Chapter 11 A Million-Dollar Painting
“Having such a beautiful wife always attracts unwanted attention.” William pondered.
He was also quite troubled by this.
"Hi! Matthew Anderson is here! Come, sit here, sit next to Tyler."
Margaret was very enthusiastic. "You should have just come, why bring a gift? You're too polite!"
"It's Tyler's birthday, and it's only right."
Matthew Anderson smiled and took a seat next to Tyler.
It turned everyone's gaze toward William, now with a curiosity.
The Smith Family's son-in-law really was a pushover. An outsider could sit next to Tyler, yet he, the son-in-law, was relegated to the least important seat by the door.
Such blatant differential treatment was hard to miss.
Margaret looked at Matthew Anderson with a beaming smile, her eyes as eager as if she were looking at a future son-in-law. "We're so lucky. Matthew Anderson booked this private room; that's why we could dine at Alinea Restaurant."
At the mention of this, everyone looked at Matthew Anderson with admiration.
Booking a private room at Alinea Restaurant was a privilege reserved for members only!
And membership required spending over a million!
Now, that was a real tycoon.
Matthew Anderson was busy waving his hands modestly, but his expression couldn't hide his pride as he said, " It's nothing, just a small business success. It was thanks to my father's connections that I could book the room."
This was a blatant display of his wealth and family background.
But no one would call him out on it; On the contrary, they all flattered him enthusiastically.
"Matthew Anderson is really accomplished for his age."
"Whoever has a son-in-law like him is truly blessed."
In an instant, Matthew Anderson's reputation soared.
In contrast, William, sitting silently in the corner, was even more looked down upon.
People were the same, yet the disparity was so vast.
"I think Mary should have married Matthew Anderson. She would have been a wealthy lady by now."
Who knows who said this heart-stabbing remark?
The relatives all looked at William with schadenfreude, mocking him.
"Look at how pathetic he is. It's infuriating."
"He only knows how to deliver food, no ambition!"
“I heard his daughter is a frequent patient with congenital heart disease, which is incurable"
Familiar words, familiar faces.
William's brows chilled, but he said nothing.
He had grown accustomed to this over the past two years.
Mary was naturally uncomfortable, sitting with her husband, her face burning with embarrassment.
She stomped on William's foot under the table and glared at him, venting her dissatisfaction.
To be ridiculed like this, yet he still managed to sit there calmly as if nothing mattered.
Seeing William not speaking and just drinking water, the others lost interest in mocking him.
But then, Matthew Anderson, as if with his best interests at heart, spoke up, "William, my company is short-staffed. Why don't you come to work for me? Six or seven thousand a month should be no problem, much better than delivering food."
"No need. I'm quite happy delivering food," William replied indifferently.
‘If I told you I'm the heir to the world's largest financial conglomerate, you'd all have to kneel.
Money, in my eyes, is just a number.’ He pondered.
"Whatever he does, he can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."
Margaret said angrily, then her eyes shone brightly at Matthew Anderson, asking, " Matthew Anderson, what about that matter I entrusted to you last time?"
Matthew Anderson immediately replied with a smile, "Auntie, rest assured, it's been taken care of. The collection exhibition hosted by Tyler is impeccable."
Tyler, who had been upset, perked up immediately, smiling. "Matthew Anderson, I really appreciate it. Let's have a drink."
With that, the two raised their glasses and drank together.
After drinking, Matthew Anderson didn't forget to cast a proud glance at William in the corner. His attitude as arrogant as could be.
At the same time, his gaze lingered on Mary.
He had liked this woman for a long time.
But unfortunately, she married a loser!
‘Mary, I will make you see the difference between me and that good-for-nothing William!’ He mused.
"Mary, look how much Matthew Anderson cares about my affairs. Such a man is hard to find. Isn't he much better than that someone?" Margaret truly liked Matthew Anderson.
A wealthy family owned a small company and had social connections.
If her daughter married him, she would surely live a life of ease.
After saying this, she looked disdainfully at William.
Mary was already feeling down and could only manage an awkward smile.
William cared even less.
‘Let them say what they want.’ He brooded.
"Tyler, is it your personal collection exhibition?"
Many old friends now looked at Tyler with envy. In their circle, collecting antiques and paintings was common.
But to hold one's own collection exhibition was a matter of great prestige.
Unexpectedly, Tyler was about to have his own collection exhibition.
Seeing his good friends envious and jealous, Tyler felt even more proud, and his fondness for Matthew Anderson grew.
At the same time, his disdain for William intensified.
How did he ever agree to let Mary marry him?
No, he must make his daughter divorce that good-for-nothing!
Halfway through the banquet.
Matthew Anderson seemed to remember something, ran out, and returned with a long gift box, showing off to Tyler. "Tyler, I've brought you a special gift, and you'll definitely like it."
Everyone in the private room craned their necks to see, as they were very curious about what was in Matthew Anderson's long box.
Tyler, already in high spirits from the wine and the excitement of his personal collection exhibition, was even more delighted to see Matthew Anderson bringing him a gift.
"Matthew Anderson, you have booked a private room and organized an exhibition for me. Now , you also bought a gift for me. You’re so polite."
Tyler declined on the surface, but he was eager to see what it was.
Since Matthew Anderson said he would be satisfied, could it be an antique painting?
Matthew Anderson opened the gift box and carefully took out a scroll, very smugly saying, "This is a painting worth one million dollars. I went to great lengths to get it, and it's a special birthday gift I prepared for Tyler."
Saying this, Matthew Anderson couldn't help but raise his eyebrows proudly at William, who was still focused on his meal.
‘Such a loser, still eating at a time like this.
Has he never dined at Alinea Restaurant before?’ He thought mockingly.
William looked at Matthew Anderson's painting and frowned.
How come Matthew Anderson's gift was the same as the one he was about to give?
However, William's heart skipped a beat at that moment.
But he believed that Rex, a collector of some renown in the country, would not have given him a fake.
So, Matthew Anderson's painting must be a fake!
"A painting worth a million dollars?" Tyler was stunned, the alcohol effect completely gone.
This was a treasure!
Tyler excitedly and reverently took the scroll from Matthew Anderson, cleared the table, spread it open, and asked a waiter for a magnifying glass to examine it closely.
Around him, several old friends also looked over it again and again.
They were amazed!
Tyler's friends, who were also collectors, praised the painting after seeing it.
Tyler was naturally very excited, his breathing quickened as he said, "Matthew Anderson, thank you for giving me such a precious gift!"
"As long as Tyler is happy." Matthew Anderson smiled.
Just then, Nancy in the crowd asked loudly on purpose, "Cousin-in-law, I saw you brought something earlier. Is it a gift for Tyler?"
The moment she walked in, Nancy noticed the gift box in William's hand. Could anything brought by this loser be valuable?
Thinking about that night, Nancy was annoyed.
Suddenly, all eyes in the private room were on William, filled with coffee, waiting for the show.
William smiled awkwardly. "It's not worth much, there's no need to look."
"I know it's not valuable, but since it's a gift from the cousin-in-law to Tyler, let's see it, we won't laugh at you, will we?"
Nancy's eyes narrowed, and her face unable to hide a mocking smile.
She wanted him to make a fool of himself and see what he could possibly give!
"This, there's no need," William said as he took a sip of water, trying to decline.
To the onlookers, this seemed like he was feeling guilty.
It must be a trashy gift.
Matthew Anderson was waiting for the opportunity to humiliate William, and he interjected, "William, bring it out. Let's make Tyler happy, and let me see what kind of grand gift you've brought."
"Yes, bring it out for us all to see."
A group of people started egging him on.
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