CHAPTER 4: Bidding

Eleanor walked past Sebastian toward Alexander.

Sebastian smiled, satisfied.

Then Eleanor said, "Mr. Prescott, I apologize for disturbing the gallery's peace. Regarding the art theft, I trust Ruixin Gallery's fairness and integrity, and I am willing to cooperate with all investigations."

Alexander nodded. "Your name is on the painting, but that does not fully prove it is yours. I will arrange for personnel to investigate. However..."

"If the investigation concludes that Claudia did not steal the painting, you will have to pay the appropriate price."

Eleanor nodded. "I understand, thank you."

Finished speaking, Eleanor ignored the furious Sebastian and headed to Daphne's office.

The moment they met, Daphne gave her a big hug. "Darling, I am so thrilled that you've picked up your brush again! You have no idea how excited I was when I saw the painting you sent me that day!"

It had been a long time since they last saw each other. Daphne pulled Eleanor aside, and they talked a lot. Most of the conversation was about how sad it was that Eleanor had given up painting back then.

Eleanor could only offer a bitter smile.

The auction soon began. Daphne led Eleanor into the hall.

As soon as they sat down, she saw Sebastian across the room, sitting next to Alexander with a fawning, eager smile.

Alexander also saw Eleanor across the room, merely glancing her way.

Once the auction started, there was round after round of bidding. Eleanor's painting was scheduled to be among the last few lots.

The first few paintings had few bidders, making the atmosphere in the auction hall awkward for a while.

Until Eleanor's painting was brought onto the stage, everyone held their breath. They gasped:

"My God, I haven't seen such a vibrant painting in ages! The scene is practically in front of my eyes!"

"I remember only that art prodigy from years ago had this level of skill. It's such a pity she stopped painting."

Alexander stared deeply at the painting on the stage, his eyes filled with undisguised amazement.

Seeing this, Sebastian quickly said, "Mr. Prescott seems to really like this painting. How about I bid on it and give it to you as a gift?"

Alexander replied coolly, "The painting is indeed good."

Sebastian became excited.

The auctioneer had just announced the starting price of five million when Sebastian immediately raised his paddle: "Eight million!"

Sebastian had raised the price so dramatically in one go, expecting to secure the win, but people soon started bidding one after another.

Bidding continued until thirteen million, when no one else finally followed suit.

Sebastian secretly let out a sigh of relief, but a familiar voice called out: "Fourteen million."

Eleanor raised her number paddle and looked at Sebastian.

"Sebastian, what is she doing? She knows you want this painting and she's deliberately opposing you! She clearly wants to sabotage your deal with Mr. Prescott!" said Claudia.

Sebastian was consumed by fury. "Sixteen million!"

Eleanor was unhurried, continuing to raise her paddle: "Seventeen million."

"Eighteen million!"

"Nineteen million."

...

The two drove the price up to twenty-one million, and only then did Eleanor stop. Sebastian won.

Claudia gasped, "Are you crazy?! You spent twenty-one million on one painting!"

The auctioneer then received a message and smiled. "To thank Mr. Sebastian for his enthusiasm, the artist of A Life Toward the Sun will personally come on stage to express her gratitude. We invite Mr. Sebastian to please join her."

Sebastian's mouth twitched violently. Spending that much money on a single painting felt like his heart was bleeding.

"Congratulations," Alexander said.

Sebastian forced a smile. "This is all for you, Mr. Prescott. I'm willing to pay any amount, as long as you're pleased."

Sebastian stood up and walked onto the stage. He then saw Eleanor also stand up and walk onto the stage, making his brows furrow.

"What are you doing up here? Get down now! Don't embarrass me!"

Eleanor ignored him.

"Didn't you hear me? Get off the..."

"Please allow me to introduce the artist of A Life Toward the Sun, Ms. Eleanor. She is none other than Sia, the art prodigy from a few years ago!"

The audience erupted in gasps.

"She's Sia! My god, she's painting again! I regretted it so much when she stopped after getting married!"

"No wonder A Life Toward the Sun looked so familiar! It was painted by Sia!"

"My God! If I had known it was Sia, I would have paid anything to win A Life Toward the Sun!"

Sebastian was stunned. "You painted this?!"

After the initial shock, Sebastian quickly reasoned that Eleanor hadn't touched a paintbrush in years, and she only picked it up again because they were fighting and getting divorced.

He figured this was probably her way of trying to win him back. She had deliberately found out which auction he would attend and raised the price to get his attention.

If she willingly gave the auction money back to him, he wouldn't mind forgiving her this time.

Thinking that he could get acquainted with Alexander for a small price, Sebastian grew excited.

But in the next second, Eleanor's words splashed over him like a bucket of cold water.

"Thank you all so much for your appreciation of my work. I look forward to bringing you more in the future."

Eleanor turned to look at the girl in the painting, her eyes filled with boundless love and sorrow.

"The girl in this painting is my daughter. She has tragically left this world. I hope that every child in the world can live a life toward the sun, living well in place of my daughter. Therefore, I have decided to donate all proceeds from this sale to a charity fund!"

A storm of applause broke out in the venue.

"No!" Sebastian's abrupt roar brought the venue to an immediate silence.

All eyes were on him.

Sebastian was immediately mortified. He turned his back and growled, "Eleanor, are you insane?! That's my money! What gives you the right to donate it without my permission?!"

"I also want to thank Mr. Sebastian for his appreciation and support of my work. I thank you on behalf of the children of the world," Eleanor said, staring intently at Sebastian.

But Sebastian was only concerned about the money being donated, completely failing to register her mention of their daughter moments ago.

This heartless man.

A staff member brought the donation agreement onto the stage.

Eleanor picked up the pen to sign, but Sebastian stepped forward and snatched it away.

"I am your husband. Your earnings are our marital property, and I do not consent to this donation!"

The crowd began to murmur.

"He's actually Sia's husband, the one who made her stop painting after they got married!"

"Sia is clearly doing a good deed! Why is he stopping her? Is he trying to make her give the money back to him?"

"What? How can he be Sia's husband? I saw him being intimate with another woman in the gallery earlier!"

"Sia picking up the brush again... could it be because he cheated on her!"

Hearing the gossip, Sebastian grabbed Eleanor's arm and hissed, "Explain to everyone that the donation was just a joke, or we're getting divorced right now! You can beg all you want, but you'll never get back together with me!"

Eleanor pushed Sebastian's hand away. "Mr. Sebastian, I should remind you. Divorce court is at two o'clock this afternoon. Don't be late."

"That's my girl, Sia! So glad you're ditching that scumbag!"

Daphne in the audience raised her wine glass in a toast to Eleanor.

Eleanor and she exchanged a smile.

Sebastian was completely enraged. "You haven't touched a paintbrush in so many years! How could you possibly still paint this well? You didn't steal this from your sister Claudia, did you? You wanted to cheat money at the auction and I mistakenly bought it, so you decided to donate all the money to get back at me!"

Claudia in the audience immediately began to sob. "Sis, this painting looked familiar to me before. I didn't want to expose you, but my brother-in-law said it. How could you... how could you steal my artwork to sell? I didn't even blame you for tearing up my famous work, Breaking the Cocoon to Become a Butterfly..."

Claudia sounded utterly pathetic and wronged.

People in the venue started whispering.

Sebastian looked at Eleanor provocatively, as if to say, This is what you get for crossing me.