Chapter 164 The Art Exhibition
Fiona couldn't help laughing and crying at the sight.
She put down her flowers and woke up Ashton.
"Back already?" yawned Ashton.
"Let's each take one and get them to bed." Fiona suggested.
Ashton nodded, still groggy, picked up Charles, who was closest to her, and carried him upstairs.
Charles half-woke, blurred-eyed, saw his mom waving at him, and let his head drop back to sleep.
Fiona, with a smile, scooped up Chicago, who was sleeping like a little piglet, and couldn't resist giving her cute cheek a kiss.
Then she too climbed the stairs.
Fiona gently kissed each of them goodnight, whispered softly that she loved them, and quietly left the room.
"How's it going? Is the project coming together?" Ashton yawned.
"More or less." nodded Fiona.
"I've nearly cleared up my company's affairs, and I can finally rest for a few days." said Ashton, visibly relaxing.
Fiona congratulated her, then abruptly changed the subject, "By the way, I would have forgotten if you hadn't mentioned resting. Auntie said you've been ignoring her calls?"
Ashton froze, her expression quickly falling, "Tomorrow, Chris's prospective match is coming to dine at my mother's, and she insists I attend. But with Chicago's art exhibition, how could I possibly not go to that?"
Fiona looked at Ashton, "What are you talking about? It's not like the exhibition needs you there all day."
Ashton simply said, "Either way, I don't want to go."
Then, as if afraid Fiona would ask something else, she quickly retreated to her own room.
Fiona stood still, her lips pursed, her face full of concern.
When did Ashton start acting so secretive? It seemed to coincide with Chris's suitor's appearance.
For a moment, Fiona felt as though she was on the verge of grasping something significant, but before she could discern what it was, the thought dissipated.
"Never mind, she's not a child anyway..." Fiona patted her forehead. She had been so exhausted these past few days that her head felt numb. After taking a shower in her room, she went downstairs, picked up a sunflower, and placed it on Chicago's little desk upstairs.
The next morning came quickly.
While Fiona was still getting ready, she heard Chicago's excited squeal. Fiona dried her face and shortly after, Chicago came running into her room, clutching the sunflower.
"Mommy!"
Leaving the washroom with a smile, Fiona watched Chicago. "Today marks your first art exhibit in Armie Country, this is a celebration gift." Fiona said, gently touching Chicago's little head.
"Thank you, Mommy, I super-duper love it!"
"How about you wear that dress with the sunflowers for the exhibit?" Fiona suggested.
"Mhm!" Chicago nodded eagerly.
By breakfast, Chicago was dressed in her little dress, accompanied by a matching hat. Stuart, skillful and creative, styled her hair into two small braids, adorning them with little flowers.
"Who would believe that Stuart is a mercenary?" Ashton leaned against the bar, stirring her cereal. He might appear quite clumsy, but Stuart had an amazing knack for doing a little girl's hair, better than Fiona and Ashton combined.
Fiona watched, astonished every time by the scene. After finishing the braids, a slightly blushing Stuart turned to the onlookers. "Uncle Stuart is so cool!" Chicago, very pleased with her reflection in the mirror, beamed, boosting Stuart's pride.
Fiona's heart swelled with contentment. Since Chicago was born and gradually grew up, Stuart, once inseparable from Janna, began to share his attentions with Chicago until the present moment.
After breakfast, the whole family headed to the art gallery.
Among the artworks on display, were two of Chicago's notable pieces. One was a romantic portrayal of a birch forest with a cottage under a blue sky, and the other seemed beyond the skills of a child her age.
As the exhibit began, several people gathered around the second painting. When they read about the young artist, they were surprised and skeptical.
"Could a child really paint this well?"
"Even if the form is there, where does this sense of compassion come from?"
"There are several young artists featured today, but you can usually tell children's paintings at a glance... This one seems too advanced!"
Such comments filled the air.
"A bunch of fools who can't grasp the world of a genius." Ashton rolled her eyes after hearing these doubts, sharing an amused look with Fiona.
Fiona's gaze was cool and distant. "In a while, they'll be proven wrong."
"Hm?" Ashton looked puzzled.
Fiona didn't say much.
Gradually, the art show became crowded.
Wearing a mask and a fisherman's hat, Fiona kept an incredibly low profile.
She had thought that today's event would be just like any other art show she'd attended before.
That was until she took a work call and was about to head back. She turned around to see a man and a woman entering the art show.
From where she stood, they couldn't see her, but she had a clear view of them. It was Lilian and Darwin.
After five and a half years, she finally saw Darwin again.
He had gotten his wish. He was together with his long-cherished first love.
"Today's exhibition will include an auction, it's a charity sale, and the proceeds from the paintings will go to building schools for impoverished children." Lilian explained to Darwin softly as they registered at the front desk.
Darwin merely grunted in response.
"I plan to bid on two paintings to take back with me. The villa at Emerald Pool is almost done being decorated, I think it just needs some artwork!"
Fiona walked past them, overhearing Lilian's last sentence.
So, Darwin gave the villa at Emerald Pool to Lilian?
Good for them.
Darwin got caught in the rain yesterday.
He wasn't feeling too well today, his head somewhat groggy.
After a mild cough, he replied, "It's your house, you do with it as you please."
Lilian glanced at him, then nonchalantly asked, "Hasn't the villa at Emerald Pool been ready for over a year? When do you plan to move in?"
Darwin, taking the VIP card handed to him by the reception, answered indifferently, "That's my wife's house. Whenever she returns and wants to live there, I'll move in with her."
Lilian's hand stiffened.
How could someone who's dead come back!
Was he expecting it to be a case of someone returning from the grave?
Why?! Why did Darwin start talking like that again?
Because of that video screenshot.
The incident was so widely discussed, there were always nosy people looking to ridicule her, wanting to tell her maliciously that someone who looked very much like Fiona had appeared.
Lilian realized right away that that person was Chelsea.
"Your cards have numbers on them. If you want to bid on any paintings, please use the numbers on the cards to place your bids."
"Thank you." Lilian replied softly with her gentle voice.
Then, looking at Darwin as if she hadn't heard what he just said, "Darwin, let's go inside, the exhibition started a while back."
"Alright." Darwin avoided Lilian's hand which was reaching to link arms with him.
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