Chapter 13 Showdown at the Art Exhibit
Pearl could only close her eyes to hide her emotions. Their marriage was a transaction, and she couldn't indulge too much. She wondered if she'd be happier without this marriage, feeling exhausted by the endless cycle of disappointment and pain. The only relief she found was in these moments of physical intimacy, fleeting as they were.
Pearl opened her eyes to find Oscar already gone. Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, warming her face. She reached for her phone and saw a message from her friend Janetta:
[Pearl, there's an art exhibit this afternoon. Wanna come?]
Pearl replied simply:[Sure.]
After a quick wash and changed into a light blue dress, she went down the stairs and noticed a note and a bank card on the table.
The note was in Oscar's familiar handwriting: 'Pearl, I have an important meeting today and might be back late. This is a new bank card; the password is your birthday. Buy whatever you want, don't hold back. I love you.'
Pearl felt a warmth in her heart as she put it in her bag. Oscar had indeed making an effort to change, becoming more considerate and caring towards her.
Checking the time, she decided to head to the art exhibit first. She swapped into a pair of heels and grabbed her bag before stepping out.
Arriving at the address Janetta had sent her, Pearl was surprised to find it was the city's most famous art gallery. There were many people at the entrance, indicating the exhibition was very popularity.
"Pearl! Over here!" Janetta's voice called out. Pearl turned to see her friend waving at her.
"Janetta, long time no see." Pearl smiled and hugged her.
Janetta looked Pearl up and down. "You look stunning today! That dress suits you perfectly."
Pearl smiled and replied, "Thanks. You look amazing too."
They chatted as they entered the gallery. The atmosphere inside was refreshing, with walls adorned with various paintings—abstract, realistic, impressionist—each exuding artistic flair.
Janetta excitedly dragged Pearl around, explaining the background and concepts of some pieces. Though Pearl wasn't an art expert, she found herself captivated by these works.
"Pearl, let meet introduce some friends to you." Janetta led her to a group of people.
"This is my good friend Pearl," Janetta introduced. "This is the renowned painter Aaron Patterson, art critic Bethany Jenkins, and up-and-coming artist George Barnes."
Pearl politely greeted each person. They had a lively conversation about art, life, and work. Even though Pearl wasn't from the art world, her eloquence and insight impressed everyone.
Just as they chatted animatedly, a commotion erupted from Exhibition Exhibition Hall C.
"What's going on over there?" Pearl asked curiously.
Janetta frowned. "Seems like a celebrity showed up. Let's check it out."
They headed to Exhibition Exhibition Hall C, where a large crowd had gathered. Pearl stood on tiptoe to see what was happening. Suddenly, her gaze froze.
In the center of the crowd stood a familiar figure—Haley.
Haley was dressed in a gorgeous gown, chatting animatedly with those around her, a smug smile on her face.
"This dress cost about two hundred thousand dollars." Haley's voice carried over. "It was custom-made by a top designer."
Upon hearing the amount, Pearl felt a pang in her heart. She remembered the time Oscar had spent this amount of money on Haley and clenched her fists.
Just then, Haley's eyes landed on Pearl. Her gaze sharpened instantly.
The crowd seemed to sense the tension and paused to watch.
"Well, isn’t this pearl?" Haley approached, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at work? Did Oscar actually let you come to a place like this?"
Pearl took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. "Ms. Garcia, I'm surprised that you are interested in art."
Haley scanned Pearl up and down, her eyes lingering on the dress. "No, I just didn't expect to see you here."
Haley chuckled. "Oh, so do you think you're the only one who understands art appreciation? Don't forget, I'm an actress. My sense of beauty is way sharper than most."
Pearl shot back, "Oh, an actress. I heard your acting has improved a lot lately, especially in the 'mistress' role. Very convincing."
Haley's expression darkened instantly. "What do you mean by that?"
Pearl smiled. "Nothing, just that your acting is so good, you even play the role perfectly in real life."
Haley sneered. "You think I'm the mistress? What about you? Don't forget, you stole Oscar from me. You are the mistress!"
Pearl felt a stab of pain but held it together. "Ms. Garcia, you’ve got it wrong. Oscar and I are legally married. You're just a part of his past."
A flicker of anger flashed in Haley's eyes. "Do you think a marriage certificate means you have his heart? Don’t be naive! The person Oscar loves most will always be me!"
Pearl felt like her heart was being ripped apart, but she held back her tears, maintaining her composure. "Is that so? Then you should cherish it."
The crowd, drawn by the heated argument, started taking photos and videos. Someone whispered, "Isn't that Haley? Why is she arguing with someone?"
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