Chapter 111
Every eye in the room landed on Matthew.
Wait, had they heard that right?
Eight million eight hundred eighty-eight thousand dollars for a painting?
Combined with the first one, over thirteen million dollars total?
It was hard not to suspect Matthew had some connection to this child.
People glanced back and forth between them, and actually... they did look a bit alike!
An illusion. Had to be an illusion. Must be their eyes playing tricks after being shocked by that amount...
The emerald-necklaced elderly woman grumbled nearby. "I wanted to meet this child's family, arrange a marriage. You ruined everything."
Matthew smiled coldly and said nothing.
Finally, the auctioneer's gavel fell. "Congratulations to this gentleman for winning both of Chloe's paintings!"
Chloe, hearing that the handsome mister had bought both her paintings, wiggled the little hands clutching her dress.
Caleb watched his sister on the screen, his lips curving slightly.
He turned to look at his mother, only to find her face as white as paper.
When Matthew bid five million for the first painting, Evelyn's heart had started pounding wildly.
She told herself maybe he just liked the painting—it had nothing to do with Chloe.
Then hearing the second painting also went to Matthew, and for the astronomical price of 8.88 million...
Her heartbeat nearly burst through her chest.
Did Matthew know something?
Impossible.
She'd been careful enough covering her tracks. Matthew couldn't possibly know Chloe's background.
Yet fear still surged up like a tidal wave, drowning her completely.
She sat on the couch, gripping the backrest so tightly her knuckles went white, sweat soaking through her thin shirt.
"Mommy, what's wrong?" Caleb asked worriedly.
"Nothing." Evelyn steadied her voice, pushing down the panic.
"Oh my god! Oh my god!" Monica's mouth hung open, unable to close for ages.
She began debating whether to tell Evelyn that Matthew was the "handsome mister" Chloe had been talking about.
This father-daughter connection was genuinely uncanny...
Evelyn had just steadied herself when she saw the organizers invite Matthew on stage for a photo with Chloe.
The height difference between them was adorable.
Matthew glanced down at Chloe, then simply picked her up, holding her securely against his chest.
Evelyn fell silent. Monica fell silent too.
"Once the photo's done, it'll be over," Monica stammered reassuringly.
But on screen...
Chloe wrapped her arms around Matthew's neck, speaking in her sweet little voice. "Handsome mister, thank you for buying my paintings."
She couldn't calculate the exact amount, but knew it must be huge.
Enough to let so many children eat their fill and have warm places to sleep.
"I want to thank you. Can I treat you to dinner? With my mommy and brother."
Evelyn's heart leapt into her throat again.
"Of course." Matthew nodded.
"But do you need to check with your mom and dad first?" He glanced casually toward Pearl in the distance.
Why would a child attending an auction only have her nanny with her? Where were her parents?
"Oh, right." Chloe thought for a moment. "Mommy will say yes. Wait for me!"
Chloe had Matthew set her down, then pulled Pearl's hand and scampered off to find Evelyn.
"No." Evelyn's face was stern.
Chloe's eyes went wide, disbelief written all over her face. "Why? Before, when people helped me, Mommy always agreed to have dinner with them."
"The handsome mister is a good person. He bought my paintings, and now lots of children can eat..."
"Chloe, sweetheart." Evelyn crouched down, suppressing her inner turmoil and patiently explaining. "The handsome mister is on a date with his girlfriend. It wouldn't be polite for us to invite him to dinner."
"Girlfriend?" Chloe tilted her head.
"The... person the handsome mister likes." Saying the words out loud, Evelyn felt a dull ache in her chest.
"What?" Chloe's little face crumpled.
She remembered now.
Sitting next to the handsome mister was that mean woman who'd accused her of using a ghostpainter!
The handsome mister actually liked a mean woman?
Chloe felt like her world was collapsing—even worse than being refused dinner by Mommy.
"I understand..." She hung her head, deflated.
Evelyn signaled for Pearl to go decline Matthew's invitation, but Chloe insisted on going along.
Evelyn reluctantly agreed.
Logan had taken Caleb to the restroom.
Monica looked at Evelyn, hesitating.
"What is it?" Evelyn gave her a puzzled look.
"Evelyn, there's something I've been keeping from you," Monica spoke awkwardly. "I think... you might need to know."
"Remember when Chloe was treated to dinner? The person in that private room was... Matthew."
Evelyn felt her world collapse too.
Was this the legendary pull of blood ties?
Why did father and daughter keep running into each other, again and again?
"Mommy." Caleb's clear voice interrupted her thoughts. "You shouldn't have refused Chloe. She's really sad."
Evelyn crouched down, looking seriously into his eyes. "Mommy doesn't have to agree to everything Chloe wants. Sometimes... we have to consider the circumstances."
Like when that person nearly killed you both. She silently added to herself.
Caleb seemed to half-understand, pressing his lips together.
Evelyn, afraid staying longer would cause more trouble, quickly led the group toward the exit.
But she never imagined that at this very moment, a bold idea was forming in Chloe's mind!
Rewind ten minutes.
On her way to find Matthew, Chloe suddenly needed the restroom, so Pearl carried her into the washroom.
Just as they were about to leave the stall, a familiar voice came from outside.
"Don't worry, I'll drug him at dinner."
It was Sloane, her voice low but unable to hide the determination within. "Today... I'm definitely going to get pregnant with his child."
Hearing the mean woman's words, Chloe's little hand instantly covered Pearl's mouth.
They held their breath, hearing every word of Sloane's plot to trap Matthew.
Only when the footsteps faded and silence returned did Chloe release her hand.
"That scared me... the mean woman is going to hurt the handsome mister." She patted her little chest, taking a deep breath.
Pearl carried Chloe out of the washroom with a bitter expression, her heart in turmoil.
She'd been so unlucky lately—losing Chloe twice, and now cursed to overhear a conspiracy.
She was just a nanny. How could she handle something like this?
She could only pray that clever little Chloe wouldn't get any ideas about getting involved!
Chloe nestled in her arms, her little mind spinning.
The handsome mister had peeled shrimp for her, spoken up for her, praised her painting.
Such a gentle man—why should he be hurt by a mean woman?
She clenched her little fists, a small flame igniting in her eyes.
She'd decided—she would save the handsome mister!