?Chapter 350:
Daryl was still unable to shake off the shock. His niece, Tiffany, long dismissed as a “failure,” had seemingly overnight be a celebrated art master known as Only. Daryl struggled to grasp this sudden change.
As Jacob approached with his question, Daryl’s response was slow, his mind racing to process the new reality. Even when he finally understood the situation, he was at a loss for words.
The Moonbeam Gallery had been teetering on the brink, under constant pressure from the Clifford family. They had resorted to selling works by mediocre artists to survive.
Now, burdened with the responsibility of handling transactions for Only’s masterpieces, a task Marissa had entrusted to him, Daryl felt overwhelmed, unsure of how to price such valuable art.
Misreading Daryl’s silence as hesitation, Jacob reassured him, “Don’t worry over my title as president of the Calligraphy and Painting Association. Just name your price.”
Gal n o v el s . is your destination for fiction
To underline his earnestness, Jacob went on, “I’m a devoted fan of Master Only and hold immense respect for each piece she creates. I’m not here to haggle simply because of my position.”
Daryl offered a wry smile and exined, “Mr. Mason, you’ve misunderstood. My silence was due to not knowing the painting’s worth myself! You’re the expert. You should set the price.”
Jacob paused, taken aback, then burst intoughter, saying, “You’re refreshingly honest!”
His gaze settled on Marissa’s piece “White Orchid,” and he noted, “At first nce, this painting might seem simple, but the depth of artistic expression it embodies could captivate me for years. It’s genuinely a first-rate masterpiece.”
He lifted three fingers and announced, “If this were to go under the hammer, I’d start the bidding at three hundred million dors.”
As Jacob’s statement resonated, the crowd around him was visibly stunned, then quickly erupted into lively discussions.
“Three hundred million dors? Astounding! Only really exemplifies what exceptional art is. Her reputation as a legend in the art world is well-deserved!” one person marveled.
Another added eagerly, “Just one piece from Only could the Sanchez family massive profits. With Only backing them, the Moonbeam Gallery is poised to take over the calligraphy and painting world.”
“The Moonbeam Gallery’s stock prices are bound to soar, propelling the Sanchez family into the upper echelons of society!”
“Remember when the art world favored the Clifford family and the Sanchez family was barely hanging on? Now, it’s the Clifford family who is struggling, while the Sanchez family is ascending rapidly.”
“Looking to the future of the calligraphy and painting industry, we ought to take a page out of the Sanchez family’s book. Aligning with them is the smart move!”
As these exchanges unfolded, those who had recently distanced themselves from the Sanchez family now felt a wave of regret washing over them. On the other hand, those who had hesitated to sever ties or had yet to dere their intentions were secretly delighted.
Sheppard was drowning in remorse. In a disy of loyalty to Remy, he had recently liquidated his shares in the Moonbeam Gallery. Unfortunately, he had sold them when the stock prices were at their lowest, reaping almost nothing. Now, watching the gallery’s sudden rise, he realized he had made a grave mistake
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