?Chapter 836:


    “Who could possibly doubt Maia now? She had proven it all with her talent! Today would be etched in Otrultho’s art scene for many years. Her painting was destined to be legendary!”


    The apuse swelled, cheers booming through the gallery, louder than ever before.


    Just as the noise began to fade, a voice suddenly pierced the crowd. “I… lost?”


    Mariana stood frozen, her lips trembling, eyes wide with disbelief and shock. She stepped back, clutching her chest, barely able to catch her breath. It felt like she was plunging into a bottomless pit.


    “This can’t be… How did I end up losing?” Mariana nced at her sister Kiley, her face drained of color.


    Kiley’s expression was just as serious and heavy.


    There was no denying it — Mariana had been defeated.


    Still, Kiley needed to figure out how to contain the fallout from this art battle.


    Raegan, who had stayed quiet most of the time, was lost in thought as well.


    Was Maia’s win purely due to skill, or had luck yed its part?


    If they hadn’t found that photo of Chris’ mother, would Maia have had some secret trick to pull out?


    Facing Maia clearly called for careful nning and a steady hand.


    The room quieted down once again, tension thick in the air.


    Maia moved toward Mariana with measured steps. Her face was calm, but her eyes gleamed with a cutting edge. “Mariana, I won again. A bet’s a bet. You’re not going to chicken out now, are you?”


    Maia’s words struck Mariana like a blow. Mariana froze in surprise.


    Those exact words were what she had intended to say to Maia — but now, the roles were reversed.


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    A wave of shame crashed over her.


    Mariana’s eyes shed red with anger as she stared daggers at Maia. “I lost!” Mariana’s voice cracked, raw with emotion. “Maia! If you’re really all that talented, then let’s go again — one more match!”


    Maia just gave her a cold, unimpressed look.<fnd278> Readplete version only at Find?Novel</fnd278>


    “And you judges, just because she painted someone familiar to you, you called her the winner?” Mariana spun toward the judges, her re sharp and using. “Is that fair? Tell me — how is my painting any worse than hers?”


    She was grasping at straws, fighting hard against the crushing truth, desperate to break free from the odds stacked against her.


    But the judges stayed silent, not a single one answering her.


    Instead, she faced whispers and murmurs of disapproval from the crowd.


    “She’s still stubbornly iming she didn’t lose? In what universe is her painting better than Maia’s?”


    “Mariana’s totally lost her grip… wasn’t she the one who wanted this duel to begin with? Talk about getting in over your head.”


    “Maia already proved she’s Matias reincarnated with her skills. And today’s painting even topped ‘Rebirth.’ What’s the use of another round?”


    “People who can’t swallow defeat always look pitiful. And she calls herself a Cooperdy?”


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