Chapter 339
“Here we go, here we go.” The crowd kept growing. This drama was getting juicier by the minute.
The big shots just kept coming!
Getting into the zone was everything for painting. Carmen had been bottling up this fire inside her for so long. Now, finally seizing the chance to turn the tables on Aubree, a rush of exhilaration surged through her. She’d never felt so perfectly in tune before.
As for Aubree, her painting skills, honed through the countless trials in her past life, far surpassed anything her eighteen-year-old self could have achieved. Even before her brush touched the canvas, the entire painting had already been formed in her mind.
She thought. ‘Didn’t Carmen crave the Wilson family’s affection? Didn’t she challenge me to this painting contest just to prove she’s the worthy one? Well then, as her sister, I might as well let her have her wish.’
Both Carmen and Aubree moved their brushes at lightning speed, bold colors and sharp lines springing to life on their canvases.
Irvin, only just realizing that Alvin had come for Aubree while Carmen was busy painting, blurted out, “Alvin, how could you be with someone like Aubree?”
His gaze was clear as ever. Alvin used to think it was rare for someone from a wealthy family to remain so genuinely sheltered and pure. But now, he saw only pure, unadulterated foolishness, an utter inability to tell right from wrong.
“What kind of person is Aubree?” Alvin’s gaze remained impassive as he looked back.
Irvin was stunned. ‘Why do I feel like Alvin’s angry?’ he wondered.
But Irvin bit the bullet and said, “Aubree is so manipulative. She’s always been jealous of Carmen and has been bullying her…”
Irvin rattled off every insult imaginable about Aubree. Alvin listened, then shot back, “Given what happened today, do you really think a powerless girl like her could have schemed against Carmen when her father and brothers favored and protected Carmen? She could barely even survive.”
Irvin froze. He’d genuinely never considered this before. Judging by today’s events alone, it seemed Carmen’s family hadn’t cared much for Aubree at all.
Alvin said, “I’ve warned you for ages that Carmen is bad news. Keep your distance from her. If you insist on ignoring me, then consider my duty fulfilled regarding your father’s request to look after you.”
Alvin’s tone sounded as calm as ever, but Irvin could tell that he was furious.
After all, Alvin had never spoken to him so decisively before.
How could Alvin not be furious? Once he connected the dots, he realized Irvin was just being used as Carmen’s pawn. He wanted to lash out, but what frustrated him most was that Irvin was actually enjoying every minute of it.
Alvin had always turned a blind eye when Irvin pulled strings for Carmen in the past, but today’s incident crossed his red line.
If Aubree won, that would be fine. But if she lost, Alvin dreaded to imagine the media storm and public condemnation that would engulf her.
As a semi-public figure, if things escalated, it could even indirectly impact Bree Technology. And with the GrabCheap project having just secured funding and entering a critical development phase, any negative press at this point would be disastrous.
Irvin shut his mouth meekly. His gut warned him that if he so much as admitted to getting his parents to invest in Wilson Group, Alvin would probably cut him off completely.
Irvin thought, ‘But Carmen is genuinely a good girl. Why is Alvin so prejudiced against her?’
As time ticked by, both paintings were nearing completion.
Carmen was the first to finish. She turned her painting to face the audience.
“Bravo, Carmen! You’ve made progress again. You’ve maintained and surpassed your usual standard under such challenging circumstances. I’m proud to call you my student,” Percival praised.
“Wow!” A wave of astonished gasps swept through the crowd.