Chapter 334
“Carmen never wanted to use your paintings in the competitions. But to prove yourself, you left the Wilson family to get attention. You might be clever and talented, both in your studies and in art, but your heart is rotten to the core. You’re jealous of your sister and want nothing more than to destroy her.”
A stunned silence fell over the crowd. They thought, ‘Could what Mr. Xaver said really be the truth?’
Percival’s version of events suddenly seemed surprisingly plausible.
Carmen’s solo exhibition featured exclusively traditional watercolor paintings. It was a fact that spoke volumes, especially considering she was taken as a protégé by Percival, a renowned master of traditional painting.
Most importantly, the Wilson family’s deafening silence spoke volumes.
The crowd wondered if their silence meant consent.
Bryan wanted to stand up for Aubree, but he knew full well the consequences of helping her.
One onlooker said, “Actually, I’ve always wanted to say this. When I first learned about Carmen, she made a name for herself with her watercolor paintings. So when she was later publicly shamed for plagiarism, I was truly baffled. Why would someone skilled in watercolor paintings be accused of plagiarizing vividly colored oil paintings?”
The situation now seemed almost one–sided.
A flicker of joy gleamed deep in Carmen’s eyes as heated debates erupted all around her. Everyone was now questioning if Aubree had set Carmen up. If that were the case, it would be terribly unfair to Carmen.
‘Exactly, that’s it!’ Carmen exulted inwardly, barely containing her glee. ‘Serves her right! Aubree deserves to be scorned and condemned by everyone.
‘What right does Aubree, an orphan from the orphanage, have to compete with me? Since she left the Wilson family, she should have died out there long ago. Why did she have to come back?
‘It’s bad enough that she came back. But why can’t she just know her place and stay under my thumb? Why must she fight back and steal my thunder? Aubree should just drop dead.’
“Hold it!”
Before Aubree could say a word, a middle–aged man’s voice sharply cut in.
An onlooker exclaimed, “It’s Stan, the president of the Art Association!”
Stan was known for his integrity and commanded immense respect in the art world thanks to his prominent status. He was the first to expose Carmen’s blatant plagiarism during a competition, and given his sterling reputation, his testimony at the time had practically sealed Carmen’s fate.
If Carmen’s mentor hadn’t been Percival, any claims coming straight from her today would have carried far less credibility.
Stan had come for the paintings, but never expected the organizer of the exhibition to be Carmen, the very girl he had personally exposed for plagiarism. Had he known, he might not have come.
But now, he was actually glad he’d come.
Stan had kept the painting Carmen once used to mislead everyone, hoping to track down its true creator, but his search had always come up empty.
After hearing everything just now, Stan realized that the girl in front of him, Aubree, fit every characteristic. He pulled out his phone, displaying a photo of the painting. “Is this your work?”
Aubree looked over and thought, ‘Oh, it’s that painting.’
This was a painting she created in a moment of overwhelming grief and anger. The experiences it embodied were too painful to revisit, so when she left the Wilson family, she left it behind.
“It’s mine,” Aubree replied. “Mr. Frazier, I suppose you still have this painting. When you get back, take a sketching pencil and trace over the lower right corner on the back. You’ll find my signature there.”
Chapter 334
Stan’s excitement was palpable. “Don’t worry, I stand by you in this matter today.”
Aubree was somewhat taken aback. This was an unexpected stroke of luck.
Stan stood firmly beside Aubree, his piercing gaze locked on Carmen. “I find no credibility in someone who plagiarized another’s work in a competition.
“You all claimed that Aubree begged you to submit her paintings for the competitions just to get her family’s attention. That’s utterly baseless.”
Stan’s words rang out with undeniable authority.
The onlookers had seen enough drama. They wondered if there could be another twist.