139 Shouldn't You Apologize?
"My God."
The moment Adeline's hand tore through the painting, Stella's voice rang out in shock, "That's Master Sebastian's favorite piece!"
"Adeline, even if you despise me, you wouldn't destroy it just because I cherish it, would you?"
The gallery was sparsely populated that night, and the lighting where they were was dim, so no one had taken notice of the commotion until then.
Stella's cry drew everyone's gaze to them in an instant.
Before Adeline could regain her footing, she was met with condemning stares and voices all around her.
"What's the point of attending an art show if you can't appreciate art?"
"I heard someone offered ten million for Master Sebastian's painting, yetand he didn't even sell it!"
"My goodness! , Ccan she even afford the damages?"
"Jealous women are terrifying. How can she, destroying something just because someone else holds it dear?"
...
The murmuring from the crowd grew louder around her.
Adeline let out a resigned smirk.
She blocked out the noises behind her and turned to look at the hole her palm had made in the painting.
SAlways, she'd thought Stella to be a mastermind, someone who never lets their true feelings show.
After all, one must possess great patience and determination to learn everything about another person and masquerade as them painstakingly.
But she was wrong.
This Stella was far more nefarious than she had imagined.
"Miss!,"
The gallery manager's cold voice broke from behind, "You've damaged a Master Sebastian original. There will be consequences. "
"You have three options: pay for the damages, replace the painting, or take legal action. "
"Which one will it be?"
Adeline turned to look at the gallery manager indifferently, "What if I told you there's more to the story of why I damaged the painting?"
Stella chuckled lightly, "Miss Wilson, are you trying to say you had a reason to purposely destroy Master Sebastian's work just because of a grievance with me? What hidden story could there possibly be?"
Then, feigning fairness, she turned to the gallery manager and said, "However, since she claims so, we should probably check the surveillance footage. "
"What if she truly is innocent?"
After a moment's thought, the gallery manager said, "Please, follow me."
The group headed to the security office.
"Manager, due to an oversight in arrangement, the area where this famous painting is..." A
A staff member in the security office started hesitantly, "It can't be seen on the monitors."
"What kind of operation are we running here?"
The gallery manager was about to erupt in anger when an employee quickly interjected, "But I just checked the surveillance footage, and I saw someone standing in a spot with a clear view of what happened to that painting!"
"And according to the footage, his eyes were indeed fixed on the direction of the painting at the time of the incident!"
"If we can just get his testimony..."
The manager frowned, "Well, what are you waiting for? Get him over here to testify!"
Their conversation caused Stella's brow to furrow deeply.
When she had pushed Adeline, s...
She had been so thorough, sure that there were no cameras. She thought, and nobody had seen them!
How could...
She paused, then stepped forward, "But getting someone to testify doesn't necessarily mean it will be fair, right?"
"People aren't machines; they can't be a hundred percent impartial. What if this witness is a friend of Adeline's? Then we'd all be duped, rightwouldn't we?"
The manager hesitated, glancing at the man on the surveillance monitor.
"This man won't lie."
He chuckled lightly, pointing at the man on the screen, "Mr. Foster is our sponsor for this exhibition, and your husband, Mrs. Foster, isn't he?"
Stella froze, then hurriedly looked attoward the screen.—
It indeed was Jasper.
In a corner on the second floor, he was on the phone.
And his gaze was directed precisely where she had pushed Adeline.
Stella's face went pale in an instant.
"Mr. Foster is this exhibition's sponsor, and your spouse, Mrs. Foster. He will surely be fair in his judgment."
With those words, the manager quickly ordered his staff, "Go bring Mr. Foster over here!"
Stella's complexion turned ghastly.
She was filled with remorse.
Jasper had seen her push Adeline.
She had just returned to his side, and he was already cautious around her. If he found out she wasn't as kind and gentle as she appeared, w...
Would he start to doubt her?
"Miss Wilson."
The gallery manager glanced at Adeline indifferently, "Whether you intentionally damaged this painting or you were framed, we'll know the truth once Mr. Foster arrives."
Adeline stood still, her hands clenched into fists by her sides.
Stella had accused her of ruining Master Sebastian's work, and she had hoped to clear her name through the surveillance footage and other eyewitnesses.
But she hadn't anticipated that the painting was in a blind spot of the cameras.
And even more unexpectedly, the only eyewitness was Jasper.
She closed her eyes.
Would he speak the truth for her?
"Mr. Foster, this way, please."
Flanked by the sycophantic tones of the staff, the tall and commanding figure entered the surveillance room.
As he stepped into the room, his gaze quickly swept over Stella and Adeline, and he immediately grasped the situation.
The man elegantly produced a check, scribbling down ten million dollars, "Give this to Mr. Sebastian. If it's not enoughinsufficient, my secretary will settle the differencescan arrange the difference."
"This painting is on me," he declared.
His statement sent a ripple of shock through those present.
The gallery manager furrowed his brows, "Mr. Foster, we asked you here to give a testimony…"
Mr. Foster raised his icy stare, barely glancing at the man, "As I said, the painting is on me."
The manager wanted to protest but fell silent under the chilling glare of Mr. Foster.
This Mr. Foster was not a man to be trifled with!
In the beginning, all he wanted was someone to compensate for the damaged art.
Now that Jasper was willing to pay up, the question of who was responsible seemed trivial.
He quickly bowed his head, "Thank you, Mr. Foster., Ttake care."
Jasper hummed indifferently and took slow steps toward Stella.
Stella instinctively lowered her head to avoid his penetrating eyes.
He sighed softly, his arms gently wrapping around Stella's waist, "Let's go."
With that, he escorted Stella past Adeline.
He did not spare Adeline a single glance from beginning to end.
Standing still, Adeline watched his retreating figure with a bitter heart.
She should have expected it. He would always protect Stella.
She didn't know why she was being foolish, hoping he might reveal the truth and vindicate her.
"Mr. Foster."
Just as Jasper was leaving with Stella, a clear male voice called out from behind.
All eyes followed the voice.
ThereIn the crowd, he stood a man in a trench coat with a gentle, graceful demeanor, smiling at the assembly.
Their eyes widened in shock.
"Master Sebastian?"
The man waved casually at them, then chuckled while watching Jasper walk away, "Your wifelady damaged my painting. Besidesyond the money, doesn't she owe me an apology?"
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