The Queen Returns—And She's Unforgiving

Justine offered some background information on Brandon. "His father holds a position in the military, but Brandon himself went into business-the export of high-end tech materials, to be specific.

"With such an influential family helping him, his path has been smooth sailing. And with the Miller family tied by marriage, it's a true power alliance."

Evelyn was a little surprised. It was no wonder the exhibition had such a high threshold for entry. On one hand, there was the prestigious Miller family, and on the other, the Connor family's extensive network

It was clearly not the kind of event just anyone could attend. It was no wonder even Lucas showed up.

After rounding the first floor, Evelyn and Justine made their way upstairs to the second. Each exhibit area had a unique style, filled with dazzling displays.

Evelyn actually had a strong interest in art. After all, Naomi worked in the field, and she had been influenced since childhood.

After browsing the first and second floors, she hadn't seen any paintings related to Naomi's work. She felt a little disappointed.

"Are the paintings here not for sale?" Evelyn asked.

Justine, the go-to encyclopedia for anything and everything, immediately shook her head. "These are all part of Harry's personal collection. There are also pieces from Mr. Miller Senior's private collection.

"Honestly, this whole exhibition is more of a social networking event disguised as a cultural appreciation gathering."

That made Evelyn feel a little conflicted. If she did happen to find one of Naomi's missing paintings here, how would she even go about reclaiming it?

As they headed up to the third floor, Evelyn was quickly drawn to a painting that caught her eye. She really liked it but since nothing was for sale, she could only move on. Just as she was about to head elsewhere, she heard Tiffany's voice behind her.

"Lucas, isn't this painting interesting?"

Evelyn turned to look at them.

Tiffany was admiring the same painting that had just caught her attention. Lucas glanced down at her. "If you like it, I'll take you abroad to meet the artist and buy a few pieces."

Tiffany smiled sweetly. "Thank you. Won't that be too much trouble?"

"It won't."

Evelyn paused for a second. Then, she quietly turned and walked away. She had already witnessed how attentive Lucas was to Tiffany.

He never overlooked her needs and always fulfilled her desires without hesitation. Yet here Evelyn was, liking a painting she could never own, while Lucas could easily offer Tiffany several more at the drop of a hat.

That was the difference between them.

On her way back to meet up with Justine, Evelyn continued scanning each exhibit, hoping to find some clue in this gallery that held the largest collection.

Finally, her eyes landed on a painting tucked away in a corner. Her breath caught in her throat.noveldrama

As she stepped closer, she realized this painting bore a striking resemblance-in style, color, composition, and brushwork-to the missing half of a piece Naomi had hung at Holmer University.

She immediately approached the floor supervisor. "I'd like to ask if there's any chance Mr. Miller would be willing to part with this piece? I really love it," Evelyn said, hoping they would contact Harry, the man behind the exhibition.

But the supervisor gave a firm reply. "I'm sorry, miss. Today's exhibit is for viewing only. None of the pieces are for sale."

Evelyn, a little anxious, was about to press further when Flynn and his group arrived. Seeing that she was trying to buy a painting, Flynn immediately sneered. "Ms. Reed must've spent too much time in the street markets. Do you think you can bargain here? Didn't you hear the rules?"

Evelyn looked up. Not only was Flynn there, but Brandon, Lucas, and Tiffany were also heading their way.

She composed herself, her voice calm and steady. "There's a reason for this. I really love this painting. I've been searching for a piece my mother lost years ago, and this one bears a strong resemblance to it. That's why I was hoping to negotiate."

The supervisor hesitated.

Just then, Tiffany chuckled softly. "I understand how you feel," she said with a

faint smile, though her eyes carried a trace of mockery. "But... I think you've made

a mistake. This painting was done by my mother. Ms. Reed, you shouldn't go around claiming things that aren't yours."