Unmasking Mrs. Newton's Secret Identities novel Chapter 1301

Ezra was ecstatic. While losing Seraphina's masterpiece was a disappointment, the appraiser had just confirmed that the painting Helen brought was even more valuable and of higher quality than the previous one.

It felt like trading a single coin for a treasure chest—given his luck, he might as well try his hand at the lottery.

Despite this, some guests began to voice their concerns.

"That doesn't make sense. If this painting is genuinely by Ms. Quarto, what about the one we saw earlier? Is it possible that both are authentic, just like the 'Spring's Embrace' piece from before?"

"I'm convinced that one of these paintings must be a forgery. The damaged piece was authenticated by one of Ms. Quarto's students!"

"It's a narrow perspective to think otherwise. While Ms. Quarto's works are indeed rare, it's unlikely she produced only a few exceptional pieces. As the appraiser suggested, she may have created new and even more remarkable works."

"The real problem is that none of us have met Ms. Quarto. How can we be sure the painting is genuine? If it's a fake, Mr. Westbrook would be left with no way to contest it."

Ezra remained silent, his expression tense as he looked downward.

The guests made a valid point. A damaged but authentic painting was worth more than a piece that was only partially genuine. He believed that retaining the latter wouldn't be a major setback.

In art collecting, the most important factor was the personal enjoyment the collector derived from the piece, with the financial aspect being secondary.

However, given the ongoing speculation about the painting's authenticity, Ezra couldn't just accept the situation as it stood; he needed to clarify the facts before moving forward.

Amidst the commotion, a voice interrupted, "There's no need for all this fuss. Ms. Quarto's student is here—let's have her verify whether Ms. Quarto has created any new works. That should resolve the issue!"

Sadie, who was about to slip away, froze when she heard the voice. She quickly halted and gathered herself.

Almost immediately, someone spotted her.

"Ms. Fletcher! There you are! Please step forward and help clear things up for everyone!"

After a thoughtful pause, she finally confirmed, "Yes, this is indeed the painting Ms. Quarto finished a few days ago."

Her response was strategically calculated. Sadie was aware of Helen's enigmatic connection to Seraphina. Given that the painting had already been authenticated, she had no choice but to confirm its legitimacy. If any issues arose later, she could always place the blame on the appraiser.

Sadie knew that if her statements didn't align with the others, they might pressure her to reach out to Seraphina directly, which could result in substantial complications.

Ezra clasped his hands tightly, his eyes alight with excitement. "Thank you so much, Ms. Fletcher."

"It's the least I could do," Sadie said, forcing a tight smile.

Helen lowered her gaze as she listened. She had been the one to create the painting and resolve the issue, yet it seemed that all the credit was now going to Sadie.

"Ms. Fletcher," Helen interjected, giving Sadie a sharp look, "are you sure there's no mistake? One of the paintings Ms. Quarto left with me was titled 'Peony Fantasia,' and if I remember correctly, it was created two years ago."