Chapter 136
Hestia's words shattered the atmosphere.
Josephine slowly turned her gaze to her. Hestia showed no fear, speaking righteously, "I can swear I'm not deliberately targeting you, but shouldn't damaged property be compensated?"
Lorelei feigned concern. "But this painting is fake."
"Real or fake, she still damaged it. Even if it's fake, Mr. Fields still paid thirty-eight million dollars for it. So who should bear this loss?" Hestia pressed aggressively.
Lorelei was momentarily speechless, looking at Josephine with apparent difficulty. "But Ms. Kennedy probably doesn't have that much money—that's thirty-eight million dollars."
Gideon, who'd been silent, glanced at her. "Say less."
Though Lorelei's words seemed concerned, anyone with half a brain could hear the schadenfreude beneath them.
Lorelei closed her mouth awkwardly, lowering her head.
Inwardly, she grew even more resentful of Josephine. This thirty-eight million dollars—Josephine had to pay it!
But Hestia wasn't afraid of Gideon. She looked around and said loudly, "Speaking of which, everything today happened because of Ms. Kennedy. If Ms. Kennedy hadn't broken the painting, no one would know it was fake, Mr. Fields wouldn't be devastated, and Mr. Roberts wouldn't have needed to come."
She actually blamed all of today's events on Josephine. Everyone had never seen such twisted logic.
Someone immediately objected, "That's not how it works. Without Ms. Kennedy, Mr. Fields would still be in the dark, treasuring a fake painting."
The words were barely out when the person next to him lightly elbowed him. Looking up, Daryl's expression was truly ugly.
Cedric had been leaning casually to the side. Hearing this, he slowly straightened, but before he could speak, Josephine spoke first.
"Those words have merit."
Her words were shocking.
Hestia looked at her with uncertainty. Had she been scared stupid by thirty-eight million dollars?
She quickly followed up. "Since you yourself think it makes sense, then compensate. As for how much... personally, I think, however much Mr. Fields paid for this painting, you should compensate that amount."
In the dead silence, Josephine smiled. "Ms. Sharp, seems you're determined to empty my wallet today."
Hestia smiled without warmth. "I'm just speaking fairly. Mr. Fields might be too embarrassed to ask you for this money, but you destroyed the painting—you can't expect Mr. Fields to clean up the mess himself."
Josephine nodded in agreement. "You make sense."
Before Hestia could react, Josephine's tone shifted. "Since we're pursuing responsibility for the culprit, let's pursue it thoroughly."
"What do you mean?"
"I was standing in this position at the time." Josephine walked to where she'd fallen, the damaged painting at her feet. "Though I wore heels today, I remember clearly—I was standing very steadily, and Ms. Kelly was right beside me. I vaguely remember someone pushed me from behind, which caused me to fall."
Hestia's expression changed slightly, but she quickly scoffed. "People come to exhibitions to appreciate art. Who would be idle enough to push you? Ms. Kennedy, are you trying to shirk responsibility?"
Josephine said flatly, "You."
Hestia's expression changed. She scolded, "Don't talk nonsense! You can't afford to compensate for the painting, so you're trying to shift responsibility to me?"
Josephine looked around. "Did anyone see what happened?"
No one spoke immediately.
But just then, Cedric calmly walked behind Josephine.
With everyone focused on Josephine, Cedric's action seemed somewhat abrupt.
But everyone understood his meaning.
He was Josephine's backing.
Someone raised a hand. "I saw it. At the time, Ms. Kennedy was talking with Ms. Kelly. Ms. Sharp rushed over from behind and pushed Ms. Kennedy."
"Don't talk nonsense!" Hestia shouted in embarrassed anger. "I didn't push her on purpose! The floor wasn't cleaned properly—it was very slippery. I accidentally slipped, and I already warned her. She was just slow to react and didn't dodge. What does this have to do with me?"
With one person stepping forward, a second followed.
"Actually, I saw it too."
"Ms. Sharp, don't get excited. We're not saying you did it intentionally, but the fact is you accidentally bumped into Ms. Kennedy."
Josephine nodded repeatedly. "So it seems we've found the culprit."
"Don't try to shift responsibility to me!" Hestia wanted to curse. Josephine couldn't produce thirty-eight million dollars, and neither could she. Her family background was decent, but coming to an art exhibition and having to compensate thirty-eight million dollars...
Her father would definitely beat her.
Hestia shuddered. "You damaged the painting—if anyone should compensate, it's you. This has nothing to do with me."
"Then let's call the police." Josephine's gaze circled between Lorelei and Hestia before suddenly saying this.
Hestia instinctively looked at Lorelei.
Lorelei remained composed. "For such a minor matter, calling the police seems excessive. Today is Mr. Fields's exhibition after all. If the police come, the exhibition probably can't continue."
Daryl also said, "No need to call the police. Ms. Kennedy doesn't need to compensate either."
Hestia panicked. "How can that be? That way, Mr. Fields has to bear all the losses himself—that's thirty-eight million dollars!"
If it were a real painting, restoration might be possible. But this fake, even if truly repaired, would be useless—no need for restoration at all.
Josephine nodded in agreement. "I think Ms. Sharp is right. The two of us are the culprits who damaged the painting, so this money should be borne by us both."
Hestia: "What?"
Is this person sick?
"What does the painting you broke have to do with me? Why do you keep trying to drag me down? Why are you so vicious?" She was beside herself, words tumbling out.
Josephine smiled sweetly. "Weren't you insisting the culprit should compensate? I'm just discussing the facts. You did push me—everyone saw it. Don't worry, I won't make you pay more. Thirty-eight million dollars—we'll split it fifty-fifty."
Hestia was so angry that she jumped. She wanted to kill someone. "You're sick! I have no money! I won't pay a single cent!"
"But you pushed me."
"I didn't push you!"
"Everyone saw it." Josephine maintained her smile throughout.
Hestia was being driven mad. "I said I didn't push! Who saw me push you? The surveillance there is broken, too. How can what others say count? They might have been bought by you! I checked beforehand—there's absolutely no way to leave evidence! I'm not that stupid!"
After these words, the entire exhibition fell into deathly silence.