Chapter 4 : The betrayal.

Why is the police present in an auction??

What's going on??

Amidst my confusion, Mrs Kay looked relaxed and annoyed at the same time and I was about to know why but little did I know, I was also about to bear the burnt.

The exhibition started with Serena explaining some things about a portrait made by the famous painter, Wallace, who disappeared years ago.

My stepmom was smiling so widely the corner of her lips could've gotten torn. Famous media houses were covering the event, LIVE.

Mother was so happy she was getting free media coverage she could barely hide it.

Father looked pleased with his eyes brimming with affection as his gaze was fixed on Serena and he wasn't the only one.

"This piece is called 'summer rain' by Wallace and the starting price is 2 billion."

A hand shot up from the crowd followed by others.

"2.2billion"

"2.5 billion"

"3 billion"

"Oh my. Going for 3 billion once, twice-"

"10 billion." A voice interrupted and all heads turned in its direction. It was Mrs Kay.

“Are you sure that painting is the original piece by Wallace though?” Mrs Lydia’s unexpected question immediately pulled me out of my thoughts.

“What do you mean by that?, ofc it's the only original piece, right mom?” Serena looked flustered,her cheeks flushed from embarrassment as she looked towards her mom for backup and her mom looked equally flustered if not more.

“O-of course Mrs Kay, the piece is very authentic.”

“Really?, then you shouldn't have an issue with it being appraised right here by my personal appraiser. Would you be okay with that?

“You want it appraised right here in front of all these people?”

“Yes.”

“Sure. If that'll put your mind at ease.”

A knowing smile spread across Mrs Kay's face with a glint of something else passing her eyes. Briefly.

“Wait. I normally send the paintings over to you after it's been paid for, so why don't you get it appraised after it's been sent?”

“Start the appraisals at once.” Mrs Lydia said, ignoring the comment mom just made

The elderly man from before walked forward and started the appraisal process.

“Ma'am, the painting looks authentic enough but they're some issues. Like, the exposed part and the covered part shouldn't be the same color since it's a 40- year old painting. The exposed part should be more oxidized than the covered part.”

“So what's the point you're trying to drive at?”

“This painting is fake. Same with the other ones by Wallace you previously bought.”

Slap.

“How dare you? How dare you try to swindle me?”

Slap.

“There's a misunderstanding here ma'am. Wallace definitely painted the pieces I gave you. You know how his art is, who could possibly copy such an intricate and unique art style?”

“It's not impossible,” she sneered.

“You have someone who can make identical copies of anything. If she can make a painting so identical to a real photo, who's to say she can't duplicate this?”

“Who are you talking about?” Someone asked from the crowd.

“Her eldest daughter!”

My feet began to grow cold where I stood as all eyes were now on me.

“I-I think there's a misunderstanding here ma'am. Let's not make a scene out of this”

“Alright then, let's lay it all out in the open.”

“Officer, go through Georgina Jones’s art sales transactions and gallery collection list. Let's investigate all the art pieces that've ever been sold by you to see if they're real or fake.”

By this time,my breathing was laboured and my eyes grew wide like saucers, my face flushed red with fear and I was shaking like someone doused a bucket of ice on me in winter.

“Ma'am, how could you doubt me? You can't do this to me.” Mother collapsed backwards and David caught her just in time. Her head buried in his chest and her hand covering her mouth area.

I'm sure she said something to him but I couldn't read her lips so I don't know what.

“ What do I do in this situation, David?”

He bent down and whispered something in her ears. Mother suddenly grew confident.

“ Kara.” She called out to me, her voice shaking.

“ Yes mother” I ran to her even though it felt like the world was spinning beneath my feet and held her as she collapsed on the ground in my arms.

Meanwhile, David went to talk to Mrs Lydia.

“ Can you stop this? She doesn't know anything about what you're talking about.”

“ How does that make sense?? She's the one who sold artwork, it'd be absurd if she knew nothing about it.” disbelief clearly written on her face.

“Kara, please help me.” Mother pleaded with me, desperation on her face and in her voice.

“ Yes mother, what do you need me to do?

She looked uneasy for a moment.

“Let's say you did this,hmm? My arms that were holding her fell limply to my sides and I stared at her in disbelief. How could she say such a thing? While I was still lost in shock, I heard David drop the bombshell.

“Ms. Kara did this. She told me that she could copy Wallace's painting style identically and offered to split the proceeds from the sale with me. She'd copy the paintings and I helped her fake the sources and paperworks and show them to my boss.”

The hall went silent with disbelief and I could feel my feet giving way as the world really began to spin.

“ The pieces you bought previously were also painted by Ms Kara.”

“D-david. w-what are you —” mother suddenly gripped my hand, successfully stopping my question midway as my voice was barely a whisper.

She whispered to me.

“ We can't let this get bigger than this. Just do it for the sake of the company, you know people will talk trash, hm? Her grip on my hand tightened like she was holding on for dear life and I was the life line.

“Ms kara, is this true?” My eyes darted between the person I'd called mother for more than half of my life and the officer that was ready to put me behind bars. I was too shocked to say a word.

“Mother…?” was all I could manage.

“ Just say yes for now, follow them to the station and stay quiet. I'll send over a lawyer to come get you right away, hm?

“Mother, did you really do this? I thought you made me copy them so you could have the fakes as keepsakes?!” I was still in disbelief.

“Is that really what's important to you right now?”

I yanked my hands out of the woman I took as my mother's and stood up abruptly.

“David, why would you say such a thing?”

David looked at me with cold eyes and said loudly.

“I have proof too. In Ms Kara's car,there should be an invoice for the paper company through which she received the payments. The remaining fraudulent pieces are in the gallery's studio, she said it'd be the best place for her to work as it'd draw the least attention.”

My heart started racing as I remembered the document that told me to help him get from mother's room. I'd mistakenly picked Aiden's resignation letter instead of the document as I was in a haste and decided I'd go get the envelope when the exhibition started. The envelope is in the front seat in my car.