Chapter 77
“So where’s the painting?” Zack asked, his eyes narrowed on me in curiosity.
If it came to it, I knew he’d love to see me fall for daring to humiliate the love of his life. He was wrong in that. I planned on following through with this.
I leaned my head innocently. “I believe I made it pretty clear when I said I had it, no?”
“That doesn’t answer my question. Where is it?” He gritted his teeth, face already contorted
in anger.
If looks could kill, I’d probably already be dead by now. Bella clung to his side, glaring daggers at me like it would somehow affect me the longer she did that.
“That’s enough.”
Quentin cut Zack off before he could speak again. He began making his way towards the stage, his steps calculated and deliberate.
“No need to hackle her with all those questions,” Quentin said calmly. “I’m not in a hurry to
see the painting.”
Zack looked even more annoyed. “I just believe we deserve to see the original as she’s
claimed it to be.”
“Hey, hey. Relax. I bought the painting. I won this auction making the ‘Glass House‘ mine by default. What’s the hurry about?” Quentin’s voice was calm yet sharp as a knife.
If Zack had been about to come up with some retort, the words died in his throat immediately. Quentin had that aura to him that was capable of making even someone as
‘dominant‘ as Zack to behave.
I would have relished in the sight of him being put down but the crowd’s murmurs and
whispers were already getting louder.
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“But we really haven’t seen the painting yet.” The host went on. “Don’t you think it would be best if we got to? As a formality if you please.”
“Yeah.” Some of his assistants nodded in agreement.
“She started an auction without the painting even arriving yet. Who does that?”
“I know right. That makes zero sense.”
“I’ve never seen this happen at any other auctions before.”
The murmurs and mutters were getting louder with each passing second. Bella was no longer as pale as she had been just a moment ago.
The crowd’s questions and suspicions gave her the courage to act bolder. A confident smirk
sprung on her face as she made her way closer to me.
“Do you even have the painting?” She folded her arms. “Or was it all just some lie you cooked up?”
Quentin’s face hardened as he watched Bella. He didn’t react or make any move, simply
watching the whole thing play out.
I could feel Haelor still standing by my side. When I briefly glanced at him, the anxious look
in his eyes was hard to miss.
A small smile played at my lips before I sent him a wink. With that, I turned back to Bella who looked like she had the upper hand already.
“Discrediting my proclamation won’t make your fake painting any more original Bella.
stared her down.
She scoffed. “Cut all the bullshit and just confess already. We know you don’t have the painting. You can stop embarrassing yourself now.”
I simply hummed, a mask of disinterest passing over my face. My gaze went to my watch. I clicked my tongue, mirroring the small tick of the watch.
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“It should be here any minute now.” I turned to the door.
Bella’s eyes narrowed down on me. “What do you mean-”
The doors swung open and in walked in the royal prince himself. Askhan was followed by his normal entourage of guards. One of them, a gamma warrior, was carefully holding the painting as they made their way towards the stage.
Askhan was dressed just for the occasion in a maroon tailored suit and a black turtleneck underneath. His gold sunglasses gleamed under the brightness of the chandelier lights as
he got on stage.
“He sent me a brief smile before turning to the audience. “Ladies and gentlemen, The Glass
House.”
The whole crowd cooed and stared in awe of the painting. Askhan went on to prove its authenticity by sighting the make of the painting as well as all the tools that went into creating that specific piece of artwork.
In the blink of an eye, the whole tide of the evening had shifted just as I’d expected it too. Bella did not look one bit pleased by what was going on. Neither did the ‘love of her life‘
who was practically fuming.
When Askhan turned back to me again, I felt warmth blooming in my chest. He was one of the few people that knew I had possession of the Glass House and I was glad he came through for him at the moment when I needed him the most.
“Right on time.” I chuckled.
“As my lady requests.” He grabbed my hand and placed a small kiss on it.
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After Divorce: Pursued by the Three
