Chapter 938:
Christina handed the painting to Lola and spoke unexpectedly to Margot with a steady tone. “Mrs. Scott, this piece is rather rare. I’d like to invite everyone here to take a look at it.”
Her words left the guests momentarily stunned. Among them, several shrewd individuals quickly grasped Margot’s earlier intent. By asking the housekeeper to take the gift directly—rather than showing it on the spot—Margot had been discreetly protecting Christina’s dignity. After all, following the impact of Eyes from Heaven, anything else was bound to be overshadowed. Even Feathers of the Divine could not compete; the guests had already been awestruck.
“Is she out of her mind? Margot gave her a chance to save face, and she still insists on displaying it. She’s begging to be humiliated.”
“Maybe she thinks her painting can rival Eyes from Heaven. It did cost her nearly four hundred million. If she doesn’t show it off, wouldn’t it be a waste?”
“She just can’t accept reality. She spent a fortune, yet Margot doesn’t even want to display it publicly. That should tell her everything. Margot was kind enough to shield her, and she’s still charging headlong into disgrace.”
The guests murmured, eyes gleaming with gleeful anticipation, watching Christina eagerly with schadenfreude. Despite her beauty, she struck them as utterly lacking in sense. In their eyes, not only would she fail to marry into the Scott family, but even an ordinary, wealthy household would turn her away. No wonder Brendon had discarded her—they thought her foolish to the core.
Lola exchanged a brief, knowing glance with Margot before offering Christina a gentle warning. “Miss Jones, Mrs. Scott treasures this gift. Are you certain you wish to open it for everyone to see?”
Lola believed her words had made the situation plain enough. Even someone slow to catch on should have understood. But Christina replied with conviction, “Absolutely.”
Her unwavering reply drew a collective gasp from the crowd.
𝙁𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢: g⍺𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⫶ⅽ𝗼𝗺
The guests collectively smirked. Christina was, without question, being utterly foolish. Lola had made the meaning crystal clear, yet Christina had failed to take the hint. Any distinguished family that took such a woman into their ranks would be courting misfortune. Dylan, who had shared a dance with her earlier, must surely be feeling the weight of regret by now.
Several guests stole glances at Dylan, curious to gauge his reaction. Yet, his expression remained perfectly unreadable—cold as stone, his gaze cutting like the edge of a blade.
To the gathered guests, it was baffling. Here Christina was, making such an unwise spectacle of herself, and Dylan didn’t so much as flinch.
Margot found herself at a loss as to how to address the situation. She worried that Christina, the woman Dylan had fallen for, might soon disgrace herself before everyone’s eyes, yet Christina pressed forward with her insistence on displaying the painting.
Margot’s brow furrowed slightly as she turned toward her grandson.
Dylan met her look with one of quiet reassurance, before uttering, in an icy tone, “Since Miss Jones wishes to share it with everyone, let her have her way.” The guests interpreted this as a sure sign of displeasure, and their attention snapped instantly to Christina. Some stared at her with thinly veiled glee, eager for her disgrace, while others felt a flicker of pity. She had held a winning card earlier but had played it poorly. Had she known when to stop, she might have won Dylan’s favor. Now, not only had she squandered the opportunity, but she seemed to have stirred his ire—promising an imminent spectacle.
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