Chapter 105: A Painting Worth Eight Million
The security guard in blue uniform and the manager in a black suit were angrily reprimanding Nora and Danielle.
Their voices were sharp and full of anger. “Do you two have any idea whose artwork this is? It’s something you can’t afford to pay even if you sell all your valuables!”
There was no signature on the painting, and the label below only displayed the title, “Flowing Waters,” with a single letter in place of the artist’s name.
Nora was left stupefied by the scolding, unsure of what to do. She looked up at Cheyenne for help.
“Sis, please help me out. I didn’t mean to do this.”
Now, she remembers me as her sister.
Cheyenne stood by, arms crossed, and sneered, “I’ve told you, my mom only gave birth to me. Your mom’s name is Malaya. You better find her to help you.”
Upon hearing this, Nora’s tears flowed even more vigorously. She looked at Cheyenne with teary, pleading eyes.
“Sis, you can’t just leave me like this. I’m your sister.”
Sister?
Nora’s audacity was truly something to behold.
Cheyenne pursed her red lips, walked slowly over to Nora, and gave her a contemptuous smile. Her mocking laughter sent shivers down Nora’s spine.
“You know, I hate you.”
Everyone in the room turned their attention to Cheyenne, awestruck by her beauty. They had never seen such a stunning woman before and watched her with bated breath.
Meanwhile, the elderly man gazed at the ruined landscape painting, his smile fading instantly, replaced by a deep frown.
The manager responsible for this gallery noticed the elderly man behind Cheyenne, and his astonishment grew.
Cold sweat trickled down his back, and he watched in horror as it threatened to roll down his forehead. He opened his mouth to speak, but his words were soundless.
“Hmm?” The elderly man’s sharp gaze fixed on him like a chilling blade, a clear warning.
The manager fell silent.
Anxiety gnawed at him as the most crucial painting had been damaged because of his negligence.
‘I am done! Wish I could keep my job.”
With this turn of events, the manager grew even more disgusted with Nora and Danielle. He snapped, “The rules for entering clearly state ‘no touching.’ You two not only violated the rules but also damaged the painting. Tell me, what should we do?”
If this painting were to be auctioned, it would likely be priceless.
The owner of the painting had made it clear it wasn’t for sale; he merely displayed it for everyone to appreciate its beauty.
Who would’ve thought such an accident would occur?
Danielle immediately called her older brother, Teagan, who had been engaged in conversation with important guests. When he heard the news, his mood plummeted.
His handsome face hardened, and he told Jane to stay and attend to the customers while he went to take care of it.
“I’ll be right back.”
Teagan arrived, and Danielle rushed into his arms as if she had found her anchor, tears streaming down her face. “Teagan, I messed up. Please help me.”
“What on earth happened?” He asked in a cold tone, and his accusatory gaze made Danielle feel guilty.
She stammered out an explantion with sobs, “Just a moment ago, Nora and I were looking at the painting when someone bumped into us from behind.”
“Then, I accidentally bumped into Nora, and she fell onto the painting, scratching the surface with her nails.”
Who had bumped into them? The hall was packed with people, and Danielle couldn’t pinpoint the culprit. In an attempt to deflect blame, she pointed toward Cheyenne beside her.
Choking back sobs, she shouted, “It’s her! She deliberately set us up, Nora and me!”
All eyes turned in the direction of Danielle’s pointed finger, and they all fixed on Cheyenne’s face.
Nora caught the hint and immediately shed tears. “Sis, I know you don’t like me as your sister, but you can’t frame me like this.”
Their synchronized act solidified the “accusation” against Cheyenne.
The people around began to whisper softly to one another.
They all seemed to agree that Cheyenne was ruthless and deceiving.
This baseless, outrageous accusation left the elderly man truly astounded.
What had become of the younger generation?
Cheyenne hadn’t even done anything yet, but he was fuming. “Nonsense! This is sheer nonsense. It’s infuriating.”
Seeing the situation, the manager promptly had a glass of warm water brought for the elderly man and spoke respectfully, “Sir, please don’t get angry.”
Cheyenne couldn’t help but wonder about the identity of this elderly man. How could he command such respect from the manager?
“This young lady was with me the whole time. How could she have pushed you two from behind?” His words just left his lips when Nora retorted disdainfully, “Who can guarantee that what you’re saying is the truth? Cheyenne and you have never met, and how can she stand by your side all the time?”
Indeed, the elderly man had no knowledge of Cheyenne’s identity, and it was only after Nora mentioned her name that he became aware of it.
“Yes, I didn’t know her identity, but I can guarantee that I’m telling the truth.”
The manager finally understood Cheyenne had nothing to do with this incident. The blame seemed to lie with Nora and Danielle, who were now telling lies.
His annoyance towards the two young women grew stronger.NôvelDrama.Org copyrighted © content.
“That’s enough, both of you. No need to shift blame anymore. Regardless, you two are responsible for damaging the painting. How about this, eight million!”
Eight million was already a concession given their young age. In reality, a painting of this caliber would start at a minimum of ten million.
At this, Danielle and Nora were dumbfounded. They let out a high-pitched shriek that nearly tore through the gallery’s roof.
“What did you say? Eight… Eight million? Why don’t you just rob us?” Nora extended a shaky hand, forming an exaggerated number eight, her wide almond eyes full of disbelief.
Such words were unpleasant to the ears of anyone knowledgeable in the field.
“You two don’t know how to appreciate art, but this painting is undoubtedly a masterpiece by a renowned artist. Just look at the bold strokes, the rugged mountain terrain, and the lifelike flora. It’s the work of a master.”
“Mr. Benjamin previously sold a painting for a hundred million. Eight million for this painting is already a bargain.”
The gallery manager wore a stern expression, and those around him nodded in agreement.
Teagan’s face didn’t look much better. With so many people around, he couldn’t afford to make a scene or shirk his responsibilities. He certainly didn’t want to appear irresponsible. However, he was reluctant to pay eight million.
His gaze shifted toward Cheyenne.