Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 828: A thin veil seemed to drift across the painting's surface. It didn't look like paint at all - it resembled real fabric, delicate and weightless. Right then, Mariana clearly caught the sound of chairs dragging across the floor from the judges' table. Some of the judges had risen, unable to resist. They walked briskly over, eager to examine Maia's artwork more closely. Their faces quickly shifted. Shock and awe spread across their features as they studied the details. "This... this was actually done with paint?

No matter how I look at it, it honestly seems like there's a real sheer cloth sitting on top of it." "Just look at how the shadow of the veil falls, how the colors are layered, how she handled the transparency... it's absolutely flawless." "What really draws you in are the eyes and that faint smile - there's something mysterious about them. You can't tear your gaze away. There's no question in my mind - Maia has to be Matias, the one who created Rebirth!" "I always believed Mariana was the brightest star among young painters. I never imagined someone else could outshine her.

This piece deserves full marks, no question." "I completely agree!" the other judges chimed in without hesitation. Some of the art collectors seated among the judges couldn't hold back and began bidding on the spot. "Ms. Watson, I'd gladly pay ten million for this masterpiece!" "I'll top that - twenty million!" "Fifty million, right here!" "I'll raise it to a hundred million!" The reporters were momentarily speechless, their cameras firing nonstop as they scrambled to capture the frenzy around the bidding collectors.

All around, the crowd let out audible gasps, stunned by what they were witnessing. ɩү ⍺νꞏⅽ "Unbelievable! I never thought I'd get to see such an astonishing painting come to life with my own eyes!" "She didn't even use a photo for reference? No way... this looks more real than any photograph could!" "Poor Mariana! She doesn't stand a chance now!" Despite the flood of offers pouring in, Maia remained calm. She gave a soft smile and gently shook her head. "Apologies, but this piece isn't for sale." Her tone was kind, yet unwavering.

Then she turned to Chris, her head tilted slightly and her eyes gleaming with warmth. "Like I just said, Chris, it's for you. So, do you like it?" At that exact moment, every collector turned to stare at Chris, waiting for his reaction. But Chris wasn't paying attention to them. His gaze was fixed solely on Maia. He looked at her with a longing expression, barely resisting the urge to embrace her then and there in front of everyone. For years, the thing that haunted him most was the empty space in his memory where his mother's face should have been.

And now, thanks to Maia's incredible gift, that empty space in Chris' heart wasn't just filled - it stirred up a flood of old memories he hadn't expected. The way his mother died hadn't been straightforward. As he thought back to that last party, the one where he crossed paths with his grandfather, Chris' gaze turned sharp, eyes narrowing with sudden clarity. . . .