Sarah''s eyes turned red with rage. Not only did Cole refuse to take her side, but he even praised Serena! Why?
Her high heels cked sharply against the floor as she strode forward, inserting herself between them. She clung intimately to Cole''s arm, her voice turning sweet as she pouted.
"Cole! How could my sister possibly know so much? These are obviously just titles her ex-boyfriends bought for her..."
Before she could finish, Serena stepped forward, her cold smile widening. "I am Amber Hanson''s daughter. I know porcin. Is there a problem?"
Her gaze swept over her stepsister, who was ying the fragile little woman. "If you don''t understand art, then leave. Clinging to a man like this-do you really think that''ll fix yourck of taste?"
The onlookers hadn''t dispersed yet. Hearing this exchange, they quickly pieced together the rtionship between the two sisters.
Someone in the crowd scoffed.
"So they''re sisters? One is soaring in the skies, while the other is stuck in the mud. No surprise that she''s Amber Hanson''s daughter-her skills are on a whole different level. As for the other one, well, she just can''t see beyond her own backyard."
"I see. She''s another one of those women who rely on men. Instead of clinging to someone, why not rely on her own talent?"
"Ha! If the younger sister had any real skills, would she need to act so pitiful? Even if she just rode on her sister''s coattails, she''d be livingfortably by now."
Hearing the crowd nder her and praise Serena, Sarah''s face twisted with frustration.
She pouted, trying once again to coax Cole with her charms. But before she could, Cole coldly pulled his arm away from her grasp.
"Please be respectful of a person''s personal space."
Sarah''s face paled for a moment, but she quickly bit her lip and murmured in a voice only he could hear, "But Cole, we''ve already—"
Before she could finish, a calm yet firm voice cut through the tension.
"Let''s continue with the exhibition," Samuel said.
A crowded scene at the exhibition could lead to trouble, so he hurried to send people on their way.
As the audience thinned out, Sarah lost her stage. She had no choice but to stand aside helplessly, watching as Colepletely ignored her and walked up to Serena.
"Can you introduce me to your mother''s works?" he asked.
Serena didn''t even bother to look at him. "There are free brochures at the entrance. Take one."
She had zero interest in engaging with Cole. Not only did she dislike the way he looked at her, but she also had no desire to be associated with him.
She instinctively took a step back, putting distance between them. But that single step only fueled the storm brewing in Cole''s eyes.
Serena
so much pride in her
motherk. She had rushed to
produce so many replicas, all to ensure that more people could appreciate her mother''s artistry.
Yet she wouldn''t even spare a moment to introduce them to him? Did she really despise him that much?
The more she pushed him away, the more he wanted to pull her closer.
As she retreated, Cole advanced. "I want to hear it from you. That''ll be much better than some free brochure."
Serena''s back suddenly hit the wall. She had nowhere left to escape.
Why was this supposed nephew of hers, pressuring her like this?
She was just about to figure out a polite way to reject him when a strong hand grabbed Cole''s shoulder and yanked him backward.
He stumbled a few steps, and when he looked up, a man in a ck tailored suit stepped into view.
It was Hugh.
His gaze was icy and sharp, towering over Cole like a territorial beast. He pulled Serena into his arm, his voice dangerously calm.
"If you can''t see well enough to read a brochure, we can dig out your eyes and donate them to someone who needs them."
His next words sent a chill down everyone''s spine. "If you want to listen to your aunt''s voice so badly, you can go back to the Larson residence and listen to her teach you a lesson-right in front of Grandpa."
It was a simple statement. But Cole''s face instantly drained of color.