Chapter 315 Rob from the Rich to Give to the Poor
Alexander chuckled softly. "You want me to tag along?"
It was clear that the paintings that had mysteriously vanished from the Franklin household a few days ago were Brad's doing.
Brad waved his hand dismissively. "Nah, no need. You wouldn't get our vibe. You'd just cramp our style, me and Ms. Windsor. Just focus on getting the stuff ready for the ritual."
Alexander raised an eyebrow. It was the first time someone had told him he'd be a hindrance! But it was Brad, and the eyes of someone on a spiritual path were always particularly clear. Looking into those slightly clear eyes, Alexander knew Brad was speaking from the heart. It was hard to get mad at that.
"Grandma's not home, so I'll get everything ready. You two come back early. If you need my help, just holler."
The last part was directed at Catherine.
"Got it," she replied.
Brad patted Alexander's shoulder in satisfaction and left with Catherine.
---
At Ezekiel's place.
"Arabella, how many times do I have to tell you? Those antiques are meant for auction!"
Ezekiel looked at Arabella, who was calmly sipping tea across from him, and couldn't help but laugh in exasperation.
"Ezekiel, you know very well those items aren't clean. Don't make me report you."
"I bought those with my own money. How are they not illegitimate? Arabella, we're still family. If it weren't for Alexander ruining my business, I wouldn't be selling off my assets!"
Arabella didn't even lift her eyelids. "I said I want all those items. You know whether they're really your assets."
Ezekiel was about to lose it! As soon as Arabella showed up, she demanded he hand over all the antiques in his collection! When Ezekiel refused, Arabella threatened to report him, her phone already set to dial the Cultural Heritage Protection Bureau!
"Arabella, those vases were bought with my own money. You can't just make baseless accusations!"
Arabella smiled faintly. "These precious antiques, you claim they were obtained legitimately? From what I know, these items were in museums. How did you get them? Did you rob a museum?"
Ezekiel's expression turned bitter. "Arabella, these items are my lifeline. If you take them, I won't be able to hold the auction tomorrow!"
"I don't care. Give me the items, and I'll leave. Otherwise, you're going to jail."
Arabella didn't give Ezekiel any other options.
Suddenly, there was a noise from the ceiling. Ezekiel looked up at the source of the sound, and Arabella mocked, "You really have fallen on hard times. You have rats in your house."
"Arabella, I really can't just give you these items!"
Arabella listened to the footsteps above, elegantly took a sip of tea, and said, "Show me the items. If they're not good enough, I won't take them. If they are, I'll pay you half the market price."
Catherine, listening from above, smiled slightly. "Who knew Mrs. Howard was so formidable."
Brad shrugged, his tall frame carefully curled up in the narrow passage. "That's nothing. Arabella is a special consultant for the Cultural Heritage Protection Bureau. Let's go get the items."
Arabella knew the risks of her line of work. So she accepted the government's offer. When she wasn't singing in her youth, she was an expert at the Cultural Heritage Bureau. She knew better than anyone where Ezekiel's artifacts came from.
As the noise above ceased, Arabella's lips curled into a smile.
Catherine and Brad made their way to Ezekiel's storage room.
"Brad, over there."
"Got it."
Catherine removed a hairpin from her hair, deftly inserted it into the surveillance port, and with a slight twist of her arm, disabled the camera, causing a brief blackout.
Without looking back, Brad swiftly replaced Ezekiel's antiques with fakes, pulling out vases from who knows where and placing them back on the shelves.
Hearing footsteps approaching, Catherine signaled to Brad. They quickly returned to the passage above, pressing against the walls to hide.
The surveillance system resumed, as if the brief blackout had been a mere illusion.
Ezekiel opened the storage room door, glanced at the blinking red light of the camera, and sighed in relief.
"Arabella, you can pick from these items, but I really can't give you the ones you mentioned! Alexander has to give me a way to survive! Arabella, we're family!"
Arabella scoffed. "Who said we're family? Don't make me vomit up last year's dinner."
She walked to the shelves, touched the vases, and suddenly smiled. She could tell at a touch whether these items were real or fake! Clearly, Brad had swapped everything out over the past few days! Ezekiel's prized antiques, which he thought would turn his fortunes around, were all fakes!
Arabella snorted. "Ezekiel, you better take care of yourself."
With that, she turned and left without a backward glance.
Ezekiel was puzzled but figured Arabella was just being her unpredictable self. As long as she wasn't demanding his items now, that was enough.
Ezekiel called for Solon. "Invite Alexander and Father to tomorrow's auction. I want to show them that the Howard family is still under my control!"
"Yes, sir."
---
At the Howard Mansion.
Brad rubbed his hands together, grinning at the antiques in his room.
Catherine rolled her eyes. "Brad, your training methods are really unique. Why not just find an ancient tomb to sleep in? It's all historical and everything."
Brad clasped his hands together. "Catherine, you don't understand. This is my one-of-a-kind approach. These items will be auctioned, and who knows how many kids will get to go to school and wear warm clothes because of it!"
Brad's training method had one key principle: rob from the rich and give to the poor! Rob the ill-gotten gains of the wealthy and aid the poorest of the poor!
"But before that, let me admire these items. They're the essence of the past!"
Watching Brad with a vase in one hand and an ancient painting in the other, yet looking like a sage, Catherine's mouth twitched. She was used to Brad's antics by now.
Thinking about the storage room full of fakes, Catherine couldn't help but smile. "I can't wait to see Ezekiel's face at the auction tomorrow!"
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