Chapter 439: What Are You Doing?

"No big deal, I'm just congratulating Gary for successfully securing the 'Gray Tree' at nine billion!"

Daniel said nonchalantly. Gary immediately felt played as Daniel's words sunk in. Glowering at

Daniel with fiery eyes, Gary bellowed, "Country boy, you dare to toy with me?"

"Toy with you? Oh, absolutely! You were so keen on this 'Gray Tree,' Gary. I thought letting you

have it for one billion was too cheap for someone of your caliber—The young master of New York's

Evans family. So I kindly helped drive up the price for you," Daniel retorted with a grin. "Tell me,

Gary, do you feel like nine billion isn't high enough? Want me to help hike it up a bit more?"

The moment Daniel suggested he might raise the bid again, Gary tensed up, believing the country

boy would follow through since it wasn't his money.

However, Gary had to get the painting no matter what, so he would have to keep up with any price

Daniel called out. To avoid any more unpredictability, Gary quickly turned to Leo and clarified, "Leo,

I've offered nine billion now. If this country boy makes any more wild bids, he'll have to front the

money, not just run his mouth."

"So you're saying you can provide nine billion as a guarantee?" Leo asked.

"Of course!" Gary confidently pulled out his phone and declared, "I'll transfer you nine billion right

now. If the country boy wants to bid higher, he needs to pay cash. If he says ten billion, he'll have to

transfer it!"

As a scion of the Evans family, Gary had the funds available, so he promptly transferred nine billion

to Leo. After completing the transaction, Gary turned to Daniel with a smug grin. "Country boy, I've

wired the nine billion. Do you have the cash to keep bidding? You might be representing Bella, but I

bet she's not willing to let you continue this bidding war over Mondrian's 'Gray Tree.'"

"Why should I fight you for it? Gary, now that you've paid, let me be straight with you. The 'Gray

Tree' you bought isn't a Mondrian original; it's a copy, meticulously imitated but still a fake, just good

enough to deceive," Daniel stated bluntly, which only elicited a cold laugh from Gary.

Gary retorted disdainfully, "What do you think you are? A country boy like you understands art and

painting? And now you say this piece is an imitation? This 'Gray Tree' has been authenticated by

Xavier."

He grabbed the painting and turned to Xavier, saying, "Now that this 'Gray Tree' is mine, you can be

honest. How much is this painting really worth?"

Xavier, with a smug smile of self-satisfaction, praised the piece. "This 'Gray Tree' was passionately

created by Mondrian in his later years, reflecting on a youthful romance. In terms of artistic

achievement and depth of thought, it's the most elevated of all his works. If this painting were taken

to auction, it could easily fetch hundreds of billions of dollars."