Chapter 83 This Painting is Fake
Charles, as the president of the Evergreen Group, was incredibly busy every day. He had a gold mine excavation that needed him to fly over and oversee the work, and his plane was about to take off any minute.
But to him, being with Catherine was more important. Catherine was so gentle and kind - if she went to the music store and art gallery alone, she would definitely get taken advantage of.
Charles was worried, so he stubbornly stayed and watched until Catherine won over the music store manager before leaving satisfied.
The moment he walked out of the music store, he jumped straight onto a motorcycle parked at the entrance.
Catherine turned around just in time to see Charles, wearing his sharp suit, sitting on a cool punk-style motorcycle, racing toward the airport. The wheels were practically sparking against the ground.
Charles had specially made time to accompany her because he was worried about her. Thinking about this, Catherine felt warmth in her heart.
As soon as she left the music store, Catherine received a call from Vincent.
"Catherine, some idiot just offered a ridiculous price to buy that violin I messed up earlier. Said he wanted to give it to his sister as a gift. Isn't that crazy?"
Catherine was silent for a moment, then smiled and said, "Can you check which family bought it?"
"Let me see... the Windsor family from Imperia City. Wait, isn't that your family? Don't tell me they bought that broken violin for you? There's no need! The violin I gave you before is way better than this one!"
Vincent had thought he'd met a fool he could make good money off of, but it turned out to be Catherine's family wanting to buy it.
Although Vincent had serious OCD about his work, he also cherished it deeply. The violins he put out for exhibition were all rejects that Vincent didn't think were good enough, but outsiders who didn't know any better treated them like treasures.
"I fixed it for you - it's a good violin now. You can sell it if you want, but if the Windsor family wants it, charge them less."
When Vincent heard that Catherine had fixed the violin for him, his face lit up with such a big smile that all his wrinkles disappeared.
"If the Windsor family had told me earlier it was for you, you could have just taken whatever you wanted. Sounds like this family treats you pretty well?"
"Pretty well."
Vincent knew what kind of life Catherine had lived before. Knowing that the Windsor family treated her like a treasure and protected her, he felt relieved.
"That's good. If they don't treat you well, just come back. The Galactic Aurora Collective will take care of you."
"I have an event to attend in Imperia City next month. Will you come with me?"
Vincent's voice carried some anticipation. He hadn't seen Catherine in so long and missed her very much.
"Okay."
The elders of the Galactic Aurora Collective were all Catherine's teachers. They had raised her since childhood and taught her knowledge in various fields. In their eyes, Catherine was like the other geniuses of the Galactic Aurora Collective - they were all their children.
"Great! Remember to prepare my favorite food. See you then."
"I'll definitely remember. I'll arrange everything for you."
Vincent hung up the phone satisfied and immediately called Philip.
Philip had been waiting forever and picked up as soon as the call came through.
"Vincent, have you decided? My sister really loves that violin. Please name your price and sell it to us!"
"No, I'm not selling that violin."
Philip got anxious and paced around his office with his phone.
"Please reconsider. No matter how much money, our family will pay!"
"It's not about the money. I don't need money."
With Vincent's wealth, he really didn't care about the money from one violin.
"Then name your condition. Whatever you ask, we'll find a way to make it happen. Please trust the Windsor family's capabilities."
After listening for a while, Vincent confirmed that the Windsor family genuinely cared about Catherine. This kind of concern couldn't be faked, and he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"I have one condition - let the girl who wants that violin become my student!"
Philip's eyes went wide!
If Vincent was willing to let Catherine be his student?
Philip suppressed his excitement, his face full of joy, but still calmly said, "No problem, but I need to ask my sister what she thinks!"
Vincent nodded.
Not presuming to answer for Catherine and knowing to care about her feelings - clearly the Windsor family had good manners.
Philip quickly called Catherine.
When Catherine heard Vincent's request, she was a bit stunned, then agreed.
After all, Vincent was already her teacher anyway.
"Catherine, think it through carefully. If you don't like it, I won't force you."
"It's fine, I'm willing."
"Good, good. Vincent is coming to Imperia City next month for an event. He wants you to attend with him, and the apprenticeship ceremony will be held at the same time."
"Okay."
Philip happily called back.
"Vincent, the Windsor family will take care of your accommodation and transportation. Please rest assured."
Vincent nodded with satisfaction, his impression of the Windsor family improving considerably.
"I'll just give that violin to your sister to play with - no charge. Next month I'll bring her an even better one."
"Thank you!"
Meanwhile.
Catherine walked into the art gallery.
The gallery Samuel ran wasn't just a gallery - it was actually an art exhibition center, with designated areas for both paintings and sculptures.
After what happened at the music store, Elijah didn't dare disrespect Catherine anymore and led her on a tour of the gallery.
"Ms. Windsor, our gallery has eight floors in total. These two floors are rented out to artists for exhibitions. Upstairs there's a dedicated exhibition area, and we also have some exclusive works."
Catherine nodded and followed Elijah around the gallery.
She stopped in front of an oil painting.
"Ms. Windsor, this is a work by the famous oil painting master Dominic Chambers. Our gallery spent three hundred million dollars to acquire it. It's also our signature piece."
Catherine looked at the oil painting before her and frowned slightly.
If she remembered correctly, this work should still be hanging in Dominic's bedroom. How could it be in this gallery?
"Who was responsible for buying this painting?"
Elijah thought for a moment and waved behind him, "Sawyer, come here."
Sawyer, wearing a fisherman's hat that covered most of his face, walked up from behind and looked at Catherine carelessly.
Must be someone who doesn't know anything, probably looking to cause trouble for no reason.
"I bought it. What about it? I put in a lot of effort to win this painting at auction."
Catherine's gaze was calm but carried a power that seemed to see through people's hearts, making cold sweat break out on Sawyer's back for no apparent reason.
Elijah couldn't quite figure out what Catherine meant and leaned in to ask, "Do you have any instructions?"
Catherine withdrew her gaze and said coldly, "This painting is fake."