SWNOVELS Chapter 145
Chapter 145
The sound of footsteps echoed at the doorway, and just when they thought they
had left the art exhibition center, Ballaster and Naylor strode back into the room.
Ballaster's gaze was sharp, his voice booming like a bell, “What's going on
here?”
Fanny blinked rapidly, confusion swirling in her heart.
She was sure she had someone keep an eye out, only unleashing her verbal
tirade on Lorna after confirming Ballaster’s departure, setting her up for the fall.
But how on earth had Ballaster returned?
Turning to look at Lorna, Fanny saw that the panic had vanished from her face,
replaced with a calm demeanor infused with anger and disappointment.
Suddenly, Fanny felt panic grip her. She blurted out, “Here’s the thing, I asked
Lorna to help sort out some paintings, but she’s harboring resentment against me
and went ahead and destroyed this masterpiece! Such behavior is despicable,
we must punish her!”
Ballaster chuckled coldly, “Is that so?"
Teagan chimed in hurriedly, “Such a blight on the art world should absolutely be
excised!”
Naylor interrupted with a sudden cough, halting the momentum of accusation.
After regaining his composure, he turned to Fanny and asked in a calm tone,
“Are you certain it was Lorn who damaged the painting?”
A chill ran down Fanny's spine as she asserted, “Yes, I'm certain.”
With a clap of Naylor's hands, someone entered carrying a laptop.
Naylor remarked nonchalantly. “My father was concerned about security at the
exhibition, so he had cameras. Installed in certain rooms. Since the painting was
in Room 101 before, let's have a look at the surveillance from there.”
Fanny's world seemed to spin. She shrieked, “How could you install cameras?
That's a violation of our privacy!”
Naylor replied, lowering his gaze, “This is a public space, and Room 101 is where
the art is displayed. To deter theft or damage, having a surveillance camera is
reasonable, isn't it?”
Fanny's eyes widened. She never anticipated being caught by such a simple
trap.
Greenmeadow was her turf; she knew the layout of the exhibition center, which
rooms had cameras and which didn't, and she had taken care of it all. But she
had never imagined that B. Aster would secretly install additional surveillance!
As the video was about to play, Fanny lunged forward, “You can't watch it!”
“Why so agitated?” Naylor inquired. “Is there something scandalous on that
tape?”
Fanny blurted out in desperation, “I changed clothes in that room because it was
always without surveillance! It's my privacy; you have no right to watch!”
Ballaster’s brow furrowed as he commanded, “Hold her back.”
Fanny shouted defiantly, “Who dares to lay a hand on me!”
Her tenure at Greenmeadow had garnered her considerable influence, and the
art exhibition staff, many of whom were her subordinates, hesitated at her
command.
As Naylor moved to step forward, he was seized by another fit of coughing. His
tall frame was lean, and he looked rather frail. After a moment to catch his
breath, he made to approach again.
But it was Cordelia who stopped him and stepped forward instead, her tone
indifferent, I'll handle this.”
Chapter 145
As Fanny prepared to shove Cordelia aside, her arm was caught by Cordelia.
And then-
“Watch out!
With a loud “bang,” Fanny was floored by a swift, precise series of military—style
boxing moves.
Cordelia, tall and slender, dressed in a blue tracksuit with a white cap, looked
utterly adorable. Now, however, she dusted off her hands and turned to Naylor,
“Play the tape.”
Alright” After another cough, Naylor approached the laptop and hit play.
The surveillance video was cued up to the moment Teagan sneaked back into
the room and damaging the painting, making the damage discreet.
The crowd turned to Teagan in shock, “It was you!”
The footage continued, now at a neglected corner where Fanny was heard
asking, “Is it done?”
Teagan confirmed, “Yes, the painting is ruined. It looks fine on the outside, but
once you open it up, it's destroyed.”
Fanny nodded in approval.
Teagan hesitated, “Ms. Fanny, I only sold four pieces this month, just a million.
Could we postpone the payment for this month?”
Fanny sneered, “Teagan, don't forget it's my high praise that made you famous.
Without that, your work wouldn't even fetch five thousand! Ray and Joe in the
association paint better than you!”
Ray and Joe, overhearing, widened their eyes, “So that's why Teagan won the
last competition there was a fix!”
Fanny and Teagan's knees buckled as they saw their world crumble. They knew
they were finished, utterly finished.
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) .
Ballaster's eyebrows knitted together
5 5 « : :
in frustration, “Fanny, is this how you
manage the Greenmeadow Art
Association? Painting is about
SH 2 ;
creativity and learning! It's not a
platform for your deceit and
Sip 5 » 5
self—glorification!” Fanny, still
sprawled on the floor, muttered in
“ : »
daze, “I see now, it was your trap...
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But with the evidence laid out before her, her words were futile.
Fortunately for her, these were ethical transgressions, not criminal offenses;
otherwise, she might have faced jail time.
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As president of the National Art
Association, Ballaster had the
authority to manage the affairs of the
Greenmeadow Art Association. With
a firm tone, he addressed Fanny,
uw :
You can no longer continue as
president. Effective immediately,
)
you're expelled from the
Greenmeadow Art Association, and
you must compensate the owner for
the damaged painting. If you refuse,
we will take legal action. The content
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chapter there!
After delivering this ultimatumn, Ballaster turned to Lorna, continuing. “The
person you wronged is Lorna. How you make amends is now up to her.”
Lorna nodded, her gaze complex as she looked upon Fanny. Lorna was known
for her gentle nature and kindness, but her kindness did not mean weakness.
With resolute clarity, she said, “Someone like you should not be painting
anymore. Fanny, you should quit painting.”
Ballaster chimed in with finality. “Yes, lay it down yourself, or face a united
boycott from the art community across the Superiority Country.”
Fanny, overwhelmed by anger and panic, trembled uncontrollably, yet she was
utterly powerless to change her
fate
Chapter 145
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After dealing with Fanny, the
members of the Art Association
turned their anxious attention to the
masterpiece in question, the
uw : : "
Thousand Mile River.” They fretted,
“ .
What do we do now? Even replicas
of this painting are rare. Where could
: + "
we possibly find another?” The
content is on Novelxo.org! Read
the latest chapter there!
Cordelia’s mind raced, and the first thing that came to her was Everard’s Midnight
Scent.
Could it be possible that they sold replica paintings there?
Chapter 146