Chapter 231
Chapter 231
Liam’s eyes widened with surprise, excitement in his voice. “That collector finally agreed to sell?”
He wanted to take the painting from Hannah, but his arms were already full.
“Yeah, it cost 150 million dollars. Just hand this over–no way the examiners will give you trouble now.” Hannah’s smile was bright.
Liam was deeply moved, “Hannah, thank you. Really?
Noticing what he was holding, Hannah frowned. “What’s that?”
“These are Aria’s three imitation paintings,” he explained. “Treburning them to her.”
Hannah looked displeased. “Imitations like that shouldn’t even exist, can’t believe she’s actually asking for them back.”
Liam shook his head. “They’re here, She should decide what to do with them. Come on, let’s go inside.
“Tine.” They handed over their invitations and found seats in the audience with their arms full of paintings
Soon, the judging began in earnest
Fifty contestants filed into the first three rows, taking their seats as staff placed each painting on display at the front.
Only twenty would advance–a forty percent chance.
The few with real confidence managed to keep calm, but most were a bundle of nerves.
Katrina was one of the confident ones. A boy who was close to Collin smirked at her, “Katrina, heard things are heating up between you and Griffin?”
Katrina’s expression darkened, anger flashing in
eyes. “Where’d you hear that nonsense?
The boy sneered, “You two are engaged, aren’t you? What else would you call it? You’re about to get married and still fighting for a spot in the finals with the rest of us.”
Katrina snorted, “Anyone under twenty four can compete. Who are you to talk? And keep me out of your drama with Hannah’s lovesick puppy. Frankly, just thinking about it makes me sick.”
At that, Collin’s face clouded. “Katrina, Hannah’s not a homewrecker. If you keep slandering her, don’t blame me for getting rough.”
Katrina’s laughter was cold. “The Gibson family, huh? Thick as thieves. You can try to silence everyone, but that won’t change the fact Hannah wrecked someone’s marriage. I wouldn’t bother talking to you if you weren’t barking at me like a dog. What a pain
Collin glared at the boy, who shrugged and fell silent, and the tension on that side of the room finally faded.
Elsewhere, Patrick’s voice came through Aria’s phone. “No luck yet. The fastest way is to post the sketch online and see if she comes to you.”
Aria had already asked around the old neighborhood, but the couple wore masks–she couldn’t even remember what they looked like after so many
The hospital where the girl had been born had shut down, and the records were long gone.
Even if she found her, what would she say? Tell her the truth that her birth parents sold her?
Maybe it was better to let Pearl live her life in peace.
1/2
Chapter 231
“No need to keep looking.” Arla said softly. “Just destroy the sketch.”
“Alright.”
At the Aureus Club, Orlando slid a printed photo across the table. “Russell, Aria’s got people searching for this girl”
The snapshot was a bit blurry, but Russell’s eyes sharpened when he took a closer look.
Orlando poured himself a drink and settled across from him, voice casual, “Look familiar?”
Russell’s gaze stayed locked on the photo. “What does Aria want with her?”
“I’m still digging. The girl’s adoptive parents and brother are all in prison. It’s hard to trace anything beyond that. Besides, Aria based her sketch off a baby picture there’s no guarantee she even looks like this now.”
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