BookToReadChapter 104 The truth was, the landscape oil painting had cost a staggering twenty million, while the watercolor went for five.
Yasmine was at the auction in person, and McNeil made sure to record everything on video for Victoria.
By sheer coincidence, that very watercolor had once belonged to Victoria's late mother, Edith.
At the time, there were only two landscape paintings up for bid, so McNeil recorded both.
Just as McNeil was about to let Violet present the oil painting as a gift to Mrs. Simms, he got a call from his father. That's when he found out that the news had already gone viral-his purchase of the painting was trending everywhere.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtLeft with no choice, McNeil gave the oil painting to his father and handed the watercolor to Janice.
"No way," Simms muttered, taking a closer look. Sure enough, Edith's signature was there—and everyone knew Janice absolutely despised Edith.
Violet looked mortified, while McNeil remained perfectly composed.
Neither Simms nor Yulia could blMcNeil for the awkward turn of events, and though Janice was fuming, she didn't dare make a scene. At least there were still the jade sculpture and the antique vase to fall back on.
"This sort of tacky thing isn't even worth keeping," Janice scoffed, tossing the painting aside.
Victoria was quick to snatch it up. "Exactly. Things like this shouldn't offend Mother's eyes. Since it belonged to her, I'll take it home." Violet could only watch as Victoria spirited away the painting. McNeil took a long sip of his wine, expressionless and silent.
"Well, since it was Ms. Turner's mother's, let this be my welcgift to you," Violet managed through a forced smile, her fist clenching under the table.
Ha. She hadn't even finalized her divorce from McNeil, and yet Violet was shamelessly offering a painting McNeil had acquired-how could she show her face? But Victoria paid her no mind. All she cared about was reclaiming her mother's artwork and belongings-nothing else mattered.
Meanwhile, Marian, sitting beside Edith, looked on with open disdain.
The Turners were always putting on airs, dragging out their worthless relics for everyone to see.
She was just about to make a snide comment when, suddenly, a force yanked her up by the shoulder.
"You shameless woman, how dare you try to steal my fiancé!" A stinging slap landed across Marian's cheek, swift and unexpected.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmA young, handsman rushed over, grabbing the furious woman's arm. "Kaley, stop it." "Stop? Do you have any idea how long she's been after you? I've got all her filthy texts saved-how about, 'I get so lonely at night, big brother, will you keepcompany?"" Kaley Hughes shrieked, winding up to slap Marian again. But the man stepped between them, shielding Marian from harm.
Seeing her fiancé defend Marian, Kaley flew into a rage.
"You say you're done with her, yet you're still protecting her? If I don't beat the living daylights out of this tramp today, I'm not a Hughes!"
Kaley was the eldest daughter of the prominent Hughes family, and her fiancé Hamlin Nelson was the only er son of the well-known Nelsons, a family with real influence in Starfall City. No one knew how Marian had managed to get her hooks into him.
For a while, Hamlin had been utterly infatuated with Marian-so much so that he nearly broke off hisengagement to Kaley. Edith, unimpressed by the Nelsons and convinced the Miller family was a better match, had put a stop to things, and Marian had finally let Hamlin go.
In the chaos, Kaley spotted the jade sculpture and, in a fit of rage, tried to wield it as a weappix She was stopped, but the jade slipped from her grasp and crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces. Everyone was stunned. That piece had started at over eight million and had cost McNeil nearly twelve.
Just then, Yasmine stuck out a foot, and Marian tripped, stumbling right into the antique vase.
It toppled and shattered, taking with it the rest of the priceless birthday gifts that had been arranged on the table. Everything-the rarest collectibles-smashed to bits.
"My gifts! My birthday gifts!" Janice screamed, unable to take the shock. In the next moment, she fainted dead away.
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