Every stage of the painting makes everyone sober and when the face of her mother appears, it smiles broadly at her with moist eyes.
Arianna doesnât know if a smile of happiness makes someone have moist eyes in heaven or not. But one thing she knows is that her mom would be glad that sheâs found out who her father was.
âGo to him girl, please goâ A woman said aloud in the auditorium and a few others joined her by sniffling.
Abby Santiago looked away. His sister had become a star in the sky. Her daughter had painted a story of her life. How he wished that they knew about her early enough.
He wasnât going to wait any longer. He would acknowledge her as his niece and take her home to her grandma. He doesnât know who her father was, but he would stretch the hand out to her, and he hopes she accepts it.
He missed his sister very much. But more than he did, their mother hadnât stopped sitting by the window and looking out of it, if perhaps Susan would appear someday and walk through the door to her.
It took her years before she finally accepted the death of her daughter. And now, Susanâs daughter would be walking through the door to her henceforth.
Senator Adrian Delmarkâs eyes went red with pain. She just painted a picture of herself and Susan. He only appeared years later and stretched a hand to her.
He wished she had completed the painting. That she accepted her fatherâs outstretched arm. And she let him wipe the tears off.
Luke Gregoryâs eyes fixed on Ariannaâs painting. Hee sniffled and cleaned his tears again. He is also an artist. This painting meant a lot to her.
Sheâs either the girl in the painting or sheâs someone she knows very well. But the way her eyes were red and puffy, it might be her story.
He knows she won the overall winner of the contest already. But her painting was making him go emotional as well.
Everyone was asked to vote and Arianna got 85% of the votes. She was declared the overall winner of the contest.
The trophy was made of gold. Luke Gregory got second place and he was given a medal. When asked to dedicate her trophy she raised it up and said she dedicated it to her late Mom.
Everyone there realised sheâs the little girl in the painting. They suddenly were pleading with her to accept her dad and Ariannaâs eyes welled up in tears.
âHeâs here. He will acknowledge me if he wantsâ Arianna declared, holding her trophy and stepping down from the podium amidst applause.
Genesis met her midway and hugged. âWhy didnât you let everyone know that Senator Adrian Delmark is your dad? Why didnât you accept his outstretched hand before everyone here?â Genesis asked.
âI donât know if he was ready for it. So I have opened the floor and I hope he will take advantage of it. He already said he would acknowledge me as his daughter todayâ Arianna replied.
Genesis cupped Ariannaâs face in her hands âyou are an amazing woman, Aria and I am proud of youâ
âThank you Genesis, Thank you very muchâ Arianna stuttered. Other events took place before the president requested that he wanted to buy Ariannaâs painting.
âWith all due respect sir, that painting meant a lot to me. I would want to have itâ Senator Adrian Delmark requested.
âI want to have it too,â Abby Santiago declared.
The incumbent prime minister smiled broadly. He glanced at the two men and said âOkay, Iâll withdraw. The both of you should decideâ he said and took his place.
Arianna glared at the men. Itâs her painting. She could sell it and place a price tag on it. But how can she ever be able to sell that kind of a painting?
âI will have it Adrianâ Abby Santiago declared.
âI wonât let you have it, Abby. This painting meant a lot to me, I canât part with itâ Adrian Delmark insisted.
âYou know why I want to have it, right?â Abby asked, glaring at Adrian. Did he already know that Arianna is his niece, Susanâs daughter?
âMy reason might be similar to yoursâ Adrian Delmark replied and Abby squinted and suddenly withdrew. It seemed he wasnât the only one who knew Ariannaâs true identity.
âI would love to keep this painting because I am a part of itâAdrian Delmark declared and glanced around.
Everyone paid attention to what he would say next and he said âI want to use this opportunity to acknowledge my daughter, before everyone here that Miss Arianna is my biological daughterâ¦â
As the contest eventually came to an end, Senator Adrian Delmark, Richard and Arianna were taking pictures. The media suddenly seemed to be interested in their story.
Journalists were asking Adrian Delmark some questions and he answered them to the best of his knowledge.
Abby Santiago waited at the parking lot. Adrian had taken over the contest as all attention was being drawn to him. When he said he was Ariannaâs father, he almost didnât believe his ears.
So back then, Susan still got involved with Adrian? The love was overwhelming. He doesnât know why she has to pour her love so much on a man who is in love with someone else.
Jace Hudson had left shortly after he made everyone shiver at the compensation the Skyblue cooperation needed to offer Arianna Jason and in extension, the Hudsonâs holding.
âWe all should have dinner together right, dad?â Richard suggested. He had whispered a few things to Genesis and she smiled.
âThat would be amazing. Are you alright with it, Arianna?â Adrian Delmark asked, glaring at his daughter. Several bodyguards were standing a few distance away and waiting for the bossâ order.
âIâll ask Jace first, he might have prepared a special date for meâ Arianna declared and stepped aside and called Jace.
âDarling, I won,â Arianna chimed as soon as Jace answered the phone. She already saw the text he left for her. He said heâd left the premises of the contest.
âI streamed online. Congratulations my super girl. I will reward you handsomelyâ Jace applauded her âThank you. Itâs only possible because you gave me the best resources for the job and your best wishes were my strengthâ Arianna appreciated.
Jace smiled. She had no idea how impressed he was with her. He would make it up to her. Her impact on the future collaboration of the Hudsonâs holding will largely be based on the trophy she brought home.
âWhere are you now?â Jace asked.
âMy dad and brother want us to have dinner together. This is going to be my first time with them. I wanted to know if you want us to have dinner privately so I can promise them another dayâ Arianna asked.
âOh sure, go with them. I will be with you thereâ Jace replied. A megawatt smile appeared on his lips.
âI donât know the address yetâ Arianna said, looking back to see if Richard was near so she would ask him where the dinner was taking place, but no, he wasnât.
âIâll call Richard for the address. You donât worry about itâ Jace assured her. She soon returned to her friends but she saw Genesis was having a confrontation with Tessa and Richard was calming her down.