Chapter 141: Do You Have a Death Wish?
On stage, Dominic was all smiles, her light cyan gauze dress blending perfectly with the oil painting behind her, so beautiful she seemed like a fairy stepping out of the painting.
Her voice was clear and resonant, yet it made quite a few people present break out in cold sweat!
How dare they say they were dissatisfied?
Never mind what consequences they'd face for offending Dominic - the Windsor family wouldn't let them off either!
Dominic stood beside Catherine and spoke in a deep voice: "Catherine is my one and only student in this life. Her artistic talent surpasses mine. If any of you want to critique my student, come to me first!"
The implication was crystal clear.
Who do you think you are, trying to critique his student?
Elijah stepped forward, looking proud. "The exhibition now begins. Please feel free to look around."
He was so excited!
This was Dominic himself!
Who would have thought Catherine was actually Dominic's student!
Dominic had said many years ago that he would only take one student in his lifetime to inherit all his skills.
From now on, their gallery's position in Imperia City would be unmatched!
Catherine brought Dominic over to the Windsor family members.
"This is my family."
Dominic scanned the Windsor family members before him and nodded at Marcus, giving the Windsor family plenty of face.
"Are they good to you?"
"Very good."
Dominic only cared about whether the Windsor family treated Catherine well.
Having come from the Galactic Aurora Collective, he knew very well that getting people from the Galactic Aurora Collective to accept new family members was like throwing a new hope into their already closed and darkened hearts.
If they weren't good to Catherine, he would definitely take Catherine away and work with the old guys to blow up the Windsor family!
Dominic's gaze fell on the Windsor family members, and he narrowed his eyes slightly.
"The Smith family people - you dealt with them. That's good. Catherine is the best child in the world. If you're not good enough to her, I'll take her away and make sure you never see her again!"
Bethany quickly said: "Catherine is our family treasure. How could we not treat her well? As for the Smith family, let's not bother Catherine with them. We'll handle those matters!"
He didn't want the Smith family's messy affairs disturbing Catherine.
Dominic nodded, his expression relaxing, and his gaze toward the Windsor family softened a bit.
He turned to look at Catherine.
"They do seem much better than the Smith family. That puts my mind at ease. I'm tired, heading back to the hotel first. I have some things to take care of these next couple days. I'll find you when I'm done."
"Okay, I'll have Mars go with you."
"Good, I could use someone to run errands."
As Dominic walked out, he looked at Catherine beside him with slight reproach.
"Using your own name - wouldn't that be more impressive than mine?"
Skyler, the mysterious internationally renowned painter, the latest brilliant rising star in the oil painting world!
Her painting style was completely different from Dominic's - she had even created her own unique style. The market price of her works had already surpassed Dominic's.
Even on the dark web, Skyler's works had been auctioned at sky-high prices!
If Catherine was willing to hold an exhibition under Skyler's name, forget shocking Imperia City - it would shock the world!
"Not for now. I don't want to draw that much attention."
Being Dominic's student was enough. If Skyler's identity was exposed, she probably wouldn't have any peace and quiet lately.
She had originally used the Skyler ID to post paintings purely because Catherine was too bored during experiments and casually painted a few pictures to satisfy Dominic's nagging. She never expected them to blow up.
Dominic shook his head indulgently.
"Whatever you want. I wouldn't mind even if you told everyone you were Dominic himself."
He wished Catherine would publicly announce she was his student, so everyone could see he had the world's most outstanding student!
"I know what I'm doing. You head back to the hotel first. I've arranged everything for your meals."
"How thoughtful of you. My ten-plus hour flight back wasn't for nothing."
Dominic's eyes were full of affection.
Catherine handed Dominic over to Mars, who was waiting at the door, and watched the car leave and merge into traffic.
Meanwhile.
Esme stood anxiously outside the ICU room at Bright Heal Hospital, pacing back and forth.
What was Michael doing?
Why hadn't he sent her any updates even now!
As long as Catherine's gallery event failed today, in front of so many Windsor family members and with the media present, Catherine would definitely be abandoned by the Windsor family!
But now the gallery exhibition was almost over, and she still hadn't heard from Michael.
Could Michael really be so useless he couldn't even handle this small matter?
Esme was restless and simply called Michael directly.
"Michael, how did things go today?"
Michael had just finished giving his statement and come out, his whole body radiating hostility!
He never expected the Windsor family would actually dare to call the police and have him arrested. Philip's lawyer's letter arrived at the Hughes family head's desk right after, and Anthony Hughes had just given him a thorough scolding.
Michael had only gotten out five minutes ago.
"Esme, do you have a death wish? How dare you play me! Let me tell you, this isn't over between us!"
Hearing this, Esme completely panicked!
"What happened?"
"Don't play dumb with me. Go check the news and you'll know."
Michael spoke through gritted teeth. Still waiting to go back to the Hughes family for more scolding, he had no patience for Esme.
He knew Esme was an idiot!
If she hadn't said the Windsor family didn't care about Catherine at all, that she was just someone from the countryside who knew nothing, he wouldn't have arranged this whole thing, leading to him becoming a laughingstock in the Hughes family!
Hanging up the phone, Michael let out a long, frustrated breath.
"Did you contact Jade Oracle? The next thing I need to do concerns whether I'll have inheritance rights. It absolutely cannot fail!"
"We contacted him. He'll arrive in Imperia City next week."
"Good."
Esme listened to the busy tone on the phone, her heartbeat accelerating.
Feeling extremely agitated, she opened the news on her phone. The sight of Catherine standing in front of the oil painting in an elegant gown, looking as graceful and beautiful as a princess, deeply pierced Esme's heart!
That dress was the masterpiece of an internationally renowned designer. She had begged Lila for half a year before, but Lila never agreed.
Now it was on Catherine, and Dominic had announced Catherine as his only student.
When she was learning oil painting, she dreamed of meeting Dominic just once, but the Windsor family never agreed. Now they had actually brought Dominic to be Catherine's teacher.
It made her, stuck waiting at the hospital entrance, look like a clown!
Why? What gave Catherine the right?
The ICU door was opened from inside by a nurse.
"Visiting hours now. Family can come in."
Esme walked into the room and looked down at Lila lying in bed, barely alive.
"Grandma, none of them came to see you. Your life is really worthless, isn't it? Do you also think Catherine is your real granddaughter? Why does everyone treat me like this!"
She refused to accept it!