<b>Chapter </b><b>393 </b>
The painting <b>was </b>simple and <b>tasteful</b><b>, </b>with a bold<b>, </b>spirited <b>vibe </b>and confident brushwork<b>. </b><b>It </b><b>really </b>matched <b>the </b><b>taste </b><b>of </b>the <b>older </b>couple <b>Birgitte </b><b>had </b>in mind.
Birgitte didn’t know much about <b>art</b><b>, </b>but <b>she </b>instantly fell for <b>the </b>vibe <b>it </b>gave off the moment sheid eyes on it.
“Well, <b>well</b>, <b>isn’t </b>that Ms. Cherniavsky? <b>What </b><b>a </b><b>coincidence</b>!” Just <b>as </b><b>Birgitte </b><b>was </b>about to <b>step </b>closer <b>to </b>the painting, a rather shrill <b>female </b><b>voice </b>suddenly rang out.
<b>Aubree </b>turned at the sound. The <b>woman </b>looked familiar. Aubree <b>was </b>pretty <b>sure </b><b>she’d </b><b>seen </b>her <b>hosting </b>on TV before.
The girl with her looked <b>even </b>more familiar. Aubree <b>realized </b>that she <b>was </b>Elizabeth Lawson.
Elizabeth was a bit <b>taken </b><b>aback </b><b>to </b><b>see </b>Aubree, but her <b>face </b>quickly turned frosty, like she was <b>seeing </b>her arch–nemesis.
She’d had a thing for Bowen for years. <b>Just </b>to <b>be </b>worthy of him<b>, </b><b>she’d </b>forced <b>herself </b>to study finance and management, took over the family business<b>, </b>and became the kind of <b>female </b>CEO everyone <b>praised</b>.
Elizabeth clenched her fists<b>. </b>‘Still, why won’t Bowen <b>even </b><b>spare </b>me a nce? Why is he with that snot–nosed little brat instead?‘
Birgitte recognized the voice instantly. She thought, ‘How did I even run into her here in Rithol City? Well<b>, </b>she is originally from here, after all. She <b>just </b>works <b>over </b>in Südlichen Strand now.‘
“Here to buy a painting? Seriously, does Ms. <b>Cherniavsky </b>even know anything <b>about </b>art? You <b>are </b><b>just </b>some farm girl who lucked out and-“The woman <b>gave </b>Birgitte <b>a </b>mocking <b>once</b><b>–</b><b>over</b><b>, </b><b>her </b>tone dripping with <b>sarcasm</b>. “Don’t <b>go </b>tainting this ce, or that painting.”
Elizabeth scold her, “Grace<b>, </b>what are you talking about? Ms. Cherniavsky’s status <b>speaks </b>for <b>itself</b>. Even <b>if </b>she doesn’t know art, Ms. Miller actually studied fine arts<b>.” </b>
Grace Lawson replied, “Oh <b>please</b>, Elizabeth, you know that she studied fine arts<b>. </b>There are tons of art students out there, but how many actually know anything?
“Some people think just <b>because </b>they know <b>a </b>little, they’re suddenly experts. <b>Isn’t </b>that shameless? She just got lucky, and now she thinks she can be a <b>big</b><b>–</b>shot businesswoman in Rithol City like you?<b>” </b>
Aubree could tell right <b>away </b><b>these </b><b>two </b><b>came </b><b>to </b>stir up trouble<b>. </b><b>Grace </b><b>was </b>Elizabeth’s cousin. The <b>worst </b>part was that Elizabeth and Aubree didn’t get along with <b>each </b>other.
Birgitte didn’t even bother with Grace<b>. </b>She just pointed at the painting and asked the <b>staff </b>member <b>nearby</b>, <b>“</b><b>I’d </b>like to buy this
one.<b>” </b>
The staff member, not wanting <b>to </b>get on anyone’s <b>bad </b>side, quickly replied, “Of <b>course</b>, please <b>wait </b>a moment.”
She checked the price and said, “This painting is <b>listed </b><b>at </b>600 thousand <b>dors</b><b>.</b>”
600 thousand dors <b>was </b>definitely within Birgitte’s budget. “Alright, I’ll take <b>it</b><b>,” </b>she said.
Just as the <b>staff </b>member <b>was </b><b>about </b>to take the painting down<b>, </b><b>Grace </b>suddenly cut in, stepped forward, and took the painting. “Not bad. Elizabeth, let’s <b>go </b>with this <b>one</b>. We can <b>give </b>it to Ricky for his birthday <b>next </b>month.”
The staff member looked a bit awkward. “Well…”
“Am I not allowed to buy it? Whoever <b>pays </b>more <b>gets </b>it, right? <b>I’ll </b>add another 60 thousand dors. Sell it to me<b>.” </b>
Elizabeth put on a polite smile. “Ms. Miller, my cousin is <b>a </b>bit spoiled. She’s buying this painting <b>as </b><b>a </b>gift for an elder. Would you mind letting us <b>have </b>it?”
Elizabeth felt that Aubree should at <b>least </bpromise somewhat.
However, Aubree didn’t even nce at them. She just pulled out her <b>card </b>and handed it to the staff member. “Go ahead and swipe the card.”
She said, “Ms. Lawson, there <b>is </b><b>a </b>saying–firste<b>, </b>first served. And another one–a decent person doesn’t snatch what others have their eye on. But if you’re not that kind of person, just pretend I never said anything.”
5.00 PM
<b>Stan </b><b>had </b><b>personally </b>vouched <b>for </b>Aubree. The staff had <b>been </b><b>told </b>to <b>pay </b><b>special </b><b>attention </b>to her. <b>Plus</b><b>, </b><b>Aubree </b>and Birgitte had <b>clearly </b><b>arrived </b>first. After a moment’s hesitation<b>, </b>the staff <b>member </b><b>epted her </b><b>card</b>.
Grace <b>felt </b><bpletely </b><b>powerless </b>and humiliated. The frustration made <b>her </b><b>snap </b>on the <b>spot</b>.
<b>She </b><b>said</b>, “Birgitte, quit pretending<b>! </b><b>You’re </b><b>just </b>some slut <b>who’s </b>been with an old man. What’s with <b>that </b>elegant act<b>? </b>Hugo only <b>feels </b><b>sorry </b><b>for </b>you. Do you <b>really </b>think you’re all <b>that</b><b>?</b>”
田