helen was not genuinely knowledgeable in the field.

On the surface, however, her remarks were entirely above reproach.

Even Tonya found herself reassessing Sadie. Perhaps the vote manipulation wasn't Sadie's doing after all, but rather the work of her overly zealous supporters.

Seeing how Sadie was assisting Helen and calming the situation, Tonya began to think that Sadie might not be as troublesome as she first appeared.

Perhaps she had been overly suspicious. From Sadie's demeanor, she appeared genuinely kind and unlikely to be involved in anything unscrupulous.

As the crowd took in Sadie's words, they exchanged knowing glances and smiles. They eventually decided to let the matter go without further scrutiny.

Helen, however, felt slighted by the condescension. She lowered her gaze, taking a moment to gather her thoughts. "Thank you for your assistance, Ms. Fletcher. Since we're all here by chance, I'd like to use this opportunity to demonstrate something."

Those familiar with this method were typically well-acquainted with many celebrated masterpieces, marking them as exceptionally knowledgeable.

Even though she was in her 20s, Helen's profound insight revealed a level of expertise far beyond initial impressions.

Meanwhile, Sadie couldn't shake a feeling of anxiety.

Despite her years of dedicated practice in watercolor painting, her work had largely remained in the shadows. It wasn't until her paintings were associated with Seraphina that her reputation in the art world began to grow.

Since then, Sadie had presented herself as Seraphina's student, rigorously studying every available piece to bolster her claimed expertise. She was convinced that no one understood Seraphina's work better than she did.

Nonetheless, Helen's sudden appearance threatened to unravel the carefully cultivated persona Sadie had spent years establishing.

In just a few sentences, Helen had transformed Sadie—from a self-proclaimed expert on Seraphina's work—into a mere figure of ridicule.