Chapter 137

With long, straight legs, Jeremiah strode toward Yvette, while Wyatt hurried to follow. The crowd’s gazes followed him the entire way–some amazed, some suspicious, others shocked, and some deep in thought.

Jeremiah approached Yvette just as she finished a piece of dessert.

Yvette lifted her head, her long, pale neck gleaming, the hint of her collarbones showing through, her flawless face meeting Jeremiah’s eyes.

Jeremiah looked down, his brows carrying a hint of a smile, his voice magnetic and pleasant. “You look beautiful today.”

Yvette leaned back lazily, raising her eyelids slightly, her expression still somewhat indifferent. A faint cold mist seemed to linger in her eyes, with a touch of wildness. She said casually, “Only today?”

Jeremiah was clearly stunned for a moment when he heard that. Did she just tease me?‘ But a hint of joy rose in his heart. He gazed at Yvette, serious and focused, raising his eyebrows slightly. “You’ve always looked beautiful.”

Yvette rested her hand on her chin, her voice light and slow. “I know. I’ve always been beautiful.”

Sienna rubbed her forehead, glancing around at the ladies, all glaring daggers at Yvette. She really wanted to say, “Boss, you’re not just good–looking, you’re drop–dead gorgeous. But could you tone it down a little? Can’t you see all these women are practically ready to eat you alive?” But given the overwhelming presence of this man who had just appeared, she kept her mouth shut. She’s not dumb. She could clearly see that the two of them were flirting, commonly known as “dog abuse,” and she was the dog closest to the action.

Simon, sitting nearby, never expected Yvette to say something like that. He coughed awkwardly. “Well... I didn’t realize this kid had a slight narcissistic streak. But I guess it’s not really narcissism, more like speaking the truth. After all my years of living, Yvette is indeed the prettiest student I’ve ever had. No argument there!

The corner of Jeremiah’s mouth remained upturned, but this expression was reserved only for Yvette. His gaze briefly swept over Sienna, who wore a nosy look, making his meaning abundantly clear.

Sienna shot up and excitedly said to Jeremiah, “I’ll be back!” She then stormed off to sit at a seat farther away from Yvette. Jeremiah naturally took Sienna’s former seat, nodded politely at Simon, and then focused solely on Yvette. Yvette glanced at him with her pretty eyes, pressed her lips together, and said nothing.

To those around them, this was as good as Yvette giving tacit approval to his actions. ‘So, are they a couple?”

“I’ve heard that the Carter family broke off their engagement with Yvette and switched to Winona. Looks like it’s true. Otherwise, how could she be sitting so openly with another man?”

“Yvette really has it made, huh? First, she was found by the Chambers family, and now she’s got this handsome, amazing boyfriend. And on top of that, she looks like that? Life sure is unfair.”

“I used to think Victor was pretty handsome, but compared to this guy, the difference is just too much.”

Victor had just walked into the garden with Nellie and Winona when he overheard this. He was instantly fuming, but when he saw the man sitting next to Yvette, his anger deflated. The most frustrating thing was that they weren’t wrong–he knew he couldn’t compare, so all he could do was sulk in silence.

Winona already knew that after the apprenticeship ceremony, the two families would officially announce her engagement to Victor, so she had given up on Jeremiah for now. She wasn’t foolish. Her mother was right–her priority now was to secure Victor.

As for Jeremiah, I won’t give up on him in the future if the chance arises. For now, I’ll just put it aside.

At the center of the garden, Cyanbird’s painting, gifted to Winona, was prominently displayed on the faux wall.

1/3 10:39 Fri, Oct 11 B Chapter 137 Richard had taken the main seat, with Zachary, Nellie, Robert, and Yulia beside him.

Everyone had tacitly agreed to drop the earlier incident, and Richard had returned to his usual arrogant self.

࿄ ས 3 84%=

0 +5 Zachary had just announced to everyone that the apprenticeship ceremony would be held first. This decision brightened Winona’s mood considerably, as it showed Zachary still valued her and understood what was important. That’s why he put her apprenticeship ceremony ahead of Yvette’s recognition event. Winona paused deliberately as she passed Yvette, a hint of smugness on her face. “Sis, I’m going up first.”

Yvette didn’t even acknowledge her, not bothering to open her eyes, just curling her lips coldly.

Winona was furious at her reaction but didn’t dare lose her temper in front of Jeremiah, so she gritted her teeth and walked away.

The apprenticeship ceremony went by quickly, the whole process taking just twenty minutes.

During that time, Yvette kept her eyes closed, resting. Everyone assumed she was jealous of her younger sister and didn’t want to watch, but those nearby could hear her soft, steady breathing...

Jeremiah shifted slightly, blocking the breeze blowing from afar. From a distance, it looked like Yvette was cradled in his arms.

Wyatt noticed the subtle gesture, his eyes darkening. ‘Looks like Jeremiah has truly fallen for her. But can Yvette pass the test set by the old chief?‘

After the ceremony, Winona officially became Richard’s last student. With this title, she gained significant confidence, knowing she now had the strongest backing in the field of oil painting.

Everyone raised their glasses to congratulate Winona, seemingly having forgotten the earlier events, and she quickly returned to her initial air of triumph.

At that moment, a man in his forties, wearing glasses and ordinary clothes, walked into the garden and shouted, “Hold on! I’ve got something to say.”

The crowd turned to see the stranger who had just barged in...

It was none other than Richard’s nemesis, Cole Paben, the current vice president of the Art Association. He despised Richard’s corrupt, nepotistic ways, using his power for personal gain and running the association into chaos. Back when the previous president was in charge, the Art Association had always been fair and just. But Richard had used underhanded tactics to drive the old president out, and now he was trying to elevate his new last student within the association. Cole could not tolerate this, so upon learning about it, he rushed to Seacrity overnight.

He had already heard a secret about Winona from the former president. ‘How could a little girl tell such an outrageous lie and fool everyone? I absolutely cannot let someone like Winona enter the Art Association.‘

Richard’s murky eyes glared at Cole. ‘Why is he meddling in this? What does my taking on a student have to do with him?” “Mr.

Paben, why aren’t you overseeing the Art Association in Betrico? What brings you to Seacrity?”

Some people only now recognized him–Cole Paben, the Art Association’s vice president and one of the most internationally awarded national oil painters. Word spread quickly, and soon the whole garden knew his identity.

Ignoring Richard, Cole fixed his gaze on Winona, standing next to the painting in the center of the stage. His eyes narrowed, sharp and cold, as he asked, “Winona, right?”

Winona panicked under his gaze. “Yes, Mr. Paben.”

Cole took a step forward, his presence imposing as he pointed to the painting behind her. “You said this was a gift from Cyanbird?”

With long, straight legs, Jeremiah strode toward Yvette, while Wyatt hurried to follow. The crowd’s gazes followed him the entire way–some amazed, some suspicious, others shocked, and some deep in thought.

Jeremiah approached Yvette just as she finished a piece of dessert.

Yvette lifted her head, her long, pale neck gleaming, the hint of her collarbones showing through, her flawless face meeting Jeremiah’s eyes.

Jeremiah looked down, his brows carrying a hint of a smile, his voice magnetic and pleasant. “You look beautiful today.”

Yvette leaned back lazily, raising her eyelids slightly, her expression still somewhat indifferent. A faint cold mist seemed to linger in her eyes, with a touch of wildness. She said casually, “Only today?”

Jeremiah was clearly stunned for a moment when he heard that. Did she just tease me?‘ But a hint of joy rose in his heart. He gazed at Yvette, serious and focused, raising his eyebrows slightly. “You’ve always looked beautiful.”

Yvette rested her hand on her chin, her voice light and slow. “I know. I’ve always been beautiful.”

Sienna rubbed her forehead, glancing around at the ladies, all glaring daggers at Yvette. She really wanted to say, “Boss, you’re not just good–looking, you’re drop–dead gorgeous. But could you tone it down a little? Can’t you see all these women are practically ready to eat you alive?” But given the overwhelming presence of this man who had just appeared, she kept her mouth shut. She’s not dumb. She could clearly see that the two of them were flirting, commonly known as “dog abuse,” and she was the dog closest to the action.

Simon, sitting nearby, never expected Yvette to say something like that. He coughed awkwardly. “Well... I didn’t realize this kid had a slight narcissistic streak. But I guess it’s not really narcissism, more like speaking the truth. After all my years of living, Yvette is indeed the prettiest student I’ve ever had. No argument there!

The corner of Jeremiah’s mouth remained upturned, but this expression was reserved only for Yvette. His gaze briefly swept over Sienna, who wore a nosy look, making his meaning abundantly clear.

Sienna shot up and excitedly said to Jeremiah, “I’ll be back!” She then stormed off to sit at a seat farther away from Yvette.

Jeremiah naturally took Sienna’s former seat, nodded politely at Simon, and then focused solely on Yvette. Yvette glanced at him with her pretty eyes, pressed her lips together, and said nothing.

To those around them, this was as good as Yvette giving tacit approval to his actions. ‘So, are they a couple?”

“I’ve heard that the Carter family broke off their engagement with Yvette and switched to Winona. Looks like it’s true. Otherwise, how could she be sitting so openly with another man?”

“Yvette really has it made, huh? First, she was found by the Chambers family, and now she’s got this handsome, amazing boyfriend. And on top of that, she looks like that? Life sure is unfair.”

“I used to think Victor was pretty handsome, but compared to this guy, the difference is just too much.”

Victor had just walked into the garden with Nellie and Winona when he overheard this. He was instantly fuming, but when he saw the man sitting next to Yvette, his anger deflated. The most frustrating thing was that they weren’t wrong–he knew he couldn’t compare, so all he could do was sulk in silence.

Winona already knew that after the apprenticeship ceremony, the two families would officially announce her engagement to Victor, so she had given up on Jeremiah for now. She wasn’t foolish. Her mother was right–her priority now was to secure Victor.

As for Jeremiah, I won’t give up on him in the future if the chance arises. For now, I’ll just put it aside.

At the center of the garden, Cyanbird’s painting, gifted to Winona, was prominently displayed on the faux wall.

1/3 10:39 Fri, Oct 11 B Chapter 137 Richard had taken the main seat, with Zachary, Nellie, Robert, and Yulia beside him.

Everyone had tacitly agreed to drop the earlier incident, and Richard had returned to his usual arrogant self.

࿄ ས 3 84%=

0 +5 Zachary had just announced to everyone that the apprenticeship ceremony would be held first. This decision brightened Winona’s mood considerably, as it showed Zachary still valued her and understood what was important. That’s why he put her apprenticeship ceremony ahead of Yvette’s recognition event. Winona paused deliberately as she passed Yvette, a hint of smugness on her face. “Sis, I’m going up first.”

Yvette didn’t even acknowledge her, not bothering to open her eyes, just curling her lips coldly.

Winona was furious at her reaction but didn’t dare lose her temper in front of Jeremiah, so she gritted her teeth and walked away.

The apprenticeship ceremony went by quickly, the whole process taking just twenty minutes.

During that time, Yvette kept her eyes closed, resting. Everyone assumed she was jealous of her younger sister and didn’t want to watch, but those nearby could hear her soft, steady breathing...

Jeremiah shifted slightly, blocking the breeze blowing from afar. From a distance, it looked like Yvette was cradled in his arms.

Wyatt noticed the subtle gesture, his eyes darkening. ‘Looks like Jeremiah has truly fallen for her. But can Yvette pass the test set by the old chief?‘

After the ceremony, Winona officially became Richard’s last student. With this title, she gained significant confidence, knowing she now had the strongest backing in the field of oil painting.

Everyone raised their glasses to congratulate Winona, seemingly having forgotten the earlier events, and she quickly returned to her initial air of triumph.

At that moment, a man in his forties, wearing glasses and ordinary clothes, walked into the garden and shouted, “Hold on! I’ve got something to say.”

The crowd turned to see the stranger who had just barged in...

It was none other than Richard’s nemesis, Cole Paben, the current vice president of the Art Association. He despised Richard’s corrupt, nepotistic ways, using his power for personal gain and running the association into chaos. Back when the previous president was in charge, the Art Association had always been fair and just. But Richard had used underhanded tactics to drive the old president out, and now he was trying to elevate his new last student within the association. Cole could not tolerate this, so upon learning about it, he rushed to Seacrity overnight.

He had already heard a secret about Winona from the former president. ‘How could a little girl tell such an outrageous lie and fool everyone? I absolutely cannot let someone like Winona enter the Art Association.‘

Richard’s murky eyes glared at Cole. ‘Why is he meddling in this? What does my taking on a student have to do with him?” “Mr.

Paben, why aren’t you overseeing the Art Association in Betrico? What brings you to Seacrity?”

Some people only now recognized him–Cole Paben, the Art Association’s vice president and one of the most internationally awarded national oil painters. Word spread quickly, and soon the whole garden knew his identity.

Ignoring Richard, Cole fixed his gaze on Winona, standing next to the painting in the center of the stage. His eyes narrowed, sharp and cold, as he asked, “Winona, right?”

Winona panicked under his gaze. “Yes, Mr. Paben.”

Cole took a step forward, his presence imposing as he pointed to the painting behind her. “You said this was a gift from Cyanbird?”