The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 290

Zenia let out a cold laugh, throwing a pointed look at Lavinia, and deliberately raised her voice. "Lavinia was solely responsible for the handover of the exhibits. The exhibition barely just started, and the centerpiece has already been swapped out for a fake—right here on Gilmore territory. If word gets out, it's not going to paint a pretty picture, is it?"

"Absolutely," Tobin Jensen said, strolling over with a wine glass in hand. He gave Lavinia a side-eye. "Outsiders don't understand the intricacies of the handover process. They're just going to assume it was an inside job. Chairwoman Lavinia, you're going to have a hard time explaining your way out of this one."

"Everyone, please calm down. This has to be a misunderstanding," Julian stepped forward, his tone steady and unhurried. "The bangle was transferred from the security firm just yesterday, and the entire process was recorded on video. Besides, Lavinia would absolutely never do such a thing."

"But the security footage is managed by Chairwoman Lavinia's people, isn't it?" Zenia remarked casually.

"What exactly are you implying, Mrs. Harper? Are you suggesting Lavinia swapped the bangle herself?" Julian's voice turned ice-cold.

"Well, it's hard to say. Coming from a working-class background, she hasn't seen much of value in her life. Who knows if she could keep her hands to herself?" Tobin chimed in from the sidelines.

"Mr. Jensen, need I remind you that Lavinia stands here today representing the Gilmore family," Julian warned.

Someone beside Julian lightly tugged at his sleeve to calm him down.

He ignored it, turning calmly to the expert. "Mr. Wainwright, are you absolutely certain?"

"I appraise gems, I don't play politics." The expert clicked off his UV flashlight, his tone unyielding. "The piece in that case is undeniably compromised."

All eyes in the room zeroed in on Lavinia. Some were scrutinizing her, others gloating, and many were just waiting for a spectacular downfall.

Sigrid stood beside Garnett, her hand resting lightly on his forearm. She looked across the crowd at Lavinia, her expression perfectly serene, though the faintest ghost of a smirk played on her lips.

Garnett took a step forward.

Just as he opened his mouth to speak, he felt a gentle tug on his sleeve. He looked down to see Sigrid shaking her head slightly, her eyes filled with a soft, pleading restraint.

Lavinia stood beside the display case. She was the executive chairwoman of the charity foundation and the lead curator of this exhibition. Regardless of how this happened, the disaster fell squarely on her shoulders.

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