118With the clock as the focal point, Mr. Roth beckoned them towards the counter, the rest of the shop's patrons trailing behind, eager to witness the outcome of this unusual showdown.Once at the counter, Mr. Roth turned his attention to the gathered crowd. "This isn't just any clock," he began, h
119The crowd erupted into a frenzy of whispers and exclamations, their disbelief reaching new heights."He matched it again!""Unbelievable!""How much higher can they go?"Mr. Roth, realizing the situation was spiraling out of control, intervened once more. "Gentlemen, please, this has gone far en
120Angela, sensing the escalating tension, stepped between them, her voice firm yet pleading. "Enough, both of you. This is neither the time nor the place. We're here to celebrate my grandfather's birthday, remember?"The reminder seemed to cool the immediate hostility, though the air remained char
121Angela, noticing her grandfather first, broke into a relieved smile, the stress lines around her eyes softening. "Grandpa!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with warmth. Henry, noticing the tail end of the confrontation, raised an eyebrow but said nothing of it for the moment. Instead, he focuse
122As Jason unveiled the grandfather clock, whispers and murmurs swept through the room like a tide, rising in volume and intensity."Isn't that by Jean-Antoine Lépine?" one guest whispered to another, eyes wide in admiration and disbelief.The recipient of the whisper, equally awestruck, nodded vi
123The room erupted in a mix of gasps and murmurs. The guests turned to one another in a flurry of hushed whispers. "A replica?" said one. "How could Jason pass it off as the real thing?" wondered another. Grandpa Wiltshire looked perplexed. "I don't understand, what do you mean it's not genuine
124The sound of the slap resonated through the room. Silence fell, thick and heavy, as every eye fixed on Jason and Grandpa Wiltshire, the tension palpable.Jason, his cheek reddening from the force of the slap, staggered back, his eyes alight with a mix of shock and rage. "You... you have no right
125Angela was about to respond, her frustration bubbling to the surface, when she caught Darwin's eye. He was standing there, his expression calm but his jaw tightening slightly, a clear sign he was also annoyed but trying to keep the peace. She took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emoti