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Chapter_137
With long, straight legs, Jeremiah strode confidently toward Yvette, Wyatt hurriedly trailing behind him. As he made his way through the crowd, every gaze in the garden followed him—some in awe, others full of suspicion, some shocked, and a few deep in thought.
As Jeremiah reached Yvette, she had just finished a piece of dessert. She slowly lifted her head, her long, pale neck gleaming softly in the sunlight. The faint outline of her collarbones showed through her attire, and her flawless face met Jeremiah’s gaze, her eyes sparkling with a mix of indifference and curiosity.
Jeremiah’s eyes softened as he gazed down at her, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. His voice was magnetic, pleasant—almost soothing. “You look beautiful today,” he said, his tone genuine.
Yvette leaned back casually in her seat, lifting her eyelids just slightly. Her expression remained cool, and a faint glimmer of wildness lingered in her eyes. “Only today?” she asked, her voice light but teasing.
Jeremiah was momentarily taken aback, his mind processing her playful remark. Did she just tease me? But despite the surprise, a thrill of joy surged through him. His gaze softened, becoming more focused, and he raised an eyebrow. “You’ve always looked beautiful,” he said earnestly, his voice carrying a quiet sincerity.
Yvette, resting her chin in her hand, responded lazily, her voice dripping with confidence. “I know. I’ve always been beautiful.”
Nearby, Sienna could barely hold back a sigh as she watched the scene unfold. She rubbed her forehead, casting a quick glance around at the other women in the garden. Their eyes were filled with jealousy, envy, and even a hint of hostility toward Yvette. Sienna could practically feel the tension in the air.
She couldn’t help but think, Boss, you’re not just good-looking, you’re drop-dead gorgeous. But seriously, could you tone it down a bit? Look at how all these women are glaring at you like they’re ready to tear you apart. But Sienna was no fool. Given the overwhelming presence of the man who had just appeared, she knew better than to interrupt. She had no doubt that Jeremiah and Yvette were flirting, and as usual, Sienna was left in the role of the bystander. In her mind, she was like the “dog” in the commonly known phrase “dog abuse,” just watching the whole scene unfold from the sidelines.
Simon, who had been sitting nearby, hadn’t expected Yvette to be so bold with her words. He coughed awkwardly, trying to break the tension in the air. “Well… I didn’t realize this kid had a slight narcissistic streak. But honestly, I wouldn’t call it narcissism. She’s just speaking the truth. After all, after all my years of teaching, Yvette is the prettiest student I’ve ever had, hands down.”
Jeremiah’s lips curled into a subtle but unmistakable smile. This smile, however, was reserved only for Yvette. He briefly glanced at Sienna, who was looking on with obvious curiosity, her nosy expression clear as day. Jeremiah’s eyes narrowed slightly, making it clear that he wasn’t pleased with her scrutiny.
Sienna, sensing the shift in atmosphere, immediately stood up, excused herself with a hasty “I’ll be back!” and stormed off to a seat farther away from Yvette. Jeremiah, without missing a beat, naturally took the seat that Sienna had vacated. He nodded politely toward Simon, but his attention quickly returned to Yvette, his gaze now solely focused on her.
Yvette glanced at him from behind her long lashes, her lips pressed together in a thoughtful expression. She said nothing, offering no direct response to his actions. To everyone around them, this silence was the equivalent of giving him tacit approval to take the seat and continue their interaction. Whispers started to swirl through the crowd—So, are they a couple?
“I heard the Carter family broke off their engagement with Yvette and switched to Winona,” someone whispered. “Looks like it’s true. Otherwise, how could she be sitting so comfortably with another man?”
“Yvette really has it all, huh? First, she’s discovered by the Chambers family, and now she’s got this handsome, amazing boyfriend. And on top of all that, she looks like that? Life really isn’t fair.”
“I thought Victor was handsome, but compared to this guy, the difference is just too much.”
At that moment, Victor, accompanied by Nellie and Winona, entered the garden. He overheard the conversation and immediately felt his blood pressure rise. But when his eyes landed on the man sitting next to Yvette, his anger quickly deflated. What can I even do? Victor thought bitterly. They’re right. I can’t compare to him… All he could do was sulk in silence, his frustration simmering beneath the surface.
Winona, for her part, was well aware that, after the apprenticeship ceremony, her engagement to Victor would soon be announced. She had already resigned herself to the fact that Jeremiah was out of the picture for now. Her mother had made it clear—her priority was securing Victor, and she had accepted that. As for Jeremiah, Winona thought with a flicker of resolve, I’m not giving up on him just yet. I’ll leave that door open for the future, though for now, I’ll focus on Victor.
In the center of the garden, Cyanbird’s painting—a gift to Winona—was proudly displayed on the faux wall.
Meanwhile, Richard had taken the prime seat, with Zachary, Nellie, Robert, and Yulia by his side. It seemed the earlier drama had been forgotten, and Richard had returned to his usual self-assured, arrogant posture.
Zachary, stepping forward, announced to the crowd, “We’ll begin with the apprenticeship ceremony.” This decision brightened Winona’s mood considerably, as it demonstrated that Zachary valued her and understood the significance of this moment for her. This also meant her apprenticeship ceremony would take place before Yvette’s recognition event, putting her in the spotlight first.
As Winona passed Yvette, she deliberately slowed down, casting a smug look at her older sister. “Sis, I’m going up first,” she said with a hint of triumph in her voice.
Yvette didn’t even spare her a glance. She didn’t bother to open her eyes, her lips curling into a cold smile that spoke volumes without needing words.
Winona’s face tightened with anger at the lack of response but, knowing better than to lash out in front of Jeremiah, she gritted her teeth and walked away, her pride bruised but intact.
The apprenticeship ceremony itself was brief, lasting only twenty minutes. During that time, Yvette kept her eyes closed, her posture relaxed as she rested. Those around her assumed she was just jealous of her younger sister and didn’t want to watch. However, a few could hear the soft, steady rhythm of her breathing, which suggested she was at ease, perhaps even enjoying the moment in her own way.
Jeremiah subtly shifted in his seat, angling himself slightly to block the breeze that was blowing in from the distance. To an outside observer, it almost seemed like he was protecting her, as though cradling her in his arms.
Wyatt, standing off to the side, noticed this small but significant gesture. His eyes darkened. Looks like Jeremiah has truly fallen for her. But can Yvette pass the test set by the old chief? Wyatt wondered, his thoughts growing more serious.
Once the ceremony concluded, Winona officially became Richard’s last student. This title gave her newfound confidence, knowing that she now had the strongest possible backing in the world of oil painting.
Everyone raised their glasses to congratulate her, and Winona quickly reclaimed her air of triumph, pretending the earlier events hadn’t happened.
Just as the mood seemed to settle, a man in his forties, wearing glasses and ordinary clothing, strode into the garden and shouted, “Hold on! I’ve got something to say!”
The crowd turned toward the newcomer, murmurs of confusion spreading through the guests. It was none other than Cole Paben—the vice president of the Art Association. He had always been Richard’s nemesis, and he despised the way Richard ran the association. The previous president had been fair and just, but Richard’s underhanded tactics had driven the old leader out, elevating his new last student in an attempt to control the association.
Cole could not stand by and let this happen. Upon hearing about Winona’s sudden rise, he had rushed to Seacrity overnight. He had also learned a secret about Winona from the former president—How could this girl tell such an outrageous lie and fool everyone? I can’t let her enter the Art Association.
Richard, sensing the impending storm, fixed his gaze on Cole, his eyes narrowing with irritation. What business does he have meddling in this? he thought. What does my taking on a student have to do with him?
“Mr. Paben,” Richard called out, his voice tinged with annoyance. “Why aren’t you overseeing the Art Association in Betrico? What brings you to Seacrity?”
Some of the onlookers recognized Cole immediately, and soon, whispers about his identity spread through the crowd. Cole Paben was a nationally acclaimed oil painter, one of the most awarded in the country. His presence was imposing, and soon, everyone knew who he was.
Ignoring Richard completely, Cole’s eyes locked on Winona, who stood
