Franklin narrowed his eyes and a hint of indulgence flashed in them. "Because you like it," he said.
So he wanted to bring everything she liked to her.
Sylvia didn't say anything more, but a warm current inexplicably surged from the bottom of her heart.
She carefully examined the painting, and it was obvious that the yellowish background was not made of paper.
Jasper picked up the magnifying glass next to the card holder prepared for the auction and studied it carefully in front of the painting. "This seems to be..."
As Sylvia said, it was human skin.
The painting was too old, but you could still see this thin layer of skin that was very soft, smooth and delicate. Completely different from sheepskin or animal skins.
None of them were frightened by this fact; they did not feel any inner horror or gloom because it was human skin.
Instead, several people sitting behind them shuddered a bit. "Miss Andrews is too scary! Why buy a picture made with dead human skin?"
"Yeah! I've read online novels before where they talk about how there are grudges on things like this..."
"Are you addicted to online novels? Can we really believe what's written there?"
Weston's mouth twitched. "This is such a cruel method - peeling off someone's skin to make art."
"This painting has been specially treated so that it has been preserved for at least ten years instead of over twenty years," Sylvia said as if she knew something special about it.
"Ten years? How do you know?" Weston paused for a moment. "About a week ago when an antique shop almost closed down for business hours, a man dressed in black rushed into my store saying he wanted to sell me this painting."
"I didn't pay much attention then until one clerk informed me that I had acquired something special - an artwork painted on human skin which had been preserved for at least 20 years and also happened to be Phoenix's work. So I hurried back here and bought it."
"What about that man dressed in black?" Sylvia looked at him intently. "Is he still around?"
"He left immediately after receiving payment; I don't know who he is," Weston shook his head slightly as many people come into antique shops selling their wares every day; It's impossible every time asking these customers' privacy details.
Sylvia's dark eyes were coldly intent. "Find out who he is."
"Boss," Weston looked puzzledly at Sylvia while his heart beat wildly without knowing why... He felt something strange about all this. "Is there anything wrong with this picture? Why are you so obsessed with acquiring it?"
"I know Phoenix," Sylvia's voice seemed to travel through the dark. "She taught me how to paint on skin, and I can do it too. But... this painting isn't from twenty years ago, it's from about ten years ago. So... I'm thinking that maybe she didn't actually die."
"So you want to find out where Phoenix is?" Franklin took her hand in his large one, only then realizing how cold her fingers were.
Sylvia nodded. She had been searching for answers for a while now, but never seemed to get anywhere.
What she hadn't told them was that the mysterious Phoenix was actually her mother Monica.
And there was a map on this painting...
She squinted at the map. Where was it?
She needed to study it more closely.
Where exactly did this map lead?
Maybe it was a clue left behind by her mother, or maybe not.
The auction continued on, but Sylvia had lost interest and prepared to leave after saying goodbye to Weston. As she reached the elevator doors, she heard someone call out behind her. "Miss Andrews!"
Turning around, she saw Simeon walking quickly towards her.
He had an elegant figure and handsome face which remained unaffected even though he seemed slightly out of breath from chasing after her so quickly.
"What's up?" Sylvia knew Simeon's true identity so there was no need for polite small talk between them.
"Can I borrow that painting for a moment?" Simeon gestured towards the painting with his eyes and Sylvia immediately understood what he meant as they walked away together holding onto the artwork with their hands
They stood about three or four meters away from Franklin and Jasper who were still engrossed in conversation nearby
"Why did you buy this painting?" asked Sylvia curiously as they examined its details further..
"There are secrets hidden within this picture," said Simeon cautiously glancing around before continuing. "It depicts a secret laboratory where illegal activities involving non-human research are being conducted."
"Alby wants me to get my hands on this map; Mr. Mcguire wants it because Tyrell had been working in research lab all along."
"If Alby also wants it, then why don't you just take it back first? I'll be meeting Alby soon and by then we'll study it together."
Sylvia handed the painting to Simeon and said, "Be careful. Tyrell didn't get the painting, so he probably has another plan. Be cautious."
"I know. He knows the painting is with you now, so he'll probably go after Mr. Maskelyne..." Simeon looked worriedly in Franklin's direction.
"Don't worry about that. Just go," Sylvia whispered before walking towards Franklin.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: After divorce, Ex-wife Revealed Identities
I just started to read this because it said it is "finished". Np I am stuck on the middle of it. What it is all about?...
there is update for quite while....
Please update. I still hope to finish this story. I really like it....
Story says complete but it is incomplete...
please let franklin and sylvia back together. thanks...
Update please. Any chance of more than one update a day? Thankies....
Is there no chance of getting more than 1 chapter a day please?...
I hope his not getting parasite love poison too. And get untangle with other women....
I'm just wondering is this the last chapter? I know that this book is not finished but it does say completed. I love it and don't want it to stop just like that....