Save Myself from Desperation by Cara Agnes

Chapter 252

One morning. Zain came to Valentin’s posititid room.

Ashley was hanging around, looking a bibitrored A faint shade of black had formed beneath her eyes.

Zain thought about telling her to take a rest, but he knew she would just dedinge

joseph had been stopping by the hospital too on every day.

During lunch. Ashley got a call from Noah austre Gavel Auctions.

joseph guessed. ‘Noah’s throwing another puzzely your way. Ashley. Put it

CSI speaker.

Ashley thought the same, but with her mood, she didor want to see yomas. Se swiped the screen and

picked up the cidill

dete h.. Ramos, sorry for bothering you again. Noch said.deeping it BettenWe’ve got someone at our

auction house looking toodell wo old

DrDezt Statues.

Set in orgcze statues at auctions was a no-go, especially the gree

Disssance ends.

qur broncze ones could be traded through a strict legal processss.

it our experents cant tell if these are real. Can you check them o?”

Jab asked.

inted a ghee now. Ashley replied.

ite snart hidab hac us to the chase. “So can you confirm if they

hley sighed. 1 air by ana tew days.”

seph muttered midletonists breath, Noth’s a smooth operator.”

n the other end, Noah Winspeated like it was a secret mission. This Her seems shady. It thene in brons

status are real, this could be a sh

al in rare ar ulacs So. are

it I thenes a problem, not

busy in you stop by now and help the cops

hley frowned. She knew tanar cheking artifacts was a real possibility.

in, heating Nosh on speaker

stegensley. Check it out. If it’s shady.

posing it is a good deed. Plus, aththeraboup for the country”

Chapter 252

Besides, Zain wanted Ashley to change things up. She’d been stuck in the hospital room and looked

worn out.

Checking a bronze statue wouldn’t take much time.

Noah, recognizing Zain’s voice, greeted him with respect. “Hello, Mr. Kingsley.”

Zain gave a solemn “Hi”.

After a pause, Ashley told Noah, “Okay, I’ll swing by soon.”

Noah showered thanks in high spirits.

Ending the call, Zain told Joseph, “Joseph, go with Ashley. Take care of her and help her relax. I’ll stick

around with Valentin.”

“Got it, Grandpa.” Ashley and Joseph headed to StarGavel Auctions. Noah had long been waiting at

the entrance.

“Ms. Ramos, Mr. Fox, been waiting for you!”

“Just cut the small talk. Where’s the guy with the bronze statues?” Joseph asked.

“He’s in a private room on the first floor. Follow me.” Noah led the wa

way. “Honestly, those bronze statues even have some writing on them.”

Ashley raised an eyebrow. “Alright, got it.”

Stepping into the swanky room on the first floor, they spotted a middle-aged guy lounging in a chair. He

had an ordinary square face, dressed casually, and there were two adorable bronze statues on the

nearby table.

When he noticed Ashley, the guy, Tobby Swift, stood up, looking perplexed. “Who’s she, Mr. Palmer?”

Noah adjusted his sleeves and grinned. “Mr. Swift, meet Ms. Ramos, our appraisal pro. We gotta check

if these bronze statues are legit. If they’re real, we can slap them up for sale.”

Tobby eyed Ashley, uncertain. “But isn’t she the celeb Ashley? Knows anything about old stuff?”

Noah proudly lifted his chin. “You catch her on that TV show? Ms. Ramos. rocks at appraising on

screen. She’s also a fancy appraiser for StarGavel Auctions.”

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08.51 D

Chapter 252

Tobby recalled that he had missed the recent TV show but had heard about Ashley’s antique skills.

‘She seems to know her stuff, maybe even more than that expert Charlie Ramos. But could a young gal

like her handle these bronze statues?’ he wondered.

As words got out about Ashley’s arrival, other appraisers at the auction house quickly gathered around.

“Good to see you, Ms. Ramos.”

“Been a while, Ms. Ramos, been a while. Mr. Fox is here too.”

“Please check out these bronze statues.

Ashley smiled and chatted with them.

Next to her, Joseph proudly stood tall with his chest held high, soaking up the glory.

Seeing a bunch of elder appraisers praising Ashley, Tobby reluctantly believed that she was a special-

appointed appraiser here.

“Please, Ms. Ramos, verify these two bronze statues I brought,” he said.

Ashley turned her head, her eyes lighting up a bit. Joseph, catching her vibe, wondered, ‘Are these

bronze statues the real deal?’

Other appraisers who had already given the bronze statues a look whispered to each other. “The shine,

the patterns, and the writing. I scoped them out with a magnifying glass, and they look pretty legit.”

“But, you never know. People these days add fake writing to make fake bronze stuff.”

A young appraiser, not totally sold, said, “I bet they’re real!”

Next to Ashley were professionally crafted gloves. She put on two layers. of gloves and, when she

attempted to reach for the bronze statue on the left, she noticed rust on its base. She hesitated and

decided not to touch it. with her hands.

Instead, she grabbed a pro magnifying glass and bent down to carefully check the writing on the

bronze statue.

After a bit, Ashley stood up and then eyed the right bronze statue for a while.

After a quick pause, Ashley shook her head. “Fake. Both of them are fake.”

08:51

ober 252

soon ashbhheud this. Tobby’s eyes popped in disbelief. “How’s thin

ssible? They are my special pick. They can’t be fake. Do you ever grow

tiques?

eph. backing Assley up. red back. “Nonsense! She knows more than a. They are yourspacial pick?

Well, you got tricked.”

eph had been testing to get involved, and now that they were fake, he e iched them, asking. Alley, how

would you know they’re fake:”

e young appraises wibo wasnt fully convinced, frowned. “Yeah, are a really sure they wrociatat The ust,

you see? They look just like the I things.”

aley glanced at him and t camtv.cclained. “These were made from -cast molds alongavith the

Renaissance copper pieces. The inscription them was added interns for titust on the outside, it looks

authentic. t at the base of the bronze status where are uneven spots in the rust.

eph snatched up a bronze status and checked out the rust on the base.

her experts huddled in. “Lookainathare! The rust isn’t even. But what t’s just scratches: Besides this

paththesist of the rust looks legit.

aley spilled the beans. “This rus anal. Someone put it there on rpose. They hit it with strong addanden

buried the bronze statue in it under the outhouse. It speeds up the mining. So the rust looks real.

the genuine

hat?” Joseph, hearing this. was complete thrown. Buried under

thouse?”

ah.” Ashley nodded. “It’s the easiest way go dijake bronze and rust en though it stinks when buried in

an outhousehendid takes a

smell.

1. crap!” Joseph shouted. He stared at the bronze stamhis hands

post going crazy.

Est touched this thing with my bare hands!” he added.