?Chapter 841:


    Maia silenced them with a single cool gesture, then leveled a sharp look at Kiley. “There’s no need for theatrics, Ms. Cooper. Just tell me what you want.”


    Kiley’s gaze narrowed a fraction. Maia’s willingness to negotiate gave her hope — perhaps she could salvage something from this loss in the painting contest.


    Letting a thoughtful silence linger, Kiley finally spoke, her tone almost mournful. “As Mariana’s sister, I know how deeply she loves painting. It is everything to her. If she’s banned forever, it’s as if you’re taking the light from her life. I can’t let her wither away like that.”


    Her eyes locked on Maia’s. “So, Ms. Watson, if you’ll agree to adjust the wager — let’s make it a one-year ban from art exhibitions for Mariana — I’ll move heaven and earth to get Chris that opportunity with my father.”


    Maia’s answer came with a coldugh. “From a lifetime to a year? That’s a bold counteroffer.”


    The crowd around them erupted in whispers once again.


    “Do the Coopers even know what dignity means anymore?”


    “Is it really fair for them to shift the terms just because they’re losing? Wasn’t Mariana the one who set the whole wager in the first ce?”


    “Guess even families with all that power can wriggle out of promises. What a spectacle!”


    Whispers and sidements buzzed through the crowd.


    Despite the noise, Kiley didn’t bat an eye. The opinions of bystanders meant nothingpared to shielding the Cooper Group from a real setback.


    Later, she would focus on damage control and spin for the public.


    “If you can’t ept, I understand,” Kiley replied, her smile never wavering. “But the terms do need some tweaking.”


    Maia weighed her options in silence, then met Kiley’s eyes, the ghost of a smile on her lips. “I’ll y along — but I want more. Mariana’s out of the art scene for five years, and she’ll make a public apology to me. And as of now, she stays away from Chris and me, for good.”


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    Maia rarely bent in negotiations, but Chris’ future came first, so she was willing to give ground — on her own terms.


    Five years was long enough to dim any artist’s spark and deliver a real lesson. Those wordsnded like a blow.


    Mariana’s eyes went wide with outrage, her voice ringing out. “What did you just say, Maia? Who do you think you are, preventing me from seeing Chris?”


    Maia regarded her steadily, her tone unruffled and cool. “I believe I’m the winner of this contest and get to call the shots. Perhaps your memory is slipping. Allow me to refresh it for you.”


    “You…” Words failed Mariana, and herplexion faded to a sickly gray.


    Kiley answered with a measured nod. “So be it. Mariana won’t cross paths with you or Chris again.”


    A panicked cry burst from Mariana. “Kiley!”


    Missing art exhibitions or even Maia she could endure — but being kept from Chris was more than she could take.


    “Enough,” Kiley snapped, her voice sharp as ss. “Apologize to Ms. Watson. Right now.”<fne138> Follow current nov?ls on f?ndnovel</fne138>


    A violent tremor ran through Mariana; her jaw clenched so tightly that she nearly cracked a tooth.


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