Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 550: The power of the image made many guests instinctively take a step back. Though the painting showed hope and strength, it also gave off a chilling feeling, as though trouble was just around the corner. For a moment, the crowd was frozen in silence. Then soft whispers of admiration and wonder began to spread. Someone remembered that years ago, Mariana had swept nearly every art contest in Wront, even snagging national and international prizes. She had once been called a prodigy painter. The room was filled with praise and amazed comments. "This painting is breathtaking!

I can't believe Maia is getting this as a gift." "Who would've guessed Mariana's art had come this far? This is a true masterpiece!" "So that small box earlier must've been for Rosanna. Looks like Maia is the real star tonight." These comments made Sandra's face go stiff again, her earlier excitement vanishing like a puff of smoke. She hadn't expected Mariana to be like everyone else, attending the birthday banquet just for Maia. Mariana then pointed at the girl in the painting and said, "This girl here represents you, Maia.

She shows your bravery in facing the storm, breaking free from your chains, and reaching out for hope as you step into a new life. So, what do you think? Do you like it?" she asked with a soft smile. On the surface, the painting seemed perfect, but its deeper message hit hard. It was a quiet nod to Maia's four years spent locked away. Even though she broke free and reached for a glimmer of hope, the whirlpool behind her seemed to hint at her fate, pulling her down into the sea's dark depths. Maia looked closely and noticed the painting had been layered over an older one.

The colors underneath showed through, sharp and cutting, like blades slicing through the rolling waves. And it wasn't just a single layer. When she looked closer, Maia spotted faint brushstrokes in places that hinted at words once painted over. It was clear that Mariana had initially planned to share a different message. |@†e$t ¢н@₽†əя$ ¡η ğ∆łиøvεℓś.cøm But art, as the saying goes, is open to interpretation. Maia had no wish to call out Mariana's hidden jab.

Instead, she replied smoothly, "This painting would fit perfectly in the Morgan family's home." Richard, catching that, took it as Maia trying to make peace with the Morgans. He quickly added, "Maia's spot on. Our living room wall needs a focal point. I'll get someone to hang it up tomorrow." Right then, another guest spoke up, "I've heard even Mariana's simplest works fetch at least a hundred thousand dollars. Something this big must be worth over a million." Someone else jumped in, "You're selling it short. A gem like this will only go up in value over time.

I'd bet it could fetch over ten million down the road." Sandra, not much of an art expert, still nodded along as the guests praised Mariana's work and its price. "You're right. This painting's size is just right. When Maia gets home, she'll see this masterpiece every single day." Maia gave a faint smile at that. If Richard and Sandra were so eager to accept the gift, she wasn't about to stand in their way. After all, Maia never planned on coming back to the Morgan household. Besides, casually accepting or purchasing a painting wasn't a wise decision.

Maia had once learned about painting from Zoey, who had told her that ancient art was believed to bring good luck. This was why rich families often treasured calligraphy and paintings by famous artists - they believed these works could boost the family's fortune and bring peace. On the other hand, if a piece of art carried a curse, it would drag down the owner's luck even further. Maia doubted that Mariana was truly being generous, and, on top of that, she wasn't fond of the painting at all.

Its craftsmanship was average at best, perhaps even worse than what Maia herself could have painted a year earlier. It wasn't worth keeping, not in the least. . . .