Chapter 432:
ð ð ð ð ð
Under the watchful eyes of everyone in the room, he carefully opened the long mahogany box he had been holding.
In the bright, almost dazzling light, a painting lay nestled inside, its brilliance captivating the room.
âMs. Clarke, here is the painting you requested,â Sherman said, gently lifting the artwork from its box. âIt is the last surviving original by Mr. Gregory Lloyd, Mr. Kellan Lloydâs grandfather.â
Allison paused. She hadnât anticipated that the painting would be from Kellanâs late grandfather, Gregory.
It dawned on her that she had recognized the artistâs signature by coincidence, having seen a similar piece at the Lloyd family estate. That memory had led her to contact Kellan to borrow it, and now, standing before her was Gregoryâs other work, a legacy that had withstood time.
âItâs my fault.â Keanu spoke softly, gripping his cane for support as a servant helped him approach the painting. âMy old friend, Gregory, was a true artist, unparalleled in skill, yet by the time he passed, only these two paintings remained.â
His voice trailed off.
In truth, Gregory had spent his life laboring tirelessly, sacrificing for his family.
Even in death, he left behind a few physical remnants of his artistry.
As Keanuâs hand lightly grazed the canvas, he was transported back to the carefree days of their youth.
âI never thought Iâd have the chance to see another one of his works,â he whispered, his eyes reddening with emotion.
âKellan, I thank you, but this painting is far too precious,â Keanu added, hesitating.
Sensing the weight of the moment, Allison finally spoke up. âMr. Lloyd,â
Allison turned toward the doorway, addressing Kellan with a calm but serious tone, echoing Keanuâs concerns. âI borrowed this painting from you to help restore another thatâs been damaged.â
She began explaining the restoration process to Kellan, carefully outlining the possible risks.
âYouâll need to reference and even trace your painting. Despite our best efforts, thereâs no absolute guarantee that an accident wonât occurâ¦â
At this point, the unpredictable risks of the situation were becoming increasingly evident.
Allison, having just learned that this painting was Gregoryâs final masterpiece, felt a responsibility to make everything crystal clear.
âIf you have second thoughts, itâs not too late to change your mind,â she added.
She braced herself for the possibility that Kellan might retract his offer.
She respected his choice.
After all, this piece was not just any painting; it was a relic of his familyâs legacy, something irreplaceable.
.
.
.