Chapter 398


    The sound of Avery''sughter caused a grim expression to descend on Nicole''s face. Have I made a


    mistake?


    Even since she became part of the Lambert family, she went to a school for high society and even


    spent two years studying overseas.


    Therefore, she was certain that a country bumpkin like Avery wouldn''t know more about art


    appreciation than she did.


    Although she had no interest in the subject ever since she was young, her mother, ire, loved art.


    Hence, she forced herself to learn art history in her attempt to share her mother''s passion.


    Despite her intention, drowsiness assaulted her every time she read about the dry philosophical


    theories and achievements of famous artists. Unable to bring herself to continue, she decided to give


    the subject up and choose something she was good in to please her mother.


    When Nicole snuck a nce at Cayden, she saw him sitting elegantly with an upright posture. The


    steadiness of his deportment gave off a natural sense of gravitas.


    However, when he served Avery food, he turned into an entirely different person.


    The sharp look in his eyes would naturally ease, whereas his tightly pursed lips gently curled into an


    affectionate smile.


    Watching his actions, Nicole felt as if she had been stabbed in her heart, and blood was dripping out of


    it. Stung by the excruciating pain, she lowered her gaze in disappointment.


    Meanwhile, Allie was annoyed at how her son was neglecting Nicole.


    When she saw thetter speaking confidently about the oil painting, she grew fonder of her, unaware


    that Nicole was in over her head.


    After serving Nicole a piece of scallop, Allieplimented her, “Nickie, you''re truly well-cultured and


    much more knowledgeable than those country bumpkins who haven''t seen the world at all. I expect no


    less of Mr. William''s daughter, unlike those who might look pretty but are essentially clueless. I''m sure


    they don''t even know how to differentiate fake artwork from the real thing, let alone appreciate


    paintings. Isn''t that right, Dad?”


    Even though Allie didn''t explicitly say who the country bumpkin she was referring to was, her disdainful


    gaze clearly fell upon Avery. The way she was ring at thetter couldn''t be any more obvious.


    At that moment, Jeffrey''s stern face drastically darkened. mming his fork onto the table, he furrowed


    his brows in displeasure. “Can you shut that ignorant mouth of yours? The Moore family has been


    utterly disgraced by you!”


    Allie was oblivious to the fact that Jeffrey was a fan of Epean art when he was young. Furthermore, as


    a student, he had spent many years in Ferropene specializing in the subject. It wasn''t until he had met


    his wife and returned to Chanaea to start their business that he abandoned his studies.


    Although years had passed since he dabbled in art, it didn''t mean that he had forgotten everything he


    had learned.


    In fact, M was his favorite Impressionist artist, which was the reason why he had a collection of the


    former''s artworks. Unfortunately, Nicole—in her attempt to impress—had embarrassed herself by


    inadvertently revealing her own ignorance about art.


    Consequently, the goodwill Jeffrey initially felt toward Nicole under the assumption that she was


    cultured was now ruined by her own hand.


    Noticing the sullen look on Jeffrey''s face, Allie brazenly asked, “Dad, was I wrong?”


    Avery calmly interrupted, “Mdm. Allie, M is Ferropenian, not Ustranasion. On top of that, he''s not a


    Modernist but an Impressionist artist.”


    Just as Allie was about to ridicule Avery for knowing nothing, Jeffrey''s eyes—hidden behind his reading


    sses—glistened in tion as he asked, “Do you enjoy Epean art too? In that case, what do you think


    about this painting? Can you tell if he''s depicting dawn or dusk?”


    Jeffrey raised his walking stick and pointed at the painting of lotus flowers on the wall.


    At that moment, Nicole, eyes wide, stared intently at every single detail in an attempt to decipher the


    hour in the painting.


    Unfortunately, theck of light made it impossible for her to tell.


    In the end, all she could do was watch and hope that Avery embarrassed herself.


    Meanwhile, underneath the dining table, Cayden held thetter''s hand in an effort to calm her nerves.


    In response, Avery gently patted the back of his hand as she shed a confident smile back at him.


    After observing the painting closely, she made her thoughts known. “Old Mr. Moore, the painting


    depicts lotuses in the morning. Even though it isn''t obvious, one can tell by the morning dew flowing


    down its leaves. On top of that, the color of the water is blue from afar. Illuminated by the rays of the


    sun, they take on a golden hue, while the portion underneath the blooming flower is green, reflecting


    the color of the leaves. Only in the mornings can one observe such a phenomenon, which is a true


    reflection of mother nature.”


    Scrutinizing Avery for the very first time, Jeffrey suddenly approved of her a lot more than Nicole.


    N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Hence, his tone took an amiable turn when he spoke again to her. “I didn''t expect you to know quite a


    bit. Let me ask you, with regard to Epean oil paintings, what kind of styles do they have and who are


    the artists that are symbolic of the respective styles? Can you also tell me about their signature works?”


    Thereafter, Avery answered eloquently and even managed to add interesting nuggets about the


    famous painters she mentioned.


    Her humorous yet natural way of presenting soon elicited heartyughter from Jeffrey that resonated


    through the entire dining room.


    Stunned by the unexpected turn of events, Nicole and Allie''s faces turned red.


    The dinner ended up significantly changing Jeffrey''s impression of Avery, whereas the goodwill he felt


    toward Nicole was nowhere near the levels of the past.


    By the time Nicole returned home, it was alreadyte.


    ire was sitting on the living room couch, engrossed in a book titled Art History of the World.


    Her figure threw a long shadow underneath the light, exuding timeless beauty and grace.


    In that instant, Nicole''s eyes brimmed with jealous hatred.


    From their obsession with art, Avery and ire are clearly mother and daughter.


    The thought instantly reignited Nicole''s anger which she had assuaged not too long ago. Closing her


    eyes, she took a few deep breaths.


    Thereafter, she walked up to ire, wearing a pitiful expression to demonstrate that she had suffered a


    grave injustice.


    At the sight of Nicole, ire put down her book and asked warmly, “Nickie, have you had dinner yet?


    Do you want me to make you supper?”


    “It''s fine, Mom. I ate at the Moore residence.” Shaking her head, Nicole copsed onto the couch


    dejectedly.


    With a pale look on her face, her lips were tightly pursed, while her brows were slightly knitted.


    Having raised Nicole, ire could easily tell that her daughter was in a bad mood.


    As she was cognizant of where Nicole had returned from, a solemn expression descended upon


    ire''s face. “Nickie, be honest with me. Did something happen to you at the Moore residence?”