Side Chick Era Over (Sharon and Carter) novel Chapter 601

Chapter 601

The auctioneer speculated aloud, “This painting, Nightfall, is the only one in MK’s entire collection that features a human figure. I wonder if this figure holds a special meaning for MK? Or… could she be his unattainable first love?”

He went on, weaving story after story about the painting and guessing at MK’s creative inspiration.

In the audience, Wendy listened with half an ear before muttering with a sigh, “These people are really good at making things up. A first love, even-what a waste they’re not in screenwriting.”

Xavier chuckled. “Add a bit of drama and the price will soar.”

“They don’t even know whether the artist is a man or a woman,” Wendy said, exasperated, “yet they’re talking about first loves … utterly ridiculous.”

Just then, Thomas, who had been studying the painting intently, suddenly spoke. “The woman in this painting… is it Sharon herself?”

Wendy turned to him with approval. “Thomas, sharp eyes-you can tell?”

Thomas smiled. “I’ve often seen Sharon playing the violin from behind. The figure in the painting looks a lot like her.”

On the stage, the painting was revealed-a woman in a white dress, playing the violin beneath the night sky. She stood in the back garden, bathed in silver moonlight that spilled across the ground in a delicate wash of shadows.

The garden was serene, with a pavilion standing in the distance. A soft breeze lifted her long hair into the air. The hem of her dress swayed gently with the wind.

It was beautiful, poetic even.

Though her face was hidden, the curve of her back alone stirred the imagination, leaving one longing for a glimpse of her

features.

Casey studied the painting closely. “Is the woman in the painting really Sharon?”

John and Wendy had known Sharon since childhood. They both recognized her instantly. Casey, who had only recently met her,

could be forgiven for not noticing.

But Thomas…

Wendy shot Thomas a curious glance. How had he recognized her?

John confirmed it with a nod. “Yes, it’s Sharon.”

Wendy went on to explain the painting’s origins. “Sharon was practicing in the back garden that day, and I happened to take a photo of her. She loved it so much that she painted this piece based on it.”

On stage, the auctioneer finally stopped his endless commentary and announced the starting bid.

“Starting price: 500 thousand. Each increment is no less than ten thousand.”

The words had barely left his lips before the bidding began.

“600 thousand!”

“800 thousand!”

“One million!”

Only five of MK’s works were in circulation, making them highly collectible. MK was such a remarkable artist that any future

Chapter 601

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masterpiece could send the value of the collection soaring.

In mere minutes, the price had climbed to two million.

Even Wendy, who was no stranger to grand occasions, was momentarily stunned. She turned to Sharon. “Sharon, what was our budget again?”

“Two million,” Sharon replied.

Originally, her budget had been only 300 thousand. But after realizing that none of her paintings sold for less than one million, she had reluctantly raised it to two million.

That sum had been scraped together by giving up her studio space, composing a few original pieces for Kelly, and squeezing it out of the ten million she had obtained from Carter.

Wendy gulped. “Should we… raise our budget again?”

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