The crowd parted for Amanda. She was glowing with the confidence of someone who believes they are the main character.
She reached Mrs. Boone and signaled her assistants. They placed the box on a display table and untied the silk ribbons.
Amanda lifted the lid. She pulled out a dress.
Gasps filled the room.
It was breathtaking. A couture evening gown made of deep emerald silk, embroidered with golden phoenixes. The embroidery was so detailed the birds looked like they were about to take flight.
"Oh, Amanda," Mrs. Boone breathed, touching the fabric. "It's magnificent."
"I made it myself," Amanda said loudly, looking around the room to ensure everyone heard. "It took me six months. Every stitch is hand-sewn. I wanted you to have something unique, something made with love."
"You are such a talent," a guest gushed. "The perfect daughter-in-law."
Joanna Olsen had recovered from her humiliation and was now beaming. "My daughter, the artist! Elaina, what did you bring? A gift card?"
Elaina let go of Cordero's arm. She walked forward. The crowd naturally created a space for her, sensing the tension.
She stopped in front of the dress. She leaned in, inspecting the embroidery closely.
"It's beautiful, Amanda," Elaina said. Her voice was loud enough to carry. "Truly. This is Su embroidery, isn't it? The split-thread technique?"
Amanda blinked, surprised Elaina knew the term. "Yes! exactly. I studied the technique just for this."
"Fascinating," Elaina said. She reached out a finger but didn't touch it. "So, tell me. In traditional Su embroidery, did you use the 'left-hook' start or the 'right-hook' start for the phoenix's eye?"
Amanda froze. Panic flickered in her eyes. "Uh... the right. Obviously."
Elaina smiled. "That's odd. Because Su embroidery always starts from the left to symbolize the rising sun."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"I... I modified it," Amanda stammered. "It's my own interpretation."
"Of course," Elaina said. She walked to the hem of the dress. She pointed to a tiny, almost invisible swirl of gold thread near the side slit. "And this? Is this your signature?"
Amanda looked at where she was pointing. "Yes! That's just a... a flourish."
Elaina straightened up. She turned to Cordero. "Cordero, you have excellent eyesight. Can you come look at this?"
Cordero stepped forward. He looked at the spot Elaina was pointing to.
"It looks like a letter," Cordero said, squinting. "An 'L'. And a 'Z'."
Elaina nodded. "LZ. Lin Zhao. The reclusive master of Suzhou. He retired five years ago. This isn't a handmade gift from Amanda. This is the 'Phoenix Rising' collection from 2014. It was sold at auction in Hong Kong last year for two hundred thousand dollars."
The silence in the room was absolute. It was heavy, suffocating.
Amanda's face went gray. "No! That's a lie! She's lying! I made this!"
"Did you?" Elaina asked calmly. "Because Master Lin always sews a single strand of human hair into the hem of his works for luck. Should we check?"
Amanda instinctively grabbed the hem, pulling it away. Her reaction was a confession.
Mrs. Boone pulled her hand back from the dress as if it were burning. She looked at Amanda with a mixture of disappointment and embarrassment.
"You bought it?" Mrs. Boone whispered. "And you lied to my face? In front of everyone?"
"I... I just wanted it to be special!" Amanda cried, tears spilling over. "I wanted you to love me!"
"Pathetic," a voice boomed from the entrance.
Everyone turned.
Grandpa Boone stood there, leaning on his cane. He looked furious.
