Callie almost believed what she was hearing.
She stared at the painting for a long time. The dark blue tones, the smoke rising in the small town, and a crescent moon hanging overhead. From an artistic appreciation perspective, it did have some value, but unfortunately-
Someone in the audience jeered, “So did you two end up together?”
Charlotte’s face turned red. “Didn’t you all see it?”
The audience’s jeering grew louder.
The bidding began.
Some people in the audience were trying to fawn over the Ellison family, bidding until it reached one million dollars.
It was a high price, but compared to her previous paintings, it seemed mediocre, not even half as much.
Charlotte nestled in Sienna’s arms, initially feeling nothing amiss.
Callie saw someone raise a paddle: one million and ten thousand dollars.
The woman in the socialite section did not follow suit. She kept looking at her phone, making no move.
The situation was awkward, but the host, accustomed to big events, politely said into the microphone, “Are there any more bids? All proceeds from the auction today will be donated to impoverished mountainous areas.”
There was a murmur of conversation in the audience, but no one raised their paddle again.
Spending a high price on a painting with no collectible value was not worth it.
The strange silence drew attention in the tea room.
Callie could almost feel that burning gaze, like a flame silently creeping in.
What expression would Nelson have while watching this show now?
She was almost excited.
The woman in the socialite section received a message. She glanced at it but still did not raise her paddle.
The host held the gavel, cold sweat on his forehead. It seemed the painting would sell at a very low price…
“One million and ten thousand dollars, going once?”
Callie’s phone vibrated in her pocket. She took it out and saw a message from Eliza: The person has arrived.
“One million and ten thousand dollars, going twice.”
She put it back, slipped her feet back into her high heels, and stood up. From this angle, she could see Charlotte’s uneasy posture.
Ahmad beside her looked serious and more dignified.
“One million and ten thousand dollars…”
As the gavel was about to fall, a voice suddenly came from outside: “Sorry, this painting cannot be auctioned!”
The high-pitched voice drew everyone’s attention. A blonde foreign woman in her twenties or thirties walked in quickly, followed closely by a girl.
The foreign woman looked furious. Her appearance made some people secretly raise their phones because she was a famous landscape painter abroad.
There were gasps from the audience.
Callie stood in the corner, slightly tilting her head. She almost enjoyed watching Charlotte’s current state-pale, thin, trembling.
Sienna looked at Charlotte, full of confusion. The latter shook her head weakly.
No one could stop the foreign woman. She walked up and projected the materials she brought onto the big screen.
“This painting is the most meaningful of all my works and has never been publicly exhibited. Today I am shocked to hear that someone has plagiarized my work for profit. I am deeply outraged and will ensure that the plagiarist pays the price!”
Fierce and uncompromising, she tore off the facade without giving any chance.
Charlotte almost needed support to barely stand.
The gathering today included prominent figures from Ylosea. Witnessing such a farce meant that the entire circle would know…
Maevelyn plagiarized at her own birthday party…