Chapter 6: The Deception Revealed!
When the two sons-in-law met, it was immediately clear who was the superior and who was not.
Helen's expression changed rapidly, and her hand, hidden in the dark, firmly pinched Cavin迪許's arm.
Cavin迪許 felt the pain but didn't dare to make a sound—not out of fear, but out of embarrassment.
He never expected that his older sister and younger sister would even bring along their son, Colvin, just to mock him.
Such behavior of showing favoritism among relatives was not uncommon, and this time he truly experienced it.
His gaze towards Graham immediately turned hostile, and Selina also frowned slightly.
"Only when sons-in-law meet do we realize who is the worthless one," Isabella said indifferently as she took a seat.
Upon hearing Isabella's words, everyone's expression stiffened. After the older and younger sisters sat down, they quickly regained their composure.
Helen's face remained gloomy: "What nonsense are you talking about!"
Isabella replied with an innocent look: "Did I say something wrong? The husband of Minnie Howard is a middle-level official in Yangcheng, right? And look at Graham—just a parasite with no job."
It would have been one thing if the Fan family had said this, but coming from Isabella made both families feel extremely embarrassed.
Helen pursed her lips and glanced at Graham.
Selina had already regained her calm demeanor, and just as Cavin迪許 was about to say something, Colvin stood up.
"Uncle, this is our first gathering, and I've brought you a little gift. Please accept it with a smile."
With that, Colvin placed a sandalwood box in the center of the table, then turned to the younger sister's family: "Auntie, here's also something for you."
As soon as Colvin sat down, Darren from the younger sister's family stood up: "I also brought a gift. I'll take it to your car after the meal—it's special grain wine from the capital, good for your health."
"Oh, Colvin and Darren are really thoughtful. Unlike some people who never bring a gift even after attending a few gatherings."
They all spoke with a hint of sarcasm.
At that moment, Cavin迪許 opened the box in front of him.
When he saw what was inside, his eyes widened in surprise: "My goodness, this is a Yuan Qinghua porcelain bowl!"
Cavin迪許's exclamation drew immediate pride from Colvin: "Uncle, I specially had it brought from the countryside. I knew you appreciated Yuan Qinghua, so I thought of giving it to you."
"You're really thoughtful, indeed. That's a quite large Yuan Qinghua bowl; must've cost quite a bit, right?" Cavin迪許 was somewhat shaken, as the color, pattern, and the texture of the bowl all seemed genuine to him.
"Not really expensive. For Colvin, it's just a drop in the bucket," Colvin said.
Before Colvin could continue, the older sister proudly pointed out three fingers.
"Three hundred thousand?" Darren asked in confusion.
"Three million!" the older sister replied, even more proudly.
"Wow, Colvin is really impressive. You've chosen a great son-in-law, big sister!"
"Wow, brother-in-law, that's really generous of you. Although I just started working at a foreign company, it would take me many years to earn that much," Darren said with admiration.
Colvin chuckled, casting a sideways look at Graham: "Now that both of us juniors have given our gifts, what about Brother Graham? After all, we don't often gather here, so you surely didn't come empty-handed, did you?"
Everyone's attention turned to Graham.
Helen frowned inwardly, realizing that these relatives had brought gifts. If she'd known, she would have bought something on the way!
Graham remained silent, looking up at Colvin.
"Oh, right, I was wrong. You're disabled and can't speak, and you're also a son-in-law living with us. You don't have much money, right? No worries," Colvin said with a smile.
But these words were particularly harsh to hear. He added, "However, just because you're disabled, you can't rely on your sister to support the family."
"How about this? I'm getting promoted to team leader today, and we're short of a person to clean the office. The monthly salary isn't much, but it's a thousand yuan. How about you take the job?"
These words humiliated Graham greatly!
Helen and Cavin迪許's faces turned even more pale; they both regretted having chosen such a son-in-law.
Selina frowned, feeling that they had lost face today.
She thought Graham had changed, but to no avail—he still couldn't even defend himself!
But perhaps this was for the best; now, Graham had no right to interfere with her.
The reason she had chosen Graham in the first place was to hide her true intentions.
With that thought, Selina ignored everything around her and started browsing her phone for news.
Isabella's face turned red with embarrassment, and she gritted her teeth: "If I were you, I'd have left long ago. Sitting here, you're only embarrassing my sister."
Graham heard her and slowly said, "I didn't have time to bring a gift today. I'll make it up to you later."
As soon as he finished speaking, both families burst into mocking laughter, staring at him in disbelief.
"You... aren't you mute? How come you can talk now?"
Only when they came to their senses did they realize what Graham had said.
The younger sister's face showed disgust: "Forget it. No matter what gift you could bring, you're still a good-for-nothing."
She said the latter part in a lower voice, but everyone heard it, and she didn't think she had been harsh.
In her view, Cavin迪許 should have anticipated such reactions when choosing this son-in-law!
Graham smiled and glanced at Graham: "Since both of us juniors have given our gifts, what about you, Brother Graham? After all, we don't often gather here, so you didn't come empty-handed, did you?"
Suddenly, everyone's gaze fell on Graham.
Helen frowned, wondering why these relatives had brought gifts. If she had known, she would have bought something on the way!
Graham didn't speak and simply looked up at Colvin.
"Oh, right, I was wrong. You're disabled and can't speak, and you're a son-in-law living with us. You don't have much money, right? No worries," Colvin said with a smile.
But these words were extremely insulting. He continued, "However, just because you're disabled, you can't expect your sister to support the family on your own."
"What if I tell you, I'm getting promoted to team leader today, and we need someone to clean the office. The salary isn't much, but it's a thousand yuan a month. How about you take the job?"
These words degraded Graham to the lowest level!
Helen and Cavin迪許's faces turned even worse; they both regretted choosing such a man as a son-in-law.
Selina frowned, feeling that they had lost face completely today!
She thought Graham had changed, but he still couldn't defend himself!
However, maybe this was for the best; now, Graham had no right to interfere with her.
The reason she had chosen Graham was to hide her true intentions.
Thinking of this, Selina simply ignored everything around her and started reading news on her phone.
Isabella's face turned red with shame, and she gritted her teeth: "If I were you, I'd have left long ago. You're only embarrassing my sister by staying here."
Graham heard her and slowly said, "I didn't have time to bring a gift today. I'll make it up to you later."
As soon as he finished speaking, both families were stunned, looking at him in disbelief.
"You... aren't you mute? How come you can talk now?"
Only when they came to their senses did they realize what Graham had said.
The younger sister's face showed disgust: "Forget it. No matter what gift you could bring, you're still a good-for-nothing."
She spoke in a lower voice, but everyone heard it, and she didn't think she had been harsh.
In her opinion, Cavin迪許 should have anticipated such reactions when choosing this son-in-law!
But Graham smiled and said, "No matter what gift I bring, it's more useful than the fake one your brother-in-law Colvin gave."
"What do you mean?" Colvin asked angrily. "This is a genuine Yuan Qinghua bowl; I spent three million on it!"
Colvin stood up abruptly and slammed the table with his hand.
"Just because you can't afford it, you claim it's a fake?" the younger sister added.
Even though Cavin迪許 was of a lower status than Colvin, everyone at the table took Colvin's side after his statement.
Graham sneered. "Whether you spent three million or not, this is undoubtedly a fake. I can tell because there's a layer of dark energy surrounding the bowl."
He could tell this because he saw it with his own eyes—the bowl was clearly a high-quality imitation that had been placed in a tomb and then taken out after more than a decade.
Moreover, the tomb was one with particularly strong negative energy!
This meant the bowl was not only a fake but also an omen of doom!
If Cavin迪許 had taken the bowl home, it would bring disaster to his family!
Originally, Graham didn't want to reveal the truth, planning to deal with the negative energy later. However, since Colvin kept bothering him, he decided to speak out.
"You're talking nonsense! What evidence do you have?" Colvin asked angrily. The bowl was indeed genuine, but he had spent only thirty thousand on it. The person who sold it assured him that no one would recognize it as a fake because it had been well-preserved in the tomb.
The more Colvin became agitated, the more everyone believed him. But why was he so upset? Perhaps he had hit a sore spot?
"Shut up!" Cavin迪許 shouted.
Helen looked embarrassed; she had warned Graham to remain silent!
Selina and Isabella couldn't believe what was happening. Isabella covered her face, not wanting to see Graham anymore.
Selina reached out and pulled Graham to his feet: "Apologize to your brother-in-law!"
Graham frowned: "Just because I said it's a fake does that make it so? Have you ever thought about what would happen if my father took the fake home and someone else realized it? Where would his reputation go?"
Cavin迪許's face stiffened with shock.
Indeed, he had planned to show it to a neighbor who also collected antiques. But if it was really a fake, he would be laughed at!
Thinking of this, Cavin迪許 fell silent.
Selina's face turned dark: "I told you to apologize—just apologize! You live with us, so you have to listen to me!"
Graham didn't reply for a while, then sneered. Just as he was about to speak again, the door to the private room opened, and a waiter came in to serve the food.
At that moment, a man passing by outside suddenly stopped and looked at Graham's back with a mysterious expression.
Then he shouted, "Mr. Graham!"
Everyone in the room was stunned and turned to look at him.
Two people followed the man, who clearly held a high position.
Graham hesitated for a moment before turning around.
"Conrad?" Colvin, who was facing the door, quickly introduced him, "This is Secretary Conrad from Yangcheng!"
Everyone realized the importance of this man, who held significant power in the city.
But who was Secretary Conrad calling for?
Mr. Graham? There was no one with the surname "Graham" in the room!
Secretary Conrad walked in, ignoring Colvin and went straight towards Graham:
"Mr. Graham, I didn't expect to meet you here! Thank you for what happened today. Since we're here, I must toast to you!"
Everyone was astonished.
A high-ranking official from Yangcheng was toasting a man considered good for nothing like Graham?
But who exactly was Secretary Conrad calling for?