Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 121 - Chapitre 130

Trevon watched the standoff between the two with a quiet intensity.Since it was Madeline's first time at an event like that, he thought she would be a fish out of water. However, she was cool as a cucumber.He mulled over how she had held her own at the company and realized that Madeline was more than just a whiz in the kitchen. She had a knack for just about everything.Lydia, though, was a different story. She could not keep her composure. Her face was pale, and her body wobbled like she was about to fall over.He just could not stand by and watch.Trevon sauntered up and handed Lydia a glass of champagne. "Fancy this painting? Want me to snag it for you later?"Lydia glanced at the champagne and chuckled quietly. "A gem like this? Who wouldn't be charmed? However, let someone else who really needs it have it."Trevon raised an eyebrow. "So, what's caught your eye? Go for it during the auction."Madeline smiled and kept mum. With Trevon stepping in, the conversation around t

Stepping out of the restroom, Madeline was not surprised to find Trevon waiting there in the deserted hallway."Time to head out. The auction's about to kick off."The crowd was already trickling toward the auction stage. Trevon's reserved spot was, of course, front and center.Madeline quickly looked around and found Caleb and his crew conveniently close by."Seen anything else that caught your eye, Caleb?" Madeline inquired.Caleb shook his head. "I've looked over everything, but that one's the best by far.""Guess we'll see soon enough," Madeline agreed, eager for another glimpse.Unbeknownst to her, Lydia overheard the exchange and smirked to herself. 'So, Madeline's got her eye on that painting? Well, she's going home empty-handed today!'Lydia slid back into her seat and leaned toward Cilix. "Dad, I went to apologize to Mr. Jurado. They're eyeing Sunset in Venice, but they seem short on cash. If we snag it and gift it to the museum, it'll definitely make them see us in a

Everyone thought fakes would be rare at an auction, but it was not out of the question.Madeline's gut told her something was off with that painting, probably because Bella had once shown her the ropes of art restoration, teaching her how to make a fake look like the genuine article.By some twist of fate, the painting up for auction was none other than her own 'capstone project'. Her signature mark was still there, cleverly hidden among the brushstrokes.Bella always said that a good forgery needed one deliberate flaw. That mark was Madeline's intentional slip-up.However, Bella had insisted all those paintings were destroyed. How on earth did that one end up there?Madeline's thoughts were a tangled mess, and she had not even noticed Trevon's return.Trevon was aware that Lydia had outbid Caleb for a coveted piece. Seeing Madeline's sour expression, he mistook her dismay for lingering anger over the incident.Trevon smirked mockingly. "You're getting all worked up over Caleb's

Trevon eventually won the Edo period ceramic double-eared vase for 10.2 million dollars. The foreign businessman kept upping his bid, but Trevon stayed one step ahead, adding another 100 thousand dollars each time, much to the businessman's dismay.Stephen's smile was genuine as he congratulated Trevon. As long as the piece was not leaving with the foreign bidder, it was a win for the Ferguson family.The businessman stormed off. Qasim hurried after him, likely to offer some words of comfort.Madeline's eyes widened in surprise. "Those businessmen are with the Gibson Group? Isn't it kind of rude to snub them like that?"Trevon was nonchalant. "Qasim was the one who insisted on dragging them along. They've got nothing to do with the Gibson Group."He got up, took Madeline by the hand, and made their exit.Madeline barely had a chance to say a quick word to Caleb, managing only a wave goodbye. She missed how Sadie, who was usually so aloof, watched Trevon with stars in her eyes.A

Madeline's heart raced, and she turned to see what happened.Trevon was steadying Lydia, whose champagne glass was tilting precariously.A few glaring water spots were on the Sunset in Venice painting.Baxter looked like someone had punched him in the gut. "Bringing drinks near the artwork? What were you thinking?!"He would have given a student an earful for less. However, Lydia, of all people, was the benefactor, and he found himself at a loss for words to reprimand her.Lydia's complexion was ghostly pale. "It wasn't intentional. I..."Her grip on Trevon's shirt was desperate, a mix of anxiety and fear.All she wanted was a moment with Trevon. Ignored, she tried to fake her usual fragility, but the self-inflicted cut had left her genuinely weak. A sudden dizziness overtook her, and the champagne she held spilled out.Madeline's gaze softened as she relieved Lydia of her glass and passed it to a server. "Ms. Sanders isn't well. Trevon, please help her to a seat."Only then d