Divorced and Pregnant My New Life with a Billionaire Drives My Ex Crazy novel Chapter 43

“Relax, Jace,” Neil said, sounding amused. “We just bumped into each other. Are you really jealous right now?”

Jace couldn’t stand the sight of them together. He shot Neil a cold look before turning to Wiona. “I didn’t know you liked art galleries,” he said, trying to sound casual. “I honestly didn’t think you’d come. Why didn’t you call me?” He pulled out his phone, only to realize she had actually texted him half an hour ago.

He froze for a second. “Wiona, I…”

Kellen suddenly pointed ahead. “Mr. Salisbury, I think that was Nicholas just now. Let’s go, we might actually get to meet him. He never talks to visitors. This could be our only shot.”

Jace barely hesitated. “I’ll explain later,” he said to Wiona, his voice rushed. “Wait here for me.” He hurried off with Kellen, leaving her behind.

Wiona didn’t even look back. There was a trace of mockery in her eyes as she whispered, “No. I’m done waiting for you.”

She walked away, not noticing the spark of excitement in Neil’s eyes. To him, it was obvious. She really didn’t care about Jace anymore.

Finally alone, Wiona felt a small sense of relief. She was already here, so she might as well enjoy the art. She had always loved things like this and wasn’t about to let anyone ruin it for her. Once she managed to lose Neil, she started taking her time with the paintings, letting herself get lost in them.

She’d always had a knack for drawing, but her parents and Kyle never liked her spending so much time with paints. They didn’t want her to waste her life on something so impractical. Wiona had stopped being the perfect daughter a long time ago.

“Why is this painting on its own?” someone nearby wondered.

“It takes up the whole wall. Maybe it’s supposed to be special, like a highlight,” another person replied.

Wiona drifted into a crowded corner of the gallery. A massive painting filled an entire wall, its colors and story drawing everyone in. She recognized it instantly.

“It’s like a mash-up. Mythical creatures in the clouds, realistic mountains in the middle, then this fairy-tale scene at the bottom. It has to be a copy.”

People started arguing, their voices overlapping.

Wiona stepped forward and pointed at the girl in the red cloak. “No,” she said, her voice steady and clear. “It’s not a mix of random things. The whole painting is telling a myth from start to finish. The clouds above the mountains are the heavens. Below is the world of people and living things. Bronwen is amazing at landscapes and mythical creatures, but she’s even better at telling stories through her art.”

She paused, letting the story settle over everyone. “Basically, it’s about the creatures coming down to save a world where all life has turned to bones. They arrive to bring hope back.”

Wiona spoke like a natural storyteller, and everyone around her was drawn in, hanging on every word.

Even Conrad, standing quietly at the back of the crowd, couldn’t look away. He stood out, tall and dressed in black, but he didn’t leave. The moment he heard Wiona’s voice, he paused, his eyes following her. She wore a loose, khaki trench coat and had pulled her long hair back into a ponytail.