Skip to content
Novel Catalog
Chapter 50
“Bang!” Harold slammed his hand on the desk, fury radiating from his every movement. “You gave us a counterfeit, and you’re still trying to act like you’re right? You’ve gone too far!”
Trina rushed to his side, feigning concern as she patted his back lightly. “There, there, Grandpa. Don’t be mad. You need to watch your health. It’s just how Bonnie is. It’s not worth getting upset over.”
Yolanda, equally enraged, marched forward, her face tight with anger. Without a second thought, she tore the painting into shreds and tossed the pieces into a nearby trash can.
Trina felt a sense of relief wash over her. Bonnie had gone through all that trouble, trying to win over their grandparents and impress everyone else. But in the end, it had all been for nothing. A simple trick had undone her efforts. Bonnie, after all, was just a nobody who could never best the wealthy.
Trina pretended to be worried, though, as if trying to salvage the situation. “This is a big deal, Grandpa, Grandma. You should tell everyone to keep this quiet, so Master Orson won’t find out. The Steeles are probably kind people. As long as we keep this under wraps, they won’t hold it against us.”
Harold nodded in agreement, his face still flushed with fury but also relief at Trina’s quick thinking. “That’s right, I almost forgot about that. It’s good you thought of it, Trina!” He turned to the room full of guests and raised his hand, signaling for attention. “I hope you’ll all keep this to yourselves. Don’t spread the word about tonight’s incident. I’ll be very grateful for your discretion.”
“Of course, Mr. Harold,” one of the guests said quickly. “We won’t say a word about this. We understand.”
“Exactly,” another added. “It’s just an ignorant child who didn’t know any better. But if this goes public, it could cause real trouble. We’ll keep it quiet this time, but next time, who knows? You’ll need to discipline her.”
The guests grew more insistent, their voices rising. “There are all kinds of big shots in Pyralis. What will happen if she gets you in even deeper trouble? This could be disastrous next time!”
Bonnie felt her head spin. Everyone was losing their minds. She had said the painting was real, but why was everyone acting like it was her fault now? Yolanda had torn it up in front of everyone. Why were they turning the blame on her?
Confused, she spoke up, her voice more helpless than she intended. “I told you the painting was genuine, Grandpa. But you destroyed it. You’re in the wrong here.”
A hush fell over the room. The guests were shocked by her audacity. Harold was seething with rage. His hand flew up, as if ready to strike Bonnie. “Bonnie Shepard! I’m going to slap you so hard, you’ll—”
Suddenly, a voice rang out from outside the door. “Master Orson of the Steele family is here!”
The room went silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.
“Master Orson?” someone whispered in awe. “Is that the same Master Orson we were just talking about?”
“Seriously? Master Orson is a prestigious man. None of us here could even dream of reaching his level. What’s he doing here?”
Soon, Orson stepped into the room, his granddaughter Kay by his side.
The guests gasped in disbelief.
“Good grief! It really is Master Orson!”
“What in the world is he doing here? Is this some kind of dream?”
“Well, it’s Harold and Yolanda’s birthday today. Could Master Orson be here to attend their party?”
“If that’s the case, he must really respect Harold!”
Harold and Yolanda stood up, their faces filled with excitement and disbelief. Master Orson was here, in their home. But why? They’d never met him before. Was he really here to attend their birthday celebration?
Orson, however, seemed to be in no rush to answer their unspoken question. Instead, he smiled warmly and said, “Thanks for the invitation, Harold.”
Had Orson just called him by his first name? Harold’s heart skipped a beat. He could barely process the words as he stood there, trembling.
“I’ve come to celebrate with you both,” Orson continued, with a laugh. “I’ve brought a gift for you and your wife. I was going to give it to you personally, but I believe your granddaughter, Master Bonnie, has already presented it to you. I’ve brought some other gifts as well. I hope you like them.”
The entire room fell into stunned silence, all eyes turning to Bonnie. The moment Orson mentioned her name, the air shifted. How could this be? Had Bonnie really known Orson? Had she given them an authentic Orson Steele painting?
Harold’s jaw dropped. His head was spinning, and he could barely get the words out. “E-Excuse me, Master Orson. D-Did you just say Master Bonnie…?”
Orson smiled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Yes, that’s right. Master Bonnie gave you my gift. I hope you find it to your liking.”
The guests stood frozen, unable to comprehend what they were hearing. The Shepard family was left in utter disbelief. What had just happened? Had Bonnie really given them a painting from Master Orson? And if so, what did this mean for the entire family?
The room buzzed with whispers, and all eyes were now on Bonnie, the mysterious granddaughter who had seemingly pulled off the impossible.