Chapter 110
Sloane turned around and saw a three- or four-year-old girl being held by a nanny, her little face puffed up with indignation.
She looked her up and down, her gaze critical.
A child painting something like that?
Probably had someone powerful backing her.
She was about to say something mocking when Matthew walked over.
When he saw Chloe, his expression softened. "Chloe, we meet again."
"It's you, handsome mister! What a coincidence!"
"Is this your painting?" he asked, his voice unconsciously gentle.
Chloe nodded, chin up. "I painted it!"
Matthew looked at that indignant little face and was suddenly reminded of Evelyn when she was angry.
She'd get angry the same way—eyes wide and round, lips pressed together.
Clearly furious, yet trying to look like she didn't care.
His lips twitched.
"It's very good," he said.
"Thank you for the compliment, handsome mister!" Chloe puffed out her little chest proudly. "I think I did really well too."
The auction manager, seeing the dispute resolved, breathed a sigh of relief and quickly ushered everyone to their seats.
Matthew smiled at Chloe and turned to sit down.
Sloane followed behind him, her fingers unconsciously clenching tight.
Matthew had never been one to like children.
But the way he'd just looked at that child—impossibly gentle.
The auction began.
The first few pieces sold one after another, and the atmosphere gradually warming up.
Caleb sat in the lounge, deaf to everything on the screen.
Halfway through his sudoku game, he heard the auctioneer announce Chloe's name.
He immediately set down his tablet and watched the screen intently.
The two paintings were displayed on stage, accompanied by a projected video.
"Hi everyone, I'm Chloe, and I'm three years old."
A sweet little voice rang out as small hands appeared on screen, gripping a paintbrush and carefully applying color.
"I heard this charity auction will give the money to orphanages."
"I've been a lucky kid since I was born, but Mommy told me there are lots of children whose parents aren't around anymore."
"They don't have enough to eat or warm clothes. It's really sad."
The footage sped up, the small hands moving faster and faster as a blue island gradually took shape.
Chloe's little finger pointed at the finished painting, her expression happy and warm. "I grew up here, with blue skies and little fish every day. So happy."
"I want to share this simple little joy with everyone!"
"If you like my painting, take it home."
"Then those children won't go hungry. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
The whole room fell silent, only Chloe's sweet voice echoing.
As Chloe spoke, the screen began showing unedited fast-motion footage of her painting.
From the first brushstroke to the last—clean, without a hint of fakery.
Those who'd claimed Chloe had used a ghostpainter fell silent.
Monica clapped excitedly in front of the screen. "Eve, you knew this would happen!"
Evelyn smiled. Of course, she'd protect her own child!
She'd carefully documented each of Chloe's paintings, preserving every recording of the creative process.
Fraud? She'd like to see anyone produce evidence of that.
"What about the second painting? What does it mean to Chloe?"
In the video, the person filming also spoke—from the voice, also a child.
The scene shifted.
The second painting showed a woman beneath the sky, done in blue-gray tones, too serene to be the work of a three-year-old.
"Great-grandma told me that when Mommy gave birth to Caleb and me, it was really hard."
"Mommy was in so much pain, and it hurt her body. I feel so sorry for Mommy..."
"Great-grandma told me a story once—if you pray sincerely, the gods in the sky will answer you and take away your suffering."
In the footage, Chloe's small figure sat beneath the sky, pressing her little hands together devoutly. "So I painted Mommy's image and prayed and copied it very carefully."
She looked up, eyes bright, smiling to reveal two little canine teeth. "All the mommies in the world are amazing. I hope all mommies can be blessed and freed from suffering."
The screen went quiet for a moment.
"Chloe, the video's almost over. Is there anything else you want to say?"
"Mommy, I love you forever!" She made a heart shape at the camera with her chubby arms. "Oh, and Great-grandma, Logan, Pearl, and my dear brother Caleb!"
The person filming spoke awkwardly, adding quietly, "Caleb loves you too."
Only then did people realize the video had been shot by Chloe's brother.
Laughter rippled through the room, followed by sustained applause.
The lights came back up.
Chloe stood on stage in her cream-colored little dress, poised and confident.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for loving my painting."
"If this charity auction succeeds, many children won't have to wander anymore. It's really meaningful."
"I hope you'll bid on my paintings."
The audience melted.
"I'm bidding! I have to!"
"Chloe! You're so adorable! I'm becoming a Chloe fan!"
An elderly woman wearing an emerald necklace smiled until her eyes became crescents. "Whose child is this? So precious! I want to arrange a marriage between her and my family!"
Matthew's brow furrowed slightly.
The manager, seeing the lively atmosphere, seized the moment with a smile.
"The auction officially begins! The first painting, Sunny Island, starting at one hundred thousand dollars!"
Bidding paddles rose continuously.
"Five hundred thousand dollars!" The elderly emerald-necklaced woman jumped the price fivefold.
The manager's voice trembled with excitement. "Five hundred thousand! Do I hear higher?"
"One million dollars." Matthew spoke calmly.
The room went silent.
"One and a half million!" The elderly woman gritted her teeth.
"Five million dollars." Matthew's voice remained flat.
The old woman stamped her foot in frustration. "Matthew, are you deliberately competing with me?"
"I also really like Chloe's painting," Matthew said.
At that price, no one else bid.
The manager looked around dreamlike, his voice floating. "Five million dollars, sold!"
People around turned to look, their gazes shifting between Matthew and Sloane.
"Mr. Perkins is so charitable. That's Sloane next to him, right? Are they getting married soon?"
"He's this invested in someone else's child—his own kids must be spoiled rotten. Miss Elikin is so fortunate."
Sloane could barely maintain her smile.
Matthew cared more about a stranger's child than about her. Five million dollars without blinking.
That damn kid—why did she deserve it?
The auction's fervent atmosphere continued.
Chloe's second painting also started at one hundred thousand dollars.
Everyone could see this painting carried even deeper meaning than the first.
Who didn't want their mother to live long and healthy?
This painting would make a perfect gift for one's mother!
The whole room geared up.
Matthew apparently thought incrementally raising the price was a waste of time. He spoke directly, announcing an astronomical figure.
"Eight million eight hundred eighty-eight thousand dollars."
Dead silence fell over the entire room!