NovelUSAChapter 501 Patricia Aldridge finally let a smile curl at her lips. "So, you're saying this painting really is one of your early works?" "Yes, it is. Why?" Selma's brow furrowed slightly. For sreason, a strange unease crept over her.
Patricia had been waiting for her to admit it in front of everyone.
She gestured, and another painting was carried over.
"In that case, did you create this painting as well?" There was quite a crowd in the room. As Patricia finished speaking, she had her assistant unveil the new painting.
The moment Selma got a clear look at it, her face changed tically. She stumbled back a step.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtElodie Thorne glanced at the painting and froze in shock.
Because- The painting Patricia had brought out was the missing bottom half of Winifred Thorne's diptych, "Extinction," the one created for the School of Art at Fairview University.
For years, aside from the top half-"Dwelling"-which Jarrod Silverstein had famously purchased for millions abroad, there had been not a single trace of the bottom half of the set.
How had Patricia suddenly gotten her hands on it? But more importantly, the bottom half was the smoking gun. Years ago, Winifred had promised the School of Art two paintings, but only "Dwelling" was ever delivered "Extinction" vanished without a trace. Later, Winifred had to create another series in a similar style for her graduation project. It was right then that the scandal broke: Selma accused Winifred of plagiarizing her own piece, "Delusion," and since Selma's submission had been dated earlier, the accusation stuck.
That was how Winifred's nwas dragged through the mud.
She never cleared her reputation-not even before she died. She'd worried about that maligned series until her final breath.
Sylvie Fielding shot to her feet, her expression changing in an instant as she anxiously looked toward Selma. Selma's mind was reeling.
She remembered that "Extinction" by Winifred Thorne had only recently resurfaced. Selma had thought nothing of it and tossed it into storage at a small gallery she'd bought after returning home, planning to deal with it later- or perhaps just leave it to gather dust forever, hidden away, while her own work basked in the spotlight at the front of the gallery, celebrated and adored.
It was the perfect symbol of the different fates she and Winifred had met.
How could Patricia have possibly found it...
"Well? Aren't you going to answer? Is this your work or not?" Patricia's voice was icy, her lips twisted in a mocking smile. "This 'Extinction' matches your 'Delusion' in composition almost exactly, doesn't it?" s Selma's composure was cracking, but she managed to say, "Of course-" After all, Winifred had never gotten the chance to sign "Extinction" before she died. Who was left to claim it, except Selma herself? "That's my mother's painting!" Elodie could no longer hold back; she was stunned by Selma's shamelessness. She stepped forward, her face cold, her voice steady as she stared Selma down. "This is my mother Winifred's original work, created for the School of Art at Fairview University-two parts! Miss Selma, how does it feel to have been stealing all these years?" The room erupted.
Today's event wasn't just a show for the public-many respected figures from the art world were present as well.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmNo one had expected bombshell news like this.
All eyes turned to Selma, faces twisted in disbelief.
Selma... a plagiarist?
The reporters who'd just been interviewing her swung their cameras toward her now pale face, sensing a headline too juicy to miss. Even Jarrod Silverstein's gaze was drawn to Elodie, now standing at the center of the storm.
Nearby, Maurice Nilsson, Joseph Delacroix, and even Grady Mercer could only stare in utter shock.
Sylvie's heart pounded as she shot a cold glare at Elodie. "Elodie, if you're Elodie here to cause trouble, 141 have no choice but to ask security to escort you out!" She was doing her best to maintain her polished image, carefully avoiding a more forceful word like "throw." Patricia looked a little surprised herself-she hadn't expected Elodie to get involved.
But then she turned to Sylvie, eyes narrowed. "This is my art museum, I and I won't tolerate filth on my floor.
Who exactly do you think you're bossing around here?"
Visit our social media platform to read fascinating stories every day and connect with the community!
