Chapter 469
An expert antique appraiser?
A frown marred Bailey's countenance.
If he wants to find an expert antique appraiser, he should go to antique stores or antique auction houses. Why did he ask me out
instead?
Raiden regarded her thoughtfully before stating, “In my opinion, everyone has a responsibility to protect cultural relics that make
a national treasure and the inheritance of Haju culture. No matter one's identity, she should shoulder this duty as long as she's
Chanaean.”
Hearing that, Bailey arched a brow at him. Well, well, well... There's something he's hinting at here.
“What are you trying to say?”
Raiden merely chuckled lowly. “Nothing. I was just feeling sentimental. I heard that Hallsbay's Cultural Relics Bureau invited the
international expert antique appraiser, Vespera. Say, Bailey, do you think she'll be able to distinguish the authenticity of the
emerald seal?”
In a flash, the smile on Bailey's face froze.
If it were an ordinary antique, Lina might be able to deal with it. But when it involves something so important as a national
treasure, she probably can't tell.
“We'll only know after she had performed the appraisal.”
Raiden's face promptly darkened, and he stated solemnly, “This is no joke, Bailey. As you know, the Haju people have been
searching for the emerald seal for thousands of years to find our blood inheritance. Rumor has it that it was made with a piece of
red emerald by our ancestors, combining the wisdom and kindness of the ancestors of the humanities. It's something
indispensable for the descendants of Chanaea to thrive.”
Chortling, Bailey inquired helplessly, “What do you want me to do, then? And what can I do?”
Raiden stared at her seriously and uttered sincerely, “You have a wide range of talents and are outstanding in all industries. I
believe that the same applies to antique appraisal. Can I ask for your help to take a look at it for me?”
At that, Bailey lifted her hand and massaged her temple.
How blunt of him! He just came short of saying that he knows I'm skilled in appraising antiques and might even be Vespera.
Anyhow, she didn't plan on thinking too highly of herself when he didn't say that outright.
After a moment's silence, she offered, “I'll be attending the cultural relic exhibition tomorrow with Artemis. I won't interfere If Lina
successfully distinguishes the authenticity of the emerald seal. But if she can't, I'll lend you a hand. What do you think?”
Raiden was an astute person, so he naturally discerned the implication behind her promise.
As he breathed a sigh of relief, his admiration toward her mounted.
She's just like an almighty queen. No matter the difficulties that come her way, she can easily resolve them. It was no accident
that I fell in love with her. Instead, it was only natural.
“It's decided, then. If you successfully help the country to find the emerald seal back this time, I'll definitely credit you.”
A smile curved Bailey's lips. “Remember your promise, then. While it isn't useful to me, it'll probably come in handy for my future
husband.”
In turn, a bitter smile inexorably bloomed on Raiden's face.
Is that comment really necessary? Verily, she's resorting to all sorts of tricks to make me give up on her.
In the bedroom of the Shurmer residence at night, Shirley stood in the middle of the room with her eyes fixated on the man on
the couch, hesitant to speak.
“Zeke, I—”
With his brows creasing, Zeke placed the wine glass in his hand on the table. In a mild voice, he urged, “Spit it out. It's late now,
and I want to rest. Stop dithering.”
Gritting her teeth, Shirley bit the bullet and ventured, “Should we set another date to have our engagement party again since it
was ruined back then?”
Zeke lifted his eyes to her and drawled, “The second batch of the new anti-cancer drug is ready for production. The Shurmer
family has mobilized almost all of its sub-factories to manufacture the drug, so no mistakes are allowed. I'm exceedingly busy
now, so let's just discuss having the engagement party again sometime later.”
Shirley wasn't satisfied with that answer.
In fact, it had her extremely frustrated.
The longer things drag out, the more disadvantageous it is for me. That b*tch, Juliana, had reconciled with the Hoffman family. If
she somehow becomes the head of the family, how would I be able to compete with her anymore?
“The engagement party won't take much of your time. I'll settle everything, and you won't need to worry about anything.”
The look in Zeke's eyes gradually turned chilly. “Couldn't you understand me? Do you need me to repeat it and explain
everything to you?”
Shirley bit her lip hard. Despite her reluctance to accept that result, she didn't dare speak further.
After a brief moment of silence, she ventured, “We're engaged to be married and had been intimate, so there's no problem if I
want to move into your room, right?”
“Sure,” Zeke agreed readily.
Delight flooded Shirley. But in the next second, her mood plummeted to rock bottom, for the man headed out after picking up his
wine glass and phone.
“W-Where are you going?”
“I'm vacating the room for you. I'll be sleeping in the guest room. Good night.”
At once, Shirley's face contorted.
I'm moving into his room, but he's going to the guest room. What's the difference between him agreeing and otherwise? No, I
can't just sit back and do nothing, allowing time to pass me by. Once that b*tch, Juliana, returns, I won't stand a chance
anymore. A child... A child! Yes, I can get myself pregnant! It doesn't matter even if the child is not of the Shurmer family. It'll be
fine as long as the Shurmer family believes it. It just so happens that everyone knows Zeke had been intimate with me some
time ago, so no one will suspect anything if news of me being pregnant were to leak out a month later.