Chapter 10: The Breakdown

Theodore looked at Eleanor, trying to see disappointment and grief on her face.

But Eleanor just looked back at him quietly. Although there were tears in her eyes, her expression was utterly resolved, like she was saying goodbye to her most precious possession.

For some reason, Theodore suddenly regretted his words.

"Sister, Teddy is just a child. Don't take it seriously. Just comfort him, and it'll be fine," Claudia said.

At this, Theodore stopped regretting what he said.

Even Claudia knew that all it took was some coaxing, but Eleanor still didn't understand!

Sebastian seemed to sense Eleanor's coldness, or perhaps he was afraid Eleanor would actually sign the divorce papers.

He decided not to stay any longer and threw the document onto the floor.

"You can't extort money like this! I won't pay a single penny for this painting! Also, we aren't divorced yet, and you're already cheating and sleeping with other men. If you still want a divorce, you'll leave with nothing!"

He then grabbed Theodore and stormed away.

As they left, Claudia looked back and gave Eleanor a victorious smile.

Only after everyone was gone did Eleanor finally lose her composure. She slowly slid to the floor and burst into tears.

...

Eleanor spent the next day in a daze. It wasn't until the morning of the third day that she collected herself enough to call Daphne and explain about the painting.

Daphne was very regretful and tried to ask Eleanor what happened, but after a moment of hesitation, Eleanor decided it would be better to go to Ruixin Gallery in person that afternoon to explain.

In the afternoon, just as Eleanor arrived at the gallery entrance, she unexpectedly ran into Claudia and Sebastian.

Eleanor's eyes grew cold. She intended to ignore them and enter the gallery.

Sebastian was clearly still angry about the events two nights ago, so he walked straight into the gallery first.

But Claudia obviously didn't want to let Eleanor go and quickly walked up to block her path.

"Is my sister avoiding me? That really hurts my feelings," Claudia said smugly.

"Get out of my way," Eleanor ordered.

Claudia continued, "You must have been heartbroken yesterday, thinking your husband and son had a change of heart, and you were about to be a 'happy' family again. But I just had to exert a little effort, and I broke up your 'happy' family once more."

"Was that man your doing?" Eleanor realized.

"Took you long enough to figure that out. But not only did I arrange that man, I also orchestrated Theodore destroying your painting."

Eleanor clenched her fists, trying desperately to control her fury.

Claudia seemed to enjoy Eleanor's struggle and continued to provoke her. "How does it feel, to be ruined by your own son? Does that hurt?"

"You are despicable!" Eleanor cursed.

Claudia scoffed. "Well, that's what you get for having a foolish son. He's hopelessly stupid, just like you. I've always been able to trick you both like a monkey since you were kids."

Claudia leaned closer to Eleanor. "But consider this a warning. If you ever try to target me again, like you did at the auction, I promise you'll regret it!"

"You want who to regret what?"

Daphne's voice rang out from behind. Claudia's eyes widened.

She turned to see Daphne, wearing a vibrant, low-cut red dress, walking toward them, followed by a lawyer.

"Miss Daphne, I was just about to find you! I was only joking with Eleanor just now," Claudia said, immediately forcing a friendly smile.

Claudia was careful not to offend the owner of Ruixin Gallery.

Daphne took off her sunglasses, glanced at Claudia, and gestured for the lawyer behind her to speak.

The lawyer handed a document to Claudia. "Hello, Miss. I am the legal representative for Ruixin Gallery. Due to the dispute surrounding the painting Breaking the Cocoon to Become a Butterfly, which has affected the gallery's reputation, Ruixin Gallery officially terminates your contract. From now on, none of your works may be exhibited at Ruixin Gallery."

"On what grounds?! Miss Daphne, what proof do you have that the painting isn't mine? Are you just helping Eleanor target me because you prefer her?!"

Daphne sneered. "Who do you think you are that I would bother targeting you? I heard your conversation with Eleanor just now. Was the painting Eleanor collaborated on with my gallery ruined by your arrangement?"

Claudia's face instantly turned ugly. "Y-You must have misheard! I don't have that kind of power! That painting was ruined by Eleanor's son. It has nothing to do with me!"

"What's going on?" Sebastian walked over at that moment and shielded Claudia.

Eleanor found his action ridiculous.

"Sebastian, please, help me beg my sister! Just because I offended her, she made Miss Daphne terminate my contract and forbid Ruixin Gallery from exhibiting my work ever again!" Claudia cried.

Sebastian frowned, looking at Eleanor with annoyance. "How long are you going to keep this up? It's bad enough that you hate Claudia, but you don't need to ruin her career!"

"Her career was built on my painting. If I ruin it, she deserves the consequence," Eleanor stated.

"You...!"

"Mr. Sebastian, you've arrived at a good time. Regarding your instruction to your child to destroy Miss Eleanor's collaborative exhibition painting, which caused a loss to Ruixin Gallery, we ask that you cooperate with the compensation. Otherwise, we will proceed with a lawsuit."

The lawyer, right on cue, handed another document to Sebastian.

"How could I possibly instruct a child to destroy her painting? Eleanor didn't put it away properly, that's why it was ruined!"

"If you didn't instruct it, someone else must have," the lawyer hinted pointedly.

Claudia, standing nearby, lowered her head guiltily.

Sebastian's face was ashen. He opened the compensation agreement to check it, and his eyes widened at the amount.

"This is completely unreasonable! Eleanor is the child's mother too! Shouldn't she share some responsibility for the ruined painting?"

The compensation amount was a staggering ten million. Sebastian was so angry he nearly fainted.

"Yes, that's correct. Although Miss Eleanor is the artist, she is also the child's mother and is required to compensate. The amount in this agreement is already split equally with Miss Eleanor," the lawyer stated politely.

"What kind of painting costs twenty million!" Claudia exclaimed in shock.

She knew that in all her years in the art world, her most expensive piece was Breaking the Cocoon, which only sold for half a million.

"Is there a problem with someone being willing to pay for Miss Eleanor's art?"

Sebastian was speechless.

He decided to go home and consult his legal team about the compensation agreement. He turned and left with a dark expression.

Claudia hurriedly followed him.

After they left, Eleanor smiled. "You certainly know how to intimidate them."

"I wasn't intimidating them. If Sebastian doesn't pay the ten million compensation, he can expect a lawsuit from me."

Eleanor was slightly shocked.

Seeing her expression, Daphne smiled. "My friend truly was willing to pay twenty million for the painting. She saw the photo you sent me, and she loved it. It's just a shame..."

"I'm sorry, I should have controlled my child better," Eleanor apologized.

"When someone is trying to use your child to hurt you, you can't prevent it. Come on, let's go talk in my office."

After discussing the exhibition for a while, Eleanor stood up to say goodbye.

As soon as she walked out of the gallery, a phone call came in.

Eleanor's brow furrowed at the word "Father" flashing on the screen.

Before she could speak, a furious roar came from the other end. "Eleanor, what have you done? How dare you let Ruixin Gallery send a lawyer's letter to Sebastian!"