Chapter 423:
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The fact that the comment came from a young woman only fueled Louisâs irritation further.
Allison met his gaze evenly, unfazed by his anger. âIâm just offering advice.â
Before Louis could snap back, Melany quickly seized the opportunity.
âAllison, if you donât fully understand the process, itâs probably best not to interfere. We wouldnât want to disrupt Mr. Sugdenâs careful work, would we? After all, thereâs no one more qualified than him.â
Colton, who had been silently observing, let out a small sigh, his brow furrowing. âAllison, I know youâre skilled at painting, but this is a different field. The restoration process is crucial â especially since it means so much to Grandfather.â
Allison cast a sideways glance at him and nudged him gently with her elbow.
Sure enough, Coltonâs face went ghostly white, a sheen of sweat suddenly forming on his brow.
He still couldnât figure out why Gordon had beaten him and Melany so hard that night in the Underground. Had the auction been the real reason for his anger? Coltonâs thoughts scattered as he shifted uncomfortably, while Allison returned her attention to the painting.
âArt restoration isnât just a skill,â she said, her eyes tracing the contours of the damaged artwork. âItâs a craft. One that requires patience, sensitivity, and an understanding of history itself.
For works damaged by natural erosion or human interference, the restoration must honor the originalâs authenticity. You canât just change it at will.â
Her voice was smooth, but her gaze pierced through Louis like ice. His face, pale as ash, crumbled under her final, unrelenting blow.
âAnd what did you do just now? You were moments away from destroying the paintingâs very soul.â
Keanu blinked, his disbelief giving way to the slightest spark of hope. âMy girl, do you really have restoration skills like that?â
His earlier disappointment faded, replaced by a glimmer of something brighter. For the first time in a long while, he saw potential.
Colton, standing off to the side, was harder to read. His face tightened, emotions swirling beneath the surface. âImpossibleâ¦â he muttered, squinting his eyes as if trying to solve a riddle.
The woman before him wasnât who he thought she was.
Heâd believed he had her figured out, but now it hit himâhe barely knew her at all.
Her true self remained hidden, just out of reach, like a painting veiled behind layers of time.
Melany caught the subtle shift in Coltonâs expression, and her lips curled, resentment burning in her eyes.
âAllison, your knowledge is so vast, isnât it? I bet youâre an expert, too,â Melany muttered under her breath, bitterness coating every syllable.
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