The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

The painting, titled "Midnight," was the only one among all his works to feature a human figure.

No one knew if the subject in this piece held some secret significance for

Summer. Or perhaps, the woman in the painting was the artist's first love-a love lost and never found?

On stage, the auctioneer spun wild tales about the inspiration behind the artwork, speculating freely about Summer's creative process.

Seated in the audience, Abby couldn't help but chuckle. "These people really do have a knack for making up stories. Now it's about a secret first love? If they ever quit their day jobs, they'd make a killing in screenwriting."

Neville grinned. "A little drama helps drive up the price. That's how you get a bidding war."

Abby shook her head. "They don't even know if the artist is a man or a woman, and they're already inventing tragic romances. I can't."

Meanwhile, Joshua, who'd been quietly studying the painting, suddenly spoke up. "Is it possible that the woman in the painting... is Ms. Cameron herself?"

Abby turned, looking at him with a glimmer of admiration. "Joshua, sharp eyes! How did you figure that out?"

He smiled modestly. "I've seen Ms. Cameron play the violin from behind so many times. The way the woman stands in the painting, the posture, even the fall of her hair-it's just like her."

The painting projected above the stage showed a woman in a flowing white dress, violin cradled under her chin, standing with her back to the viewer beneath the midnight sky. She was alone in the garden, bathed in moonlight so pale it seemed to dust her hair and shoulders in silver, casting a faint glow across the grass.

The garden itself was tranquil, with a gazebo standing quietly in the distance. A gentle breeze lifted her long hair and tugged at the hem of her dress, setting both adrift in the night air.

It was a beautiful, evocative scene-poetic in its silence. Even without seeing her face, the woman's silhouette inspired endless curiosity, making you long to know the story behind her.

Candida leaned in, studying the painting closely. "Is that really Star on the canvas?"

Antoney Watson and Abby-who had known Stella since childhood-exchanged a knowing look. Of course, they recognized her.

Candida hadn't known Stella long, so it was no wonder she hadn't made the connection. But Joshua...

Abby couldn't help glancing at him in surprise. How had he recognized Stella so quickly?

Antoney nodded. "Yes, that's Star."

Abby began to explain. "Star was practicing violin in the backyard one evening, and I snapped a photo of her. She loved how it turned out, so she used it as the inspiration for this painting."

Back on stage, the auctioneer finally wrapped up his dramatic monologue and announced the starting bid.

"The opening bid is five million dollars. Each raise must be no less than one hundred thousand!"

The words had barely left his mouth before the bidding erupted.

"Six million!"

"Eight million!"

"Ten million!"

Summer's paintings were rare-only five were known to exist in private hands- making them a collector's dream. If Summer ever released another masterpiece, the value would only skyrocket.

Within minutes, the bidding soared to twenty million dollars.noveldrama

Even Abby, who thought she'd seen it all, sat frozen in disbelief.

She leaned over to Stella. "Star, what was our original budget again?"

Stella hesitated. "...Twenty million."

She'd started out hoping for just three million, but after seeing how much each of her paintings fetched at auction, she'd steeled herself and bumped their max bid all the way to twenty million.

That money hadn't come easy. She'd given up her studio, written a few original pieces for Rachel, and squeezed what she could from the hundred million she'd negotiated from Haynes to make it happen.

Abby swallowed hard. "Should we... think about raising our limit?”