Rex was at home, holding his phone and laughing heartily. His exaggerated laughter piqued the curiosity of many of the household staff. He was usually stern, always burying himself in his art studio. Why was he suddenly laughing today?
Juliana had just returned from the set and found her father sitting on the living room couch with several paintings displayed on the coffee table in front of him. She was born into a literary family, and while her artistic skills weren't highly refined, she had developed an eye for appreciation.
When she saw the colors and composition of one of the paintings, her eyes lit up, and she picked it up enthusiastically. "Is this a new work of yours, Daddy? It looks different from your usual style."
Rex also had an affinity for oil painting, but he had been practicing traditional painting since childhood. He had only started exploring oil painting in recent years, so his expertise in this area was not deep. Many times, he hadn't received recognition from the association, as they believed his mindset was still rooted in traditional painting.
However, the painting she held was a quintessential representation of oil painting. The transitions between light and shadow, the brightness of the light, the use of color, and more-everything was masterfully executed, showcasing exceptional talent.
Hearing his daughter praise a work he loved, Rex felt a surge of pride and stood taller. "This is a piece by that little girl Cheyenne. Surprising, right? She's only twenty-one years old and has this level of skill. The one you're holding has already been sold for thirty million! I'll have to send it out shortly, but I couldn't resist taking one last look."
The buyer of this painting was a real estate tycoon, reportedly because his wife had a fondness for oil paintings and happened to come across Cheyenne's work, piquing her interest.
"What! This is actually that girl's painting!"
Juliana remembered her father's admiring expression when he had mentioned Cheyenne earlier. He had even called her the most talented "genius" he had ever seen. At the time, Juliana had found his words ridiculous, thinking he must be getting old and forgetful.
But now, as she held this piece of artwork in her hands-a delicate sheet of paper containing boundless vitality and contemplation-she was taken aback.
Thirty million!
Juliana, a young actress, earned just a few million for starring in a movie, and those projects took several months to complete. She had to wear chiffon dresses in winter and thick coats in summer. Why did someone like Cheyenne, who spent a mere half an hour, suddenly have artwork valued at thirty million?
It couldn't be possible, could it?
The flames of jealousy caused Juliana to lose her rationality. She clenched the paper at the bottom of the painting so tightly that she accidentally tore a corner. By the time she realized her mistake, it was too late.
If her father found out that she had damaged it, she would surely be punished. After a brief moment of contemplation, Juliana forced herself to remain calm. She pointed at the lower right corner of the painting and spoke coldly, "Daddy, it's clear that Cheyenne is scamming money. Look, she turned in this damaged artwork. You mustn't be fooled by her, or we'll be the ones compensating for it later."
Damaged?
Rex's excitement was abruptly interrupted as he looked down at the small crescent-shaped mark. He gazed at Juliana with a troubled expression. "It was perfectly fine when I last saw it. How did this happen?"
Juliana, avoiding eye contact, used her sleeve to hide her fingernails and whispered, "I... I have no idea."
"Oh no, this shape clearly looks like it was accidentally pinched, and there's a scrape on the pigments." He glanced at Juliana's hand, which had a vintage-patterned bracelet adorned with colorful, fish-scale-like decorations. "Juliana, do you think it was you?"
"Of course not! Daddy, you have to believe me. It's all Cheyenne's fault; she's the one who's trying to set you up with this garbage."
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: She Became Rich After Divorce (Cheyenne and Kelvin)
Nice story...