Theo smiled. “Of course I ann.”
Then, Theo turned and looked at the pale-faced Bethan, “I heard Ms. Bethan is a fan of my art, would you accompany me to go see that painting again?”
Bethan’s head snapped up, and was greeted with his warm, clear eyes.
She paused and nodded. “Alright! “
Theo was around the same age as Brettley, a young and successful artist.
When he just made a name for himself, Bethan was already his fan.
He was her idol.
Now, her idol was standing in front of her, extending an invitation her way, how could she reject him? “Let’s go.”
Theo laughed lightly, reached out, and held Bethan’s hand.
Being held by an unfamiliar man, instinctively, Bethan wanted to struggle. But she did not. She did not know what overcame her, instead, she flipped her palm over and gripped his hand tightly.
He did not expect her to hold his hand tightly, he paused, then laughed lightly, “Let’s go.”
After they left, the manager started to disperse the crowd. “Everyone, the issue is solved, there’s nothing more to see here.”
“Brettley, let’s go.”
Alice hooked her arm through Brettley’s, her voice soft and gentle.
Brettley lifted his gaze and glanced in the direction where Bethan and Theo had walked off from, their hands still intertwined. They had known each other for just a few minutes, yet they held hands like a couple would!
Brettley could not help but frown at the sight.
“Brettley… Did you really not see anything? ” asked Alice tentatively as they made their way down the stairs, her hand still clutching his arm.
Brettley stared blankly ahead. “What do you think?”
Alice bit her lip and remained silent. After a moment, she said, “Actually, I– “
“I know, “
Brettley gently interrupted her. “I know that you’re trying to take revenge on Bethan for kidnapping your kids, but this will be the first and last time, Alice.”
He let out a deep sigh before continuing, “If you’re still holding a grudge against her, you shouldn’t have asked me to let her out. Now that we’ve released her, you shouldn’t be trying to take revenge on her.”
His voice was low and solemn.
Alice chewed her lip nervously. “Alright, I won’t let this happen again.”
She would be more careful next time.
Brettley could tell she was upset. He sighed and gently patted her hand. “I know that you’re still the kind and thoughtful woman I used to know, so don’t do this ever again.”
The two then walked out of the art gallery and were met with fresh air. Brettley lifted his head to gaze at the city lights that blinked in the distance. “I’ll ask Lucas to send you home.”
Alice paused for a moment and said with a tone of slight displeasure, “Do you have to work overtime tonight?”
“Yes, ” murmured Brettley as he rubbed his eyebrows with an air of exhaustion. “I have a meeting tonight with some foreign companies.”
“You’ve been working overtime for two nights in a row now, “
Alice protested. She bit her bottom lip and tugged his arm in an attempt to coax him. “We haven’t managed to spend time together ever since I returned…”
“It’s not like we’re ever going to be separated again in the future, so why are you so worried?”
Brettley stroked her hair gently before he gestured at someone in the distance.
Lucas drove the car over. “Let’s go, Mrs. Morrison.”
Alice was reluctant to leave, but she had no other choice. She got into the car and said to Brettley, “Try to come home as soon as you can, darling.”
Brettley nodded and waved at her. “Sleep early tonight.”
Lucas started the car and drove off, leaving Brettley standing at the entrance of the art gallery as he stared off in the direction of the retreating vehicle. There was a twinge of sadness in his heart.
The Bethan he knew would not have done what she did.
No matter how much hatred she harbored, she would not have ruined someone’s artwork to get revenge against someone else. Moreover, Theo Allen was her favorite artist, and ‘The Girl with the Kite’ was his most famous painting.
Brettley was confused. This woman had turned from a kind, compassionate art fanatic into a revenge- seeking maniac. Could six years change someone that much? “I ‘ve loved all of your paintings ever since the first one. I’m such a huge fan!”
A familiar voice pulled Brettley back to reality.
Brettley tilted his head and caught sight of the woman in a flowing white dress walking side by side with Theo.
The strands of her long hair fluttered with the gentle night breeze. The dim street lights illuminated the awestruck look in her eyes. “I ‘ve always wanted to become as talented an artist as you.”
Her expression amused Theo. “It’s my pleasure to have a fan like you.”
He glanced at his watch and said to Bethan, “It’s getting late now. Why don’t I give you a ride home?”
Bethan wanted to decline his offer, but when she turned around, she caught a glimpse of the tall silhouette that stood under a street light. It was Brettley.
He stood there motionless, his shadow long, slender, and somewhat melancholic. Although she could not make out his face, she could feel his gaze on her.
She turned back to face Theo and gave him a polite smile. “I’d appreciate that, thank you.”
Theo took her to his car, and the two departed in the direction of Anne’s house.
With an air of displeasure, Brettley lit a cigarette. Then, after taking a few puffs, he put it out and got into his own car. He started the engine and left in the same direction as Theo’s car.
“I’m just curious, ” mused Bethan as she sat in the passenger seat and gazed out at the road in front of her. “How did you know I wasn’t the one who ruined your painting?”
Theo smiled in response as his hands gripped the steering wheel. “What if I told you, I believe that Moon isn’t that kind of person?”
Bethan froze momentarily at his reply before a chuckle escaped her lips. “Mr. Allen is familiar with me?”
“I used to be interested in jewelry design as well, and I tried it for a while, but I eventually gave up because it was too hard. During that time, I did a lot of research on my own, so I was acquainted with your work. To say that Moon is a household name in the field of jewelry design won’t be an exaggeration.”
Bethan was surprised to hear that, but after pondering over it for a few moments, she thought it made sense. If not for the fact that he recognized her as Moon, Theo probably would not have rescued her back there, much less offered to send her home.
Her lips curled into a faint smile. “What a small world.”
“I did a lot of self-studying when I was young, thankfully. If I hadn’t, I would’ve missed out on the opportunity to acquaint myself with a master today.”
Theo’s voice was soft and gentle as he continued, “Although, that wasn’t the only reason I knew you didn’t ruin my painting.”
Bethan tilted her head to look at him.
“The painting that you ruined just now wasn’t the real one.”
There was a hint of a smile playing on Theo’s lips. “I have some strange hobbies; one of them is displaying knock-offs of my own artwork and placing them in surveillance camera blind spots.
However, these paintings have cameras embedded inside them because I enjoy watching people’s true reactions and opinions toward my artwork.”
Bethan paused for a moment before realization dawned on her. “Does that mean…you witnessed the whole process?”
“I guess you can say so.”
Theo stopped the car. “
We’re here.”
Bethan turned around and realized that they had arrived at Anne’s doorstep. She unfastened her seatbelt and got out of the car. “Thank you for the ride. Unfortunately, I can’t invite you upstairs for a chat since I live with a friend.”
Theo got out of the driver’s seat as well. He handed her a name card along with a small, beautifully wrapped box. “I hope to get to know you better, Ms. Bethan.”
Bethan hesitated for a moment but took the card from him nonetheless. “It’d be my pleasure.”
Theo chuckled and pushed the box into Bethan’s hand. “Here. You can take it home and have a look first. If you don’t like it, you can return it to me.”
With that, he got into the car and gave her a wave. “Good Bethan stood motionless as she watched Theo’s car depart. She let out a deep sigh of relief and shoved both the card and the box into her handbag before heading up the stairs.
The stairwell was dark. As soon as Bethan entered, she was immediately pulled into the landing on one side. She did not have any time to react, much less scream for help.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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