Chapter 165 Reencounter
Darwin had always disliked crowded places.
After entering, he glanced at the crowd and frowned subconsciously.
At that moment, behind the scenes, Fiona planned to take Chicago and Charles away.
"The art show has already started... all the artists are here. It wouldn't look good without Chicago... what if someone wants to buy Chicago's paintings?" the art show manager said, clearly troubled.
"Mommy, I don't want to go!" Chicago clung to Fiona's fingers, looking pitiful.
"Wait just a minute, Chicago sweetheart, let me talk to your mom!" Ashton took Fiona's arm and led her into an office.
Before Ashton could ask, she spoke first, "Darwin and Lilian have arrived."
Ashton paused for a moment. Since Darwin had already met Chicago, he didn't see it as a big deal. "What are you afraid of? Although Chicago looks like both you and him, there are many people in the world who resemble one another. Why let that bitch couple spoil Chicago's good mood?"
Today, Chicago was truly happy. The two paintings being exhibited held significant meaning for her. Another reason was that the manager told her that the proceeds from the paintings sold today would go toward schooling for children who couldn't afford it. This was very meaningful for Chicago.
Fiona would take Chicago and Charles to watch meaningful documentaries. Chicago knew from the documentaries that not all children in the world were as fortunate as she was. Some children lost their parents when they were very young. They lived in terrible conditions, were hungry, had no clothes to wear, nor had access to education.
Helping such children was one of Chicago's heartfelt wishes.
"I'm just worried..."
"Don't worry." Ashton reassured her, patting her shoulder. She thought to herself that Darwin had already held Chicago, and even fed her, and hadn't shown any suspicion.
"Just to be safe, let's have Wendy accompany Chicago out, and we'll wait backstage." Fiona ultimately compromised.
"Alright." agreed Ashton with a nod, then she went to communicate with the manager.
When Fiona approached, she saw Chicago, lively and joyous like a little bird. She looked on and smiled gently.
Maybe she was just being too nervous. Darwin only cared about what he chose to. With Lilian by his side, would he even notice anything else?
She had thought just days before that Darwin, not liking crowded places like art shows, wouldn't attend and they wouldn't encounter him. That's right... Darwin didn't like art shows.
But Lilian used to be a painter... His dislike for art shows was because of Lilian. And now, his attendance at the art show was for Lilian as well. Lilian was the key to Darwin's attentions. The only key.
"What are you thinking about?" Ashton snapped her fingers in front of her.
Fiona came back to her senses and saw that both Charles and Ashton were looking at her.
"What's going on?" Fiona asked.
"Charles was asking if you wanted some chocolate!" Ashton replied.
"I don't want any, thank you. You have it all to yourself." Fiona tenderly touched Charles's cheek. It was truly astonishing, Charles and Chicago looked exactly alike, yet Charles bore an even closer resemblance to Darwin.
"Oh." Charles responded, not really interested in the chocolate. He picked up his gaming console and went off to play.
On the TV screen in the lounge, the auction was about to begin, broadcasting the large canvas screens from the art exhibition.
Darwin followed Lilian to stand in front of two paintings titled "You".
"The two paintings have quite different styles." Lilian looked from one to the other, frowning slightly, "The artist is only five years old?"
"To be precise, they were painted before turning five." a man nearby said with a smile. "I wonder which wealthy young lady commissioned such works just for a touch of gold."
Lilian's expression immediately turned disdainful.
"Especially this one." She looked at the second painting and smiled. "How could such a young child have such skill? I thought this was going to be a high-caliber exhibition, but it turns out..."
Chicago and Wendy emerged and overheard this criticism.
Wendy was very upset.
"Excuse me, if you don't know the facts, it's best not to make baseless comments. My young lady did this painting with me by her side observing! Every stroke, every color was purely her own creation!" she defended staunchly.
The nearby crowd turned to look.
Darwin included.
When Darwin saw Wendy, he was momentarily stunned.
"Young lady?" The man, who had been bantering happily with Lilian, chuckled, "What did I just say? Certainly, a wealthy young lady."
Chicago, cute and affectionate, stood by Wendy's side, not upset at all, even taking hold of the angered Wendy.
"Wendy, you can't get angry, okay?"
Wendy turned around, "Miss, they are talking nonsense!"
Chicago stepped forward, "Wendy needs to listen, Mommy said not to argue with foolish people, we've got other things to handle."
"Kid, who are you calling foolish?" The man was immediately offended and took a step forward.
In the crowd, disguised bodyguards began to close in. But at that moment, a tall figure stood in front of the man, "Making unwarranted assumptions that deeply insult is indeed a foolish act, she isn't wrong!"
Chicago looked up at the tall figure.
Wendy also gestured to the bodyguards, signaling them not to get any closer so as not to disrupt the art exhibition that the young lady was enjoying.
"You... you are..." The man recognized Darwin and was instantly aghast.
"Leave." Darwin said icily, expelling a single word.
The man did not dare linger. He turned and disappeared into the crowd.
"Darwin, you..." Lilian had begun to doubt Chicago as well, and the things Darwin had just said felt like a slap to her face.
It was unclear whether Darwin had heard her or not.
He turned away.
Chicago's eyes immediately lit up.
"Handsome Uncle!"
Darwin couldn't help but smile gently, squatting down to straighten Chicago's little cap, "So, Chicago is a little genius artist, huh?"
Chicago looked at Darwin. Her beautiful eyes sparkled, nodding emphatically, "Yeah! I'm really good at drawing and painting, do you like to paint too?"
"I'm not good at it." Darwin shook his head, "I can't learn."
"I can teach you!" Chicago blurted out excitedly, then remembered her brother's advice, "But... I'm going to go home soon with my brother and Mommy."
"Is your home far away?" asked Darwin.
"Yeah..." Chicago responded with a sad nod.
Darwin felt a strange sense of unwillingness to part with her.
If it's far away, is it unlikely they'd meet again?
"Chicago sweetheart, the auction's about to start." the manager said as they came running over.
"Got it!" Chicago and Ashton replied.
Many eyes at the art exhibition were drawn to the adorable child. Such a lovely voice, and she can paint too!
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