Chapter 256

Chapter 256:

Did Madisyn and her parents have the nerve to claim it wasn’t intentional? Their behavior was utterly disgraceful.

Just then, Bruno Klein, Andrew’s uncle, arrived with his wife, Dora Klein. “Damari, who are these people…” Dora began as she noticed the crowd in the living room. Her eyes quickly found Madisyn, who stood out with her stunning beauty.

“They’re from the Johns family. This here is Rowan Johns,” Damari said. Dora and Bruno recognized Glenn but weren’t acquainted with Rowan. Hearing the quick introduction, they simply nodded in acknowledgment.

With little work to occupy their time, they often visited Damari. With more people around, Courtney thought of an idea. “Mr. Klein, since this is my first visit, I brought a gift for you,” Courtney said with a warm smile as she presented the painting she bought.

The moment the painting was revealed, it caught everyone’s eye. “Is this a piece by Atley?” Bruno asked right away.

“Yes,” Courtney replied, surprised by Bruno’s knowledge. She smiled and continued, “Atley’s works are extremely rare. This painting was particularly hard to come by.”

“It’s fantastic,” Bruno said, clearly admiring the painting. He turned to Damari and added, “Dad, Miss Johns must have put a lot of effort into getting this gift for you. Knowing your love for antiques, she bought this landscape painting by Atley specifically for you.”

As Bruno spoke, he glanced at Glenn, thinking of the marriage agreement between their two families. If Glenn’s daughter married Andrew, it would put Bruno at a disadvantage. Consequently, Bruno was determined to sabotage the marriage agreement and chose to heap praise on Courtney instead.

Courtney, feeling a bit embarrassed, blushed slightly. Damari accepted the painting and examined it with a neutral expression, giving a slight nod. “This painting must be quite pricey,” Dora remarked.

“Yes, it cost eight million dollars,” Courtney replied quietly. Even the Klein couple were taken aback by the high price. An eight-million-dollar painting was indeed expensive. Damari looked at Courtney and said, “Thank you for the gift!”

Sarai seized the moment to say, “Courtney has always admired you, Mr. Klein. She was really thrilled that she could come to visit you today.”

Courtney smiled and added in a soft, sweet tone, “Yes, I truly believe you’re amazing.” Compliments are certainly well received by everyone. Damari responded with a slow, approving nod. Courtney felt a surge of pride and deliberately glanced at Madisyn.

“Oh, Madisyn, you’ve also brought a gift, haven’t you?” Glenn carefully retrieved the tea he had prepared and explained, “Mr. Klein, this tea is a favorite of both my father and you. After my father passed, I realized it would be a shame for me to drink it since I don’t know much about tea. So, I brought it here especially for you.”

As Damari looked at the tea, his expression shifted suddenly. Memories of his long friendship with Nolan flooded his mind. Damari sighed deeply and said, “You have always been a thoughtful person.”

Glenn continued, “Really, I don’t know much about tea. Since you enjoy it so much, I figured it’s better off with you. It would just go to waste if I drank it.” Damari understood that Glenn was being modest. He knew that, as a businessman, Glenn would be well-versed in tea. He simply wanted to offer a thoughtful gift.

Damari carefully set the tea aside, handling it with care. He and Nolan had once selected these tea leaves together, and such a moment could never be repeated.

Courtney was surprised that Glenn could once again catch Damari’s attention with just a few words. This only made her dislike him even more.

“Madisyn, what about you? Didn’t you prepare a gift too?” Courtney asked with feigned innocence. Madisyn glanced over at her. Though she appeared sweet, Courtney was cunning inside. She was only hoping to see Madisyn stumble.

Given the circumstances, Madisyn decided she wouldn’t hold back. “Yes, Mr. Klein, I’ve brought a gift for you as well,” she said with a slight smile.

“Oh, really?” Damari responded, looking at her curiously. Madisyn reached into her bag and carefully pulled out a beautifully crafted box. Inside was the landscape painting she got from the street stall. She gently laid the painting on the table, unfolding it slowly and deliberately.

The painting revealed a magnificent waterfall and towering, lush trees. The powerful imagery immediately captivated everyone, drawing their admiration. All eyes were fixed on the breathtaking scene in the painting.

Courtney was stunned. She stared at the painting as if time had stopped, completely lost in its beauty. She hadn’t seen this painting when Madisyn bought it, and now she realized just how breathtaking it really was.

The rest of the group was equally captivated by the painting’s artistic depth, with even Damari unable to take his eyes off it. Despite the awe in the room, Courtney found the situation absurd. What a fool Madisyn was! Did she really believe this painting was valuable just because it was beautiful?

“This is an impressive painting,” Damari admitted, clearly impressed. “But I can’t say I recognize the artist.”

“Why don’t you take a guess?” Madisyn suggested with a playful smile.

Damari rubbed his chin thoughtfully before speaking. “The brushwork here is deep, and the artistic vision is exceptional. It’s certainly not the work of just any artist. It actually reminds me of Curtis Vasquez, Atley’s teacher. However, most of Curtis’s works were taken abroad, leaving only a few in our country.”

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