Chapter 940:
Brendon kept repeating in his head that he had no business meddling in Christina’s affairs, yet the worry gnawed at him. By all logic, seeing his ex-wife in an awkward spot should have brought him satisfaction. So why was he concerned for her instead? Was it just the thought that if she looked foolish here, the Dawson name would be dragged down with her? The questions churned without an answer, leaving him restless.
“Mrs. Scott…” Lola hesitated, glancing at Margot as she held the wrapped painting, unsure whether to reveal it.
Margot’s own uncertainty showed in the brief look she stole at Dylan. When his calm nod came, she inhaled deeply. If Dylan had this much trust in Christina, she would follow his lead. And if Christina’s choice ended in embarrassment, it would simply mean Dylan had more work to do to win her affection.
“Open it,” Margot said, her voice carrying quiet authority.
“Yes.” With deliberate care, Lola peeled away the elegant wrapping.
All eyes in the room followed her movements until the painting came into full view.
Gasps rippled through the crowd. The entire room seemed frozen, wide-eyed, as they took in the revealed artwork.
It was the Half-Faced Warrior, yet nothing like the damaged, incomplete version everyone remembered.
“This is the complete Half-Faced Warrior! Who managed to restore it? The colors and texture are identical to the original. Whose hand is capable of such work?”
“I heard even Magnus Cruz, the famed genius of restoration, failed to bring this piece back to life. Which master could Miss Jones possibly have found? The detail is unreal.”
“Flawless! There’s not a single hint of repair work. It looks like it’s been preserved perfectly through time. The warrior’s face is whole now, fierce, regal, sword in hand like a victorious queen.”
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 gⱯ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝗍𝖊𝗅𝘀・ⅽ𝗼𝗺
The wave of admiration made Katie’s blood boil. The discussion should have revolved around their gift, Eyes from Heaven, but this supposed restorer’s work had stolen every ounce of attention. In her mind, there was no such restorer; they had to be a made-up figure for show. To her, the painting couldn’t possibly be real. It had to be a fake.
“This has to be a forgery,” Katie snapped. “Even Magnus couldn’t fix it, and you expect me to believe someone else just pulled it off? If such a person existed, the entire art world would be buzzing. But there hasn’t been a whisper!” Determined not to let Christina stand in the spotlight, Katie stepped forward. Her finger jabbed in Christina’s direction, sharp with accusation. “I say she’s lying! She’s trying to pass off a counterfeit as the real thing and thinks we’ll just buy it! Don’t let her treat you like fools!”
The moment Katie stepped forward to challenge Christina, a few of the guests began to lean toward her side.
After all, when it came to the art of restoring priceless relics, Magnus’s reputation was unmatched—an undisputed master, revered even across the globe. One could scour every corner of the earth and still fail to find a restorer to rival him.
“Christina, this is a gift for one of the Scott family’s members we’re talking about. You really don’t want to mess this up,” Yolanda said, feigning concern. “Bringing a counterfeit to fool Margot? You can’t afford the consequences.”
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