Chapter 503


    I sprang to my feet and stared intently at the painting that the staff was unscrolling slowly. The painting


    was preserved very well. Subsequently, the blooms under the autumn moonlight and the back of


    someone missing her mother were then revealed right before my eyes. That was the painting I painted


    stroke by stroke as I wept during a rainy night when I missed my mother.


    I cast my gaze into the crowd, and sure enough, I spotted Crystal sitting right in the middle. When she


    saw me looking at her, she shed me a wide grin. Then, she gave me a thumbs-up which she then


    inverted provocatively.


    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.


    Fury built within me bit by bit until my eyes were blinded by rage.


    Well, well… She’s really daring! She has already been sued by many painters in the country and would


    still be in prison right now if it weren’t for Nathan spending tons of money and bustling about to get her


    out. Yet, she still has the temerity to auction off my painting! Back then, I didn’t know that she stole my


    paintings, and when I did realize it, everything was toote. And now, she actually dares to auction off


    my painting ten years ago right in front of me? Does she really think that I’m easy prey?


    “Ladies and gentlemen, please ce your bids now! The starting bid is a million!”


    No sooner had the host’s voice fallen than Christopher spoke out of the blue. In anguid voice, he


    drawled, “One.”


    The host was stunned for a moment before he remarked with a chuckle, “You’re really humorous, Sir.”


    “I’m not being humorous. Since this is the painting, my price is very apt. There’s no amount higher than


    that,” Christopher countered smilingly.


    “Why must you pick trouble with me, Christopher? Are you telling me that this painting is not worth a


    million?” Crystal cried out and reproved him resentfully.


    Grasping my hand lightly, Christopher casually chuckled. “This painting is naturally worth more than a


    million. However, if it’sing from you, then it’s only worth that much. Do you need me to share the


    news about you here as well, Ms. Yates?”


    “How dare you?” Crystal’s countenance paled before it flushed bright red. But when Christopher swept


    a sharp gaze over her, fear showed on her face, and she bit her lip indignantly.


    Upon seeing that the atmosphere had turned dreary, the host cracked a few jokes to ease the tension.


    Then, he resumed the auction. “Earlier, Mr. Lane made a joke, so please continue bidding now…”


    “I, Christopher Lane, am dering right here that this painting is only worth one. I personally hope to


    own this painting, so I hope all of you will do me a favor. As such, I don’t think any of you will fight me


    on this, yes?” Christopher stood up and looked around arrogantly with a quirked brow and a wicked


    smile on his face.


    Because of his words, some of his friends whispered among themselves and gave up bidding.


    Meanwhile, others felt that it wasn’t necessary to offend him because of an unknown woman, so they


    zipped their mouths as well.


    The host finally realized the problem. His expression turned extremely awkward, and he didn’t quite


    know how to continue the auction. At that precise moment, the banquet hall doors were suddenly


    pushed open. Following that, a gentle and sweet voice drifted into the air. “I’ll pay a million for this


    painting.”


    “Great! Congrattions on winning the bid for Autumnal Panorama! Now, let’s proceed to the next item


    for auction.” The host wiped the sweat off his forehead as though having been saved from a fate worse


    than death.


    The familiar voice had me stiffening. I looked back over my shoulder and gaped incredulously at the


    woman who was walking in.


    The woman slowly strolled over from the shadows,ing increasingly closer to me. Her red floral


    dress with gold embroidery rendered her graceful figure all the more slender and taller. As she slowly


    ambled in, her gaze swept over me and stilled for a brief moment. In the end, she stopped beside Mark


    and sat down next to him.


    In a cid voice, she asserted, “I like this painting very much, and I think the painter must have painted


    it meticulously in the middle of the night. Therefore, it’s worth a million.”


    I had no idea why my mother would help Crystal out, but her gaze was pinned on me as she spoke.


    Tugging at Christopher’s sleeve, I quietly sat back down.


    Perhaps she doesn’t know that the painting is Crystal’s. That was the only thought that urred to me


    while my emotions were a tangled mess.


    Soon, it was my painting’s turn to be auctioned. Ansley onceuded Moonlight Heaven, so the starting


    bid was five million. I should have been waiting on pins and needles, but my thoughts weren’t on my


    painting at all because I saw Crystal going over and saying something or other to my mother. My


    mother’s smile was very gentle, causing jealousy to swamp me.