Godly Investor: A Hundred Trillion Dollars For Investment And Donations-Chapter 296 -

At that moment the room was stunned into silence once again. Nobody spoke, and nobody moved. All eyes were fixed on Ethan, some filled with admiration, others with envy, and a few still with skepticism.

It was in this silence that Serenity's uncle stood up, his movements deliberate, his expression smug. "I'm sorry," he began, his voice dripping with condescension, "but this is getting ridiculous."

hearing what serenity uncle just said.

Ethan met his gaze without flinching, his expression calm but unyielding. The uncle continued, addressing the room as much as Ethan. "Clearly, Ethan doesn't know the price of the item he's presenting. That's why he's avoiding the topic altogether."

Immediately a ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd, some nodding in agreement while others exchanged uncertain glances. Serenity uncle smirked, emboldened by the reaction.

He took a step closer to the center, gesturing toward the necklace.

"I've seen enough of these events to know when someone's bluffing. This item, as magnificent as it is, was likely sent by someone who couldn't attend tonight. We've had a few guests who sent their gifts ahead, and it seems quite convenient for Ethan to 'find' something so exquisite and claim it as his own."

The accusation hung heavy in the air, and the murmurs grew louder. Ethan could feel the weight of the stares turning into scrutiny. At that moment Serenity's uncle looked around the room, his smirk widening.

"I mean, let's think about it. A young man like Ethan, still in university—how could he afford something like this? It's more likely he took it from the gifting section, and now he's hoping no one will notice."

The words stung, but Ethan's expression remained composed, though his hands tightened slightly at his sides. Of course, he couldn't just let this go, Ethan thought, a flicker of annoyance breaking through his calm exterior. He has to make a scene, doesn't he?

At that moment the room buzzed with whispers, the murmurs of doubt rippling through the crowd like waves.

Immediately all eyes shifted back to the necklace, its brilliance almost too much to take in. The sheer craftsmanship and the vibrant red gemstone spoke of a value far beyond what anyone had expected.

Immediately Serenity's uncle, seizing the moment, stepped forward again, his expression a mix of smugness and anger.

"Look at this gift," he said, gesturing toward the necklace with a dramatic flair.

"This is worth more than a million dollars—maybe even much more. And yet, here we have Ethan, a mere university student, claiming it as his gift."

Again the murmurs grew louder, skepticism creeping into every corner of the room.

"He's right," someone muttered. "How could a student afford something like that?" Another voice chimed in, "It doesn't make sense. He must have gotten it from somewhere else."

Ethan stood silently, his calm demeanor unshaken despite the growing doubt. His gaze remained steady, fixed on Serenity's uncle, who was now basking in the attention.

"It's not adding up," the uncle continued, turning to address the crowd. "Ethan is trying to pull one over on us. He wants to impress us with something he couldn't possibly afford."

The words hung in the air, thick with accusation.

At that moment Ethan finally took a step forward, his movements deliberate. When he spoke, his voice was even, yet carried an edge of sharp confidence.

"I'm not here to impress anyone," he began, his words cutting through the noise like a blade.

"But if there's any doubt about the authenticity of this gift, I have a simple solution."

Hearing what Ethan just said.

The room quieted as everyone leaned in, waiting for his response. "Call the people who didn't attend tonight but sent gifts," Ethan said, his tone measured.

"Let's verify if one of them sent this necklace. If it turns out they did, then I'll step back, and you can say whatever you want about me."

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Serenity's uncle smirked, clearly relishing the moment.

"And if none of them did?" he asked, his voice dripping with mock curiosity.

Then Ethan's eyes narrowed slightly, his confidence unwavering. "If none of them did," he said slowly, letting the weight of his words sink in, "then I want you to go down on your knees and apologize to me in front of everyone here."

Upon hearing what Ethan just said.

The room erupted into a low hum of gasps and whispers, the boldness of Ethan's statement shocking everyone present. Serenity's uncle's face flushed with anger, his composure faltering.

"And what if one of them did send it?" he countered, his voice rising, his pride clearly stung.

Ethan stood tall, his expression calm but resolute as he addressed the room. "If it turns out I've done something wrong, I'll accept whatever punishment is deemed necessary. No exceptions."

Serenity's uncle smirked at Ethan's confident tone, seizing the opportunity to pile on the stakes. "Punishment alone won't be enough," he said, his voice loud and commanding, ensuring everyone could hear him. "You'll pay a fine to the rightful owner of the gift, and you'll also compensate the York family for the time and embarrassment you've caused. This kind of behavior won't go unpunished."

At that moment a murmur of agreement rippled through the room. Ethan's composure didn't falter as he replied, "Fine. I'll pay whatever fine you think is appropriate. Let's settle this."

Immediately the room fell into a hush as Serenity's uncle straightened his tie, clearly enjoying the control he had seized over the situation.

Immediately he turned to the spokesman, who was holding the microphone, and gestured for it. "I'll handle this," he said with authority, his voice dripping with smugness.

However the spokesman hesitated for a moment, glancing between Serenity's uncle and Ethan, before reluctantly handing over the microphone. Serenity's uncle held it firmly, savoring the attention as he addressed the room once more. "Ladies and gentlemen, I will personally ensure this matter is resolved. We'll contact every individual who sent a gift but couldn't attend tonight. If one of them claims this necklace, we'll know the truth."

The crowd watched in a mix of curiosity and unease as Serenity's uncle pulled out his phone. His movements were deliberate, his every action designed to draw out the moment and maintain the audience's focus on him. He scrolled through his contact list with exaggerated slowness, occasionally glancing up to gauge the room's reaction.