Her Revenge From Shadow to Sunlight novel Chapter 136

Chapter 136

Chapter 136

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“Will he ever listen to us?” Silas snapped, the words laced with decades of resentment. “Why can’t he be like a normal father and think of his family? It’s always about his principles, never our struggles. My child’s future is on the line-I need that tuition money. He’s ‘the great Edward West. A single painting, one rich student, and my problems vanish. But he won’t budge. I have to get through to him.”

Zane interjected, his own anxiety rising. “You think you’re the only one? My promotion hinges on this! My boss’s wife is obsessed with the Sweetheart Queen’s work. We must convince Father to take her as a student.”

Liora let out a weary sigh. “Shouting won’t bend his will. He’s become a stubborn child in an old man’s body. We have to coax him, not confront him.”

Silas and Zane exchanged a weary look before offering a resigned nod. “Alright, alright,” they muttered in near-unison.

Seizing the moment, Silas grabbed a glass of water and approached the old man. “Here, Dad. Don’t stay angry. We’re father and son-what’s the point in holding a grudge?” He forced a conciliatory tone. “I just spoke out of turn because I’m anxious. Your grandson has this opportunity overseas, and the finances… well, they’re tighter than I’d like.”

The old man refused the glass, offering only a dismissive grunt. “Overseas? For what? Other children go to study. What will he do? Look at his grades-you’d just be throwing your money away.”

Silas’s composure cracked, his face flushing with anger. “Dad! How can you speak about your own grandson that way?”

The old man just snorted again.

Liora had had enough of her brother’s blundering. She nudged him aside, picked up the glass, and offered it to her father. “Here, Dad, have some water. Sit down and relax. I’ll keep an eye on the eggs, and when they’re ready, we can all eat together. It’s not often we get to share a family meal like this.”

Hearing this, the old man’s expression softened slightly. “It’s true we don’t often sit down together like this. But I didn’t make enough for everyone today. If you’re hungry, you should go out to eat. You’re welcome to come back here afterward if you like-there’s plenty of space. If not, you can just head home.”

Liora beamed. “Dad, today’s a big day-you’re taking on a formal apprentice! Of course your children want to be there to support you. Silas has already posted the announcement on your Twitter and upgraded the venue to the Crown Hotel. He’s reserved an entire banquet hall for you.”

“What?” the old man barked, his eyes widening in disbelief before narrowing into a furious glare. He thrust a trembling finger toward his son. “Since when do you make such decisions without me?”

“Dad, be reasonable,” Silas countered, his voice tight with forced patience. “You’re a celebrated artist. There will be press. Do you truly want to receive them in this cramped courtyard? It’s… unbecoming of your status.”

“I don’t think it’s cramped at all,” the old man said coolly. “And from now on, stay off my Twitter account. Stop posting all that nonsense-and don’t think I’ve forgotten how you used it to hype up that ‘Sweetheart Queen’ everyone’s talking about online. We haven’t settled that matter yet. Do you even understand art? You’re just posting things without knowing what you’re talking about.”

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Chapter 136

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Zane grinned, “Dad, that review we posted was actually pretty favorable! Lots of people said it showed amazing taste. Seriously, when’s the last time you released a new piece? Maybe you’ve hit a creative block lately? You don’t really get the internet, and you almost never make public appearances-people are starting to forget you. But if you connect with this online art celebrity, every time people talk about her, they’ll mention your name too. It’ll keep you relevant in the art world.”

Silas nodded. “They say the Sweetheart Queen is coming here today to apprentice under you. Dad, you know how huge she is online-she paints well and really knows how to engage her audience. You should definitely

take her on.”

“Yes, totally! And I heard the Lawrence family is loaded in Riverdale. If you take on a rich student, that gives you some major bragging rights,” Zane added.

The old man slammed his glass down on the table. “What are you trying to pull here? Are you setting this up behind my back? All you care about is money! You’ve already sold every single painting your mother left behind-how is that still not enough? Get out! All of you, get out!”

He stood up and started shoving them toward the door.

Liora’s mind raced. The Sweetheart Queen had real talent and a massive online following. If Edward judged purely on skill, he’d likely choose her anyway.

‘Better to play along for now and keep things from escalating.’

Thinking that, she flashed a smile and said, “Dad, nobody’s fixing anything behind your back. Let’s just calm down and have breakfast.”

She shot her brothers a look, and they quickly chimed in. “We’re not rigging anything, Dad, honestly. Let’s just have breakfast and get you ready. There are reporters coming today—you can’t possibly receive them in those old, faded clothes!”

The old man looked down at his clothes and scoffed. “And what, precisely, is the problem? I am an artist, not a mannequin.”

“If you show up like that,” Silas retorted, “the hotel security will assume you’re a vagrant and turn you away at the door.”

“Then I’m not going!” the old man fired back. “You arranged this. The selection will be held here, in my courtyard, as I intended.”

“Dad, that’s impossible,” Liora said, slipping her arm through his in a practiced gesture of appeasement. “Think of the press. Think of your fans who have already made travel plans based on the tweets we posted. To change the venue now would be seen as the height of arrogance-a slap in the face to everyone who supports you.”

The old man shot back, “I never approved those posts!”

“We overstepped, and we’re sorry,” she soothed, her voice sweetly insistent. “But the damage is done. We can’t reverse this without making you look terribly difficult.”

The old man had always been a man who responded to a gentle touch rather than a shove. The fight drained out of him at Liora’s coaxing tone, and he gave a resigned grumble. “This once, But that’s the last tweet you’ll

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Chapter 136

ever send from my name without asking.”

Absohnely. Dad, Liora agreed, her voice bright with relief. “Now, shall we eat?”

“Let’s eat, the old man finally conceded, his expression softening.

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