CHAPTER 3: The Art Thief

The crisp sound of the slap echoed through the entire gallery. Theodore’s eyes widened in shock, and he ran toward Eleanor, yelling, "Mom!"

But Claudia blocked him. She whispered, "Teddy, your mother ruined my painting. I can call the police and have her arrested. Are you sure you want your classmates to know your mother is a criminal?"

This made Theodore hesitate. He bit his lip, turned his back, and ignored Eleanor.

Eleanor clutched her stinging cheek, her eyes red as she looked at Theodore’s small, retreating back. She fought back the bitterness in her heart.

She looked at Claudia and angrily demanded, "What gives you the right to hit me?"

Claudia sneered contemptuously. "This painting is worth half a million on the market. Since you destroyed it, you must pay double the compensation. If you can't produce the money today, don't think about leaving."

"I won't pay a single cent," Eleanor stared intently at Claudia.

This made Claudia laugh derisively. She stepped closer to Eleanor and whispered, "Do you think you’re still the famous artist you were in your youth? Who even remembers you now? You're nothing but a pathetic clown."

"I know you can't afford a million, or even two hundred thousand right now. How about this: you kneel and polish my shoes, and I'll let you off. How does that sound?"

Claudia wore a look of self-righteous condescension.

Eleanor clenched her fists. "Never!"

"Fine. Keep being stubborn, then. You are absolutely going to pay this million, and don't count on Sebastian giving you a single penny!"

Claudia looked at Mark. "The security at Ruixin Gallery is getting worse. Why do you let riff-raff like her in? She ruined my painting! Isn't the gallery going to give me an explanation?"

Mark instinctively glanced at Alexander. Seeing Alexander’s face was grim but he remained silent, Mark understood. He turned and said, "Eleanor damaging your painting is our gallery’s negligence. We will contact our lawyers to sue her for compensation for the gallery and your losses."

Claudia nodded, satisfied.

"What if I can prove that I painted this?" Eleanor challenged.

"Pfft..." Claudia burst out laughing. "What evidence could you possibly have? Eleanor, I advise you to stop embarrassing yourself. I'm embarrassed for you."

"You, the art thief, aren't ashamed, so why should I be?"

"Fine. If you can't prove it, then you'll obediently divorce Sebastian and leave with nothing."

The position of Mrs. Sebastian rightly belonged to Claudia. This was the perfect chance to remove this thorn in her side.

Eleanor stated, "But if I can prove this painting is mine, you will kneel down and apologize to me."

Claudia scoffed contemptuously, convinced Eleanor was just bluffing.

Eleanor turned and took down the remaining half of the painting from the wall. She turned on her phone's flashlight and shone it on the cocoon portion of the painting.

The light passed through the canvas, clearly revealing the hidden information beneath the paint.

[Eleanor]

The name clearly surfaced on the canvas.

Claudia’s eyes widened. She gasped sharply.

She truly hadn't expected this wretched Eleanor to have such a trick up her sleeve!

Eleanor gave a small smile. "Please explain, Miss Claudia. You claim this is your artwork, so why does it have my name on it?"

"This... the signature is mine! Ruixin Gallery certified it! Are you suggesting that Ruixin Gallery was mistaken?"

Alexander spoke in a deep voice, "Mark, as the gallery manager, what should be done if you exhibit the work of an art thief?"

Mark wiped a bead of cold sweat. "It's my oversight. I will immediately instruct that Miss Claudia’s artwork is never to be displayed at Ruixin Gallery again..."

"No!" Claudia shrieked.

Ruixin Gallery was the largest gallery in City A, bar none. Only the best works were displayed there, making it a place all artists aspired to. If her work was removed from Ruixin Gallery under the charge of theft, she would become a laughingstock!

"Mr. Alexander, I painted this! You can't do this to me just because of one person’s word! That’s not fair!"

"Then please explain why that lady's name is on the painting?"

Claudia started weeping. "That must be a trick of Eleanor's! This painting was my entry in a competition many years ago. If Eleanor really painted it, why has she been silent all these years?"

Alexander looked at Eleanor.

Eleanor remained silent. For a single man, she had sacrificed her dreams, her dignity, and her identity.

Her continuous compromises had only led to her daughter’s death and the betrayal of her husband and son.

Thinking of this, Eleanor felt a sharp pang in her chest.

She looked up at Claudia. "You conspired with my husband to steal my painting, and you ask me why I didn't pursue it. Claudia, I have proven this painting is my work. If you cannot prove otherwise, you owe me an apology."

Claudia gritted her teeth in hatred. "If Sebastian finds out you are making things difficult for me, won't he hate you even more? You better quickly say this painting is mine, or Sebastian will definitely divorce you!"

"Apologize."

Claudia was shaking with rage.

Just then, Sebastian rushed over. "What's going on?"

Sebastian’s eyes widened in surprise when he saw Alexander nearby.

He had come to Ruixin Gallery today because he heard Alexander would be here, hoping for a chance encounter. He never expected to run into him right away.

"Mr. Prescott, hello! My name is Sebastian, and I am the owner of Urbaneo Properties. It's an honor to meet you!" Sebastian extended his hand.

Alexander did not take his hand. "Do you know these two ladies?"

Sebastian awkwardly withdrew his hand. "Yes, I do. One is my wife, and the other is my wife's sister."

Alexander nodded. "Both of these ladies claim to be the author of Breaking the Cocoon to Become a Butterfly. Can you provide an answer for Ruixin Gallery on this matter?"

Sebastian said, "I sincerely apologize. The lady over there is my wife. Because our son is closer to Claudia, she is claiming that painting is hers out of revenge against Claudia."

"Is that so?" Alexander’s gaze passed over the two of them and settled on Eleanor.

Eleanor concealed the disappointment in her eyes. "Some things you can lie to others about, but don't start lying to yourself."

Sebastian walked closer to Eleanor and lowered his voice. "Eleanor, don't push your luck. If this delays my partnership with Alexander, you might as well never come home!"

"I never planned on coming back."

Eleanor’s decisive expression made Sebastian suddenly feel uneasy.

A sliver of panic arose in his heart.

But he quickly figured it out.

"You're only doing this to get my attention and win me back, aren't you? Fine, I can forgive your little tantrum from the other day. Now, immediately explain all of this to Mr. Prescott!"