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 flashed me a wide grin. Then, she gave me a thumbs-up which she then inverted provocatively.
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 too late. 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 place 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 a languid 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’s coming 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 declaring 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! Congratulations 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, coming 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 placid 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 occurred to me while my emotions were a tangled mess.
Soon, it was my painting’s turn to be auctioned. Ansley once lauded 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.
