Chapter 41: You’re completely different
“Was this an transaction?”
“Molly’s painting was bought?”
The entire audience erupted into murmurs.
Everyone’s gaze turned towards Molly, who was still in pain. Suddenly feeling something amiss around her, she lifted her eyes to the big screen and her face paled instantly.
“This is fake! Someone is framing us!” Malik was the first to stand up and vehemently deny it.
“Then let Miss Clarke come up and paint a few strokes. The fairness of the Obsidian Award cannot be challenged,” a representative of the organizers stated firmly.
Molly’s expression turned grim. How could she paint now?
“This video is fake! It’s fake! ‘Flaming Sunflower’ is my painting!”
“Come up and paint,” someone heckled.
“My hand is injured, how can I paint?” Molly raised her hand, tears welling in her eyes as she looked pitifully at the crowd. “Someone is framing me, and all of you are ganging up on me? I just hurt myself…”
“Miss Clarke, I hope you understand, the matter of buying paintings will be thoroughly investigated by our organizers. If it proves to be true, we will hold you accountable for everything,” said the organizer sternly.
With Obsidian Award facing such an incident, every past winner would be under scrutiny, demanding a thorough investigation.
Chaos erupted at the venue.
Molly stood there, terrified and flustered. Suddenly, she clutched her head in pain, crying out, “My head hurts so much. I think I hit it when I fell… it hurts so much.”
With that, she closed her eyes and pretended to faint into Malik’s arms.
Malik stood there, holding his daughter, his eyes glaring fiercely at the big screen. He had been involved in similar incidents over the years, but how did he get caught this time? Lately, their family had faced one adversity after another, a chain of events.
Realizing something, Malik looked towards Paige’s empty seat. It all made sense now. Molly was right-Joss was Paige. Paige had truly returned for revenge! She had completely transformed!
Realizing this, Malik was deeply shaken…
Paige didn’t have time to witness the drama unfolding; she swiftly caught up with Enrico.
Sure enough, he was heading towards the women’s restroom.
Surprisingly, the female staff member was still waiting there.
Seizing a moment when Enrico had his back turned, Paige darted into the adjacent men’s restroom. Thankfully, it was empty, and she quickly shed her bulky disguise, leaving only a thin layer of clothing.
Next, she opened a window and deftly climbed onto the ledge, using her bare hands to grip the wall and move towards the window of the women’s restroom.
This was the third floor…
Sweat beads formed on her nose tip, but her gaze remained cool. Stretching out her foot, she lightly hooked the window, slipping inside as soon as a slight gap appeared.
Her agility was unquestionable, but the landing still produced a sound.
“Bang.”
Damn it. Paige felt a bit annoyed.
Outside the door, the female staff member was speaking, “Your companion has been in there for a while, not answering my questions. I was about to go in… Hey, what’s that noise?”
Enrico stood outside, heard the sound, and kicked the door open.
The window of the women’s restroom was half-open, bright and quiet inside, without any hint of strangeness, and each stall door was tightly shut.
Enrico glanced around and walked in.
“Miss, Miss, are you okay? Mr. Gustin is looking for you.”
Enrico stood still, looking at the white toilet cubicle doors, each one carved with various designs.
“She’s not coming out yet?” He spoke coldly. “If she doesn’t come out soon, I’ll have the whole restroom torn apart.”
With those words, a painful whimper was heard.
The door with a swan carving was pushed open from inside. Bent over, clutching her stomach in pain, Paige walked out, still wearing the black and gray gown she had worn earlier.
Her face was pale, sweat beading, looking miserable.
Enrico stood there staring at her, then his gaze shifted to the half-open window, thinking.
“Miss, are you having stomach trouble?” The staff member nervously approached to support her, and Paige feigned weakness, leaning against her.
“Let go.” Enrico’s voice was cold, he walked towards Paige, his gaze steady, then effortlessly lifted her up from the floor, carrying her out.
Jaden was waiting outside the door.
“Get the doctor ready at Rose Estate,” Enrico instructed without even glancing at him, carrying Paige away.
“Got it,”
Paige obediently leaned against Enrico’s chest, secretly letting out a sigh of relief. After this, she would be wealthy. Moreover, Malik and Molly’s reputations were once again ruined.
Passing by the venue’s entrance, Paige listened to the arguing inside and Malik’s vehement defense, feeling immensely satisfied.
‘Malik, Molly. This is just the beginning….’
…
Inside Rose Estate.
The doctor couldn’t diagnose Paige’s issue and could only suggest, “Might have caught a bit of a cold. Get plenty of rest.”
As soon as the doctor left, Paige lay on the bed, feigning discomfort, her eyes half-closed and unfocused.
Enrico stood by the bed, looking down at her, his eyes unreadable with mixed emotions.
What was he staring at her like that for? Did he figure out something about her at the art museum? Impossible, his attention was all on the painting at the time. Paige puzzled, didn’t want to face him, burying herself deeper into the soft covers, wrapping herself tightly.
“Mr. Gustin, the painting has been retrieved,” Jaden announced as he entered the room.
Paige peeked out from under the covers and indeed saw him holding a painting-it was her painting, “First Snow Maiden.”
Huh. Fate had a sense of humor. Her painting had circled back to Rose Estate.
“Put it down,” Enrico finally shifted his gaze away from Paige.
“Yes sir.” Jaden carefully placed the oil painting on the cabinet near the door, positioning it diagonally towards the bed.
“Olivia made porridge for Miss, shall I bring it in now?” Jaden asked.
At the mention, Enrico glanced at Paige in bed and said in a low voice, “Bring it in.”
“Okay.”
Olivia promptly entered with a steaming bowl of porridge.
“Miss, sit up and have some porridge. It’ll make you feel better,” Olivia urged.
Paige was about to sit up when Enrico sternly ordered, “Put it down and leave.”
Olivia hesitated, “But if Miss tries to have it herself, she might spill it everywhere.”
“Do I need to repeat myself?”
Startled, Olivia quickly placed the porridge on the bedside table and hurried out.
Jaden followed suit and closed the door behind him.
Enrico suddenly bent down and pulled her up from the bed forcefully. “Sit up.”
His fingers were hot, and his grip was strong. Paige was completely at his mercy.
Sitting beside her, he reached for the bowl of porridge with one hand and wrapped his other arm around her, spooning the porridge in the bowl.
Paige was encircled in his embrace, leaning against his chest, enveloped in his unique and refreshing scent.
Just as she was puzzled, Enrico scooped up a spoonful of porridge and offered it to her lips.
Was he feeding her? Paige was taken aback.
Forced to comply, Paige opened her lips and reluctantly took a small sip of the porridge.
Enrico watched her swallow and nodded in satisfaction before continuing to feed her.
The room was quiet, but suddenly Enrico spoke.
“My sister died at 21, in the midst of a heavy snowfall.”
Snow… Paige lowered her head, her long eyelashes fluttering. She suddenly recalled his reaction when he saw her painting…
“The snow that day was heavy, turning the entire Rose Estate into a white landscape. She stood in the snow, plunging a dagger into her own heart.”
Enrico sat beside her, glancing up at the oil painting on the cabinet. “I watched her collapse, shouting her name over and over.”
His voice held no sorrow, as if he were describing someone else’s story.
“The first time I saw you, I thought you were like her, but as I looked longer, I realized you’re completely different.”Content held by NôvelDrama.Org.
How different? Paige wondered silently.