Elodie''s movement faltered for a split second. She turned—and saw Patricia striding in, heels clicking with crisp authority.


    Even Jarrod nced over, though he stayed put, unmoving in his seat.


    Selma, however, reminded herself that this was, after all, Patricia''s art museum. Patricia''s presence here could surely be counted as a show of support.


    Selma rose smoothly. "Miss Aldridge, wee."


    Patricia regarded her with a cool, restrained smile. "Am I interrupting? Looks like you''re in the middle of an interview for your press kit, aren''t you?"


    Selma''s reply was calm, unfazed. "Not at all. You''re wee to take a seat, Miss Aldridge."


    But Patricia remained where she was, eyes narrowed as she nced toward Sylvie and the man beside her-Jarrod.


    She finally turned back, voice light butced with an edge. "No need to fuss over me. I''m just here to drop off a gift for your show, that''s all." She fixed her gaze on Selma. "Is now a good time?"


    Selma knew Patricia''s reputation in the art world-her attendance could only help the museum''s publicity. Smiling, Selma nodded. "Of course."


    Patricia pped her hands.


    Elodie nced over as several staff members, following Patricia''s cue, wheeled in arge painting from outside.


    The moment Elodie recognized it, her brows shot up in surprise.


    Wasn''t this the same painting she''d gone to collect from the gallery the other day? The one called *Delusion*? She distinctly remembered hearing that Jarrod had bought it.


    So how was it now in Patricia''s possession?


    She couldn''t make sense of it. Instinctively, Elodie frowned and looked at Jarrod, seated in the center of attention.


    As if on cue, Jarrod nced up too, his eyes meeting hers unexpectedly. His gaze was cool, unreadable—a cid indifference on the surface.


    Both Selma and Sylvie were taken aback. They couldn''t fathom why Patricia was returning the painting.


    Selma hesitated. "Miss Aldridge, may I ask what this is about?"


    Patricia dropped into a chair and tapped the painting. "I think this piece deserves center stage-far outshining most of what''s being exhibited here. Don''t you agree?"


    A flicker of something dark crossed Selma''s eyes, though her tone remainedposed. "If you love it that much, Miss Aldridge, I''ll set another aside for you after the show."


    Patricia''s gaze swept her up and down, her tone dry. "Did I say I wanted any of your other paintings? No need to make assumptions."


    Selma hadn''t expected such a sharp rebuff. Her brows knitted in spite of herself.


    Was it just her, or did Patricia seem to havee looking for trouble?


    Sylvie was thinking much the same, her frown deepening as she nced at Patricia.


    Nearby, Maurice was studying the painting with genuine interest. "You know, this one really does stand out."


    Already, the photographers had drifted over to snap pictures of it.


    "Is that so?" Jarrod''s gaze lingered on the painting.


    Sylvie seized the opening. "Jarrod''s always liked that painting. But when Miss


    Aldridge mentioned she wanted it, I just let her have it."


    It wasn''t the first time something like this had happened. Back at the Warwick family''s calligraphy exhibition, Jarrod had helped Sylvie outbid Elodie for a piece. Later, Jarrod imed a friend of his was interested and asked if Sylvie minded letting it go. She hadn''t, of


    course. She just hadn''t expected the


    painting to circle back to the


    museum after all that.


    Maurice suddenly understood. "Didn''t realize your mother-inw had such


    impressive skills back then. What do you think, Joseph?"


    Joseph snapped out of his reverie just as Jarrod nced his way. Pressing his


    lips together, Joseph finally nodded. "Absolutely."


    Elodie decided to stay quiet for now, watching the situation unfold.


    Patricia''s sudden involvement had thrown everyone off guard.


    Selma cast a nce at the painting, a trace ofplex emotion in her eyes. "Miss Aldridge, since the piece was a gift, you really didn''t need to go to the trouble of bringing back. We have plenty on disy already."


    In truth, Selma disliked having her earlier works brought into the public eye at home. They''d originally been sold to collectors abroad. She wasn''t even sure when they''d found their way back here. That was why, at the Warwick exhibition, she''d tried to buy them back outright.


    Patricia narrowed her eyes. "Why not? With your talent, why shouldn''t you show your early work?"


    Selma looked away from the painting. “Because that''s all in the past. My best


    work is in the present. I''m not the type to rest on oldurels. Innovation matters more."