?Chapter 1515:


    Out of consideration for Niks, Cedric decided not to take his leave right away. When the meal finally wrapped up, Cedric thought he could make a quiet exit, but Hamilton had one more performance nned—his prized collection. Cedric…


    Cedric couldn’t bottle it up anymore. He let out a dry chuckle and gestured toward a striking painting at the base of the stairs.


    “Isn’t there a ten-meter version of this piece? Why settle for such a modest one here?”


    Hamilton let out a heartyugh.


    “You’re clearly not in the loop. That ten-meter version? Total myth. Rumor says some mystery billionaire snagged it, but no one’s ever confirmed who—because it never happened. And you know how much this little gem of mine is worth?”


    With a smug grin, he raised his fingers and shed a jaw-dropping number.


    Cedric nodded with an amused smile.


    “That much, huh?”


    Hamilton puffed up proudly. “Naturally. Now imagine the price tag on a ten-meter version. Honestly, I don’t think anyone but me could ever afford something like that. So if it really existed, don’t you think I’d be the first to know?”


    Hamilton was brimming with confidence, oblivious to Niks shooting him increasingly frantic eye signals like warning res. Hamilton nced at Niks.


    “If there’s something wrong with your eyes, go get them checked. What’s with the weird nces?”


    Cedric burst intoughter, shook his head, and made his exit.


    He didn’t just threaten to leave—he meant it. Cedric called up a driver and was out the door before Hamilton could even lift a finger to stop him. Gone, just like that.


    Hamilton instinctively moved to run after him. The princess hadn’t even arrived yet. How could Cedric just leave like that?


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    “Dad, stop!” Niks groaned, mortified.


    “That ten-meter painting—the one bought by that so-called mystery buyer—it’s hanging in Dani’s vi!” Hamilton had tried to strut his feathers, and ended up humiliated.


    He stood rooted to the spot, stunned into silence.


    Niks added, “Haven’t you seen Damon’s social media? Check it yourself. First day at the vi, he took a selfie with that exact painting!”


    Hearing that, Hamilton scrambled to pull out his phone like it might save his pride.


    Sure enough, there was Damon in a photo, beaming beneath the massive painting, with a bold caption: “The world’srgest painting! I totally earned it!” Hamilton felt like the punchline of a cruel joke—humiliation burning hotter than shame ever had.


    Just then, his secretary burst in, all excitement and no clue.


    “Mr. McCoy! The princess has arrived!”


    The world swam, the light vanished, and this time, Hamilton didn’t just waver—he hit the floor for real.


    Hamilton mustered all his strength, prying his heavy eyelids open. He turned to the princess and said softly, “I’m really sorry, but I’m not feeling well today. Cedric just stepped out to find a doctor. I won’t be able to host you.” The princess nced around, noticing Cedric was nowhere to be seen. A faint trace of disappointment flickered across her face.


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