Chapter 448 I’ll Give You a Million

As Smart's words settled, Leo quickly took up the conversation. "We don't even need to look closely

at the painting, just look at the canvas! Piet Mondrian was from the 19th century, which is over two

hundred years ago. No matter how good the canvas he used for his paintings, they would've turned

yellow by now. Look at this one; it's as white as snow, like it's brand new. How could it possibly be

from the 19th century?"

Leo's rhetoric made Daniel ask, "How long have you been in the antiques business, Leo?"

Though taken aback by the question, Leo, eager to flaunt his experience, boasted, “I started dealing

in antiques when I was just sixteen years old. It's been almost fifty years now."

"Nearly fifty years in the antiques business and you still can't recognize a genuine Mondrian that's

right in front of you? You mistake a fake for the real deal?"

Leo scrutinized the 'The Red Cloud' painting, this time focusing on the artwork rather than the

canvas. On closer inspection, he was a bit startled as he started feeling that what he initially

dismissed as fake somehow seemed genuine. But even with that creeping suspicion, he certainly

wasn’t ready to admit that 'The Red Cloud' might be real. He scoffed again in cold denial.

"Heh!"

After his scoff, he mocked, "Country boy, the artistry on your painting does look good, I must admit

it’s no longer just a print. But this painting is a fake, a reproduction. Judging by the quality of the art,

it might be worth ten or twenty thousand dollars."

Meanwhile, Xavier had been staring intently at 'The Red Cloud,' the more he scrutinized, the more

shocked he became. So much so that he instinctively reached for his magnifying glass.

"Madison, please put the painting on the table. Let Xavier have a good look at it."

Madison placed the painting on the table, and Xavier immediately approached with his magnifying

glass, examining the details closely. After a while, Xavier couldn't help but nod his head. Although

the canvas looked brand new, the more he observed, the more the painting resembled a true

Mondrian original.

Seeing Xavier pack away his magnifying glass, apparently having seen enough, Daniel asked with

a grin, "How about it, Xavier? Is this a genuine 'The Red Cloud' by Piet Mondrian?"

"An original?" Xavier shook his head, "The painting indeed looks identical to Mondrian's 'The Red

Cloud,' but it's impossible for it to be an original. However, whoever copied this painting is a master;

it’s convincing enough to pass for real."

Turning to Madison with a serious expression, Xavier proposed, "Madison, this is a counterfeit copy

and therefore, not much use to you. Why don't you sell it to me? I’m willing to offer you a million for

it."

The price of a million dollars was a calculated offer by Xavier. Not too high, but not too low. In truth,

he had already judged the painting to be a genuine 'The Red Cloud' by Piet Mondrian.