Chapter 1294: No Rules, No Standards

Chapter 1294: Chapter 1294: No Rules, No Standards

Fiona Reiser shook her head helplessly, "Xaviera, I’m not scared of anything. Since you insist on having it appraised. If that’s the case, I’d like to ask Mr. Jones for help."

Joyce Jones looked up at Xaviera Evans and slowly asked, "Are you sure you want me to do the appraisal?"

His voice was gentle with a hint of hoarseness, exuding a unique masculine charm that made the women in the room blush. Fiona Reiser laughed embarrassedly, "Mr. Jones, I don’t want to take up your time, but this matter is of great importance. If you don’t personally appraise it, there will be no conclusion today. Since Xaviera agrees, please do the appraisal."

Rae chimed in, "Yes, only Mr. Jones’ appraisal result can convince Miss Evans. Otherwise, people might think we’re falsely accusing her!"

Joyce Jones curved his lips into a slight smile, and his gentle voice rang out, "You all should know my rules by now."

Most people had heard of Mr. Jones’s rules. He was known for his impeccable professional career and intolerant of any sloppiness. His rule was that if he found a counterfeit item, he would destroy it on the spot without any hesitation or exception, regardless of who the item belonged to or how much it was worth.

Previously, at a party in the Imperial City, a wealthy family’s daughter had worn the same brooch as another lady. Insisting on an appraisal, they discovered it was the daughter’s brooch that was fake. Unheeding the daughter’s cries, Joyce Jones smashed the brooch on the spot.

The scene caused an uproar, but from that moment, he became famous in the industry and was known for his special rule.

Fiona had no objections. Joyce Jones, who had smashed an Imperial City wealthy family’s daughter’s possession, would not make an exception for her. In fact, it was a good thing. Once Joyce confirmed Xaviera’s necklace was a counterfeit, it would be smashed immediately. Not only would Xaviera lose a valuable necklace, but she would also be despised by everyone. Caleb Mamet might even despise her stupidity.

"I agree. What do you think, Xaviera?" Fiona asked softly.

Xaviera nodded, not objecting.

Joyce Jones’ eyes, as bright as stars, flickered with a hint of amusement, "Since both of you have no objections, let’s begin."

He slowly took his seat, put on gloves, instructed his assistant to lay a layer of velvet cloth on the table, and both parties took off their necklaces and placed them on the table.

To the onlookers, the two necklaces looked nearly identical in terms of the gemstone’s color, saturation, and the angle of the inlay.

Joyce Jones picked up both necklaces, examined them carefully, and revealed a subtle smile.

The next second, the assistant brought out a box containing a finely-crafted small iron hammer. It was the same tool Joyce Jones had used years ago to smash the wealthy family’s daughter’s brooch in Imperial City.

As soon as the onlookers saw the hammer, they knew Joyce Jones had reached a conclusion already. Their eyes were fixed on the two necklaces, and Fiona grew nervous.

When Joyce Jones’ hammer fell, Xaviera’s necklace would be reduced to pieces, and from that moment on—

"Miss Reiser, are you really going to let Mr. Jones smash it?" Xaviera suddenly interrupted Fiona’s thoughts, "If you want to back out now, Mr. Jones probably wouldn’t hold it against you."

Fiona smiled and shook her head, "Xaviera, without rules, there is no order. Since this is Mr. Jones’ rule, it would be wrong to make an exception for us. Whoever has the counterfeit necklace must destroy it according to Mr. Jones’ wishes. So, Xaviera, do you want to back out?"

Just as she finished speaking, Rae snorted coldly, "I see that her necklace is also well-made and must not be cheap. Now that she hears that the counterfeit will be smashed, she’s reluctant and wants to back out."

"If you want to back out, just say it honestly. Don’t ask Fiona if she wants to back out. You’re shameless! Fiona has given you opportunities, but you didn’t cherish them. You insisted on the appraisal!"

Fiona waved her hand gently, "Rae, don’t say that. If Xaviera wants to back out, I agree too. As long as Mr. Jones doesn’t mind."

"After all, Xaviera is my friend’s wife. I can’t just watch her make a fool of herself. If she hadn’t insisted on the appraisal, I wouldn’t have bothered Mr. Jones."

"Xaviera, if you want to back out, we can stop here. I hope Mr. Jones can show mercy and treat what just happened as a joke."

Xaviera sneered silently. Fiona’s attitude was truly nauseating. No matter what she said or did, she always seemed kind and considerate of others. It appeared as if she only agreed to the appraisal out of helplessness and respect for the other party’s opinion. In fact, every word she said was adding fuel to the fire.