CHAPTER 5: Slander

"I think I saw Eleanor tearing up a painting in the gallery just now. Was that Breaking the Cocoon to Become a Butterfly? You know, you can't deny that A Life Toward the Sun looks extremely similar in style to the work Claudia has published!"

"What? That's terrible! I knew it! How could she paint so well after not touching a brush for so many years? Turns out she stole someone else's work!"

"Ugh, people with no morals like her should rot in hell! She and Claudia are sisters. She probably became a despised housewife after getting married, saw her sister's success, got jealous, and ruined Claudia's painting."

The audience members started to accuse Eleanor.

Eleanor struggled to stay calm. "The subject of this painting is my daughter. She..."

Before she could finish, an unopened bottle of mineral water struck Eleanor's shoulder. The force made her stagger back several steps before she regained her balance.

Sebastian instinctively reached out to catch her, but then stopped, pulling his hand back coldly as if remembering something.

"You tramp! How dare you steal our Claudia's painting! Look in the mirror! Who do you think you are?! I hope you burn in hell!" The man who threw the bottle was a fanatic fan of Claudia's. He tried to rush the stage but was thankfully stopped and pulled away by security.

Eleanor held her head and looked at the audience. Every face showed either a mocking smile or schadenfreude.

Seeing this, Sebastian said, "If you apologize to me now and promise to transfer all the auction proceeds to me, I'll tell everyone that this was just an innocent mistake on your part. How about it?"

Eleanor replied, "Dream on."

"Still talking tough, huh? I'd like to see how long you can keep that up. Don't come crying and begging me later."

Eleanor took a deep breath. "As far as I know, Claudia hasn't produced another good painting since Breaking the Cocoon to Become a Butterfly. If she truly has such great work, why doesn't she exhibit it?"

This made Sebastian frown.

"I'll tell you why. Because Breaking the Cocoon to Become a Butterfly is also my work. My husband and Claudia were having an affair, and they stole my painting."

"What proof do you have? You're just jealous that Claudia became a famous painter after achieving success in her youth, just like you, while you are nothing but a mediocre housewife now."

The words stabbed Eleanor's heart.

He was the one who had forced her to give up painting and become a housewife in the first place. Yet now he was using that same fact to mock her.

In the audience, Alexander watched Eleanor on the stage, his gaze heavy. He beckoned to Mark, the gallery manager, and quietly instructed him on something.

Mark nodded in acknowledgment.

Eleanor looked at the gallery staff. "Could you please bring the other half of Breaking the Cocoon to Become a Butterfly up to the stage?"

With Mark's nod of permission, the other half of Breaking the Cocoon to Become a Butterfly was soon carried onto the stage by a staff member.

Under everyone's mocking gaze, the name on the half-painting appeared for all to see under the spotlight.

The auction hall instantly fell silent.

Just then, a middle-aged man in a sharp suit stood up and walked toward the stage.

Someone recognized the man as Dorek, the great collector who had originally bought Breaking the Cocoon to Become a Butterfly. He had later donated the painting to Ruixin Gallery for its tenth anniversary.

"I heard this collector is a devoted fan of Claudia's. He put a lot of effort into acquiring Breaking the Cocoon to Become a Butterfly. Now that Eleanor has ruined the painting, he's probably here to settle the score with her."

"Eleanor is finished! Dorek is famous in the industry for his connections. If he targets her, she'll never make it in the art world again."

Hearing the gossip, Eleanor's palms inevitably began to sweat.

Claudia was gloating. Did Eleanor really think ruining 'her painting' would be that easy? Plenty of people would step up for her.

Eleanor nervously watched Dorek, his face grave, walk up to her. Just as she was about to defend herself, Dorek started clapping and smiling.

"'Breaking the Cocoon to Become a Butterfly,' no breaking, no establishing. Miss Eleanor, you cut this painting beautifully!"

The entire venue was stunned. Even Eleanor was taken aback.

"When I first acquired this painting, I thought the meaning was more profound than just escaping a prison. I once asked Miss Claudia, but she couldn't answer. It wasn't until I heard this other interpretation today that I finally understood."

As he spoke, Dorek looked toward Claudia in the audience. "Doesn't Miss Claudia want to come up and defend herself?"

Claudia said, "Are you suspecting me of theft, too? As my long-time fan, don't you know me? I would never do something so despicable as stealing a painting!"

But the surrounding whispers shamed Claudia. She covered her face and left.

Eleanor looked gratefully at Dorek, suddenly remembering that she had only mentioned the interpretation of "no breaking, no establishing" to Alexander.

She looked toward Alexander in the audience, only to have her gaze collide directly with his.

The man was cold, severe, and solemn. His eyes were devoid of emotion but carried immense, invisible pressure. After their gazes met for only a second, Eleanor immediately looked away.

The brief interruption passed, and Eleanor ultimately decided to donate all the auction proceeds.

Sebastian left the stage amidst jeers, his face a picture of fury and humiliation.

After the auction ended, Eleanor found Dorek and expressed her gratitude.

Dorek, however, smiled. "You don't need to thank me. Someone else helped you."

Following Dorek's gaze, Eleanor saw Alexander preparing to leave.

Dorek explained that Alexander had told the gallery manager to relay the phrase "no breaking, no establishing" to him; otherwise, he wouldn't have stepped forward to speak on Eleanor's behalf.

Eleanor's thoughts were complicated. She didn't understand why Alexander had helped her. They had only just met.

After wrestling with her thoughts, Eleanor walked toward Alexander and called out to him just before he left.

Alexander turned around. "Yes?"