Filed To Story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
“I’m the one who’s hurt here, and you want me to apologize?” Lynn unreasonably crossed her arms over her chest, a defiant expression on her face.
The other girls quickly tried to placate the situation.
“She’s just showing off because she was noticed by a few professors. Little does she know that no matter how skilled she is as a surgeon, she will still be working nine-to-five at a hospital”
“Yeah, any single piece of Labella’s work in your house is worth more than what she’ll make in her lifetime.”
“You guys are so rich, owning so many pieces of Labella’s work.”
“Some people will never get to see a real Labella in their entire life. Why don’t we be nice and show her?”Lynn had just finished boasting in front of her friends and was looking for someone else to impress. So, she gladly obliged, her expression saying, ‘Fine, I’ll indulge you’ She unlocked her phone, revealing her wallpaper- a calligraphy piece by Labella.
“Beautiful, isn’t it? Such an expensive piece, only fitting for it to hang in your house.”
“Kirn, didn’t you mention that piece was worth $500,000? So, if someone makes $2,000 a month, they would need to save every penny for 21 years to afford just this one piece.”
“Kim, you guys really are loaded.”
Mirabella watched them silently, “Enough chatter, apologize.”
“Are you deaf? Do you even know who Kim is? Can you even handle her apology?”
“People who can afford Labella’s work aren’t just your average folk. I advise you to back off.”
“At the end of the day, Kim’s shoulder hurts too! And she’s not asking you to apologize.”
At that point, Mya, who had finished packing, stormed over, irate, “You guys are so shameless! What your family collects has nothing to do with you apologizing. You bumped into her, and you should apologize. If not, I’ll report you to Summerfield College for misconduct.”
“And what’s more, you said you have a piece by Labella. I’m a fan of hers, and that calligraphy is not how Labella writes. That piece you’re showing off is not reall! I don’t know why you’re boasting about a fake piece and acting so smug about it.
Mirabella looked at Mya, surprised. She could tell the difference.
Mirabella had known from the start that Kim’s ‘Crane’ was a fake, but she couldn’t be bothered to expose her.But she didn’t expect Mya, a die-hard fan, to be the one to step up.
“You think just because you’ve seen a few pieces of Labella’s work online, you can accuse me of having a fake? That piece was bought by my mother from a very good friend of hers, a gift from Labella to my aunt, whom you surely know, her name Mrs. Elvira.”
Upon hearing that, many were taken aback.
“So it’s the famous director, Elvira.”
“Your mom’s friend is really something, a big-time film director.”
“Elvira would never sell a fake piece to Lynn’s mom.”
Mya retorted indignantly, “Labella’s brushwork is strong and free, encompassing the vastness of the universe, like a frosty forest without leaves, like a waterfall soaring into the sky. And that piece you have clearly lacks the essence of her style.”
Lynn was somewhat angered by this, “You talk as if you’ve seen his original work. If you can’t provide evidence today, I’ll sue you for defamation.”
“Even though I haven’t seen his original work, I can assure you that is not Labella’s handwriting. We can send it for authentication if you don’t believe me!” Mya was quite familiar with Labella’s calligraphy style. Such handwriting could never come from Labella’s brush.
Labella’s brushwork was majestic, like a warrior unsheathing his sword or a dragon and serpent in flight.
“Lynn, there’s no need to be angry with her. We believe this calligraphy looks pretty authentic, not like a fake at all!”
“Can a fake reach that level?”
“Some people think that after seeing a few of Labella’s works, they can discern the real from the fake.
They just end up looking like a joke.””This piece was given by Labella to a respected elder. That elder was not Livia”
Mirabella’s words shocked everyone. How did she know?
Was she just bluffing?
Just then, a cheerful elder walked toward them, “What are you all discussing?”
Everyone looked toward the voice and quickly greeted, “President Charles.”
Charles was the principal of Summerfield College. Upon learning that Mirabella brought her team to his school for a competition, he wanted to chat with her and have a cup of tea. But he was told by one of his professors that Mirabella was preparing to leave.
He rushed backstage and luckily found her still there.
“President Charles, you’ve come at the right time. With your vast knowledge and experience, you must know Labella’s work. These two students insist that my family’s collected work is fake. Please judge for us.” Lynn said, her voice tinged with a hint of grievance.
Mirabella and Mya were both speechless. It was clearly a fake, yet she considered it a treasure.
“President Charles, you may not know, but that piece was sold to Lynn’s family by the famous director, Livia. But our top scorer here insists that the piece was given by Labella to a respected elder, and that elder wasn’t Livia.”
“Some people just can’t stand others having good things, so they have to say something negative.”
“Exactly!”
Mya stomped her foot, anxiously saying, “It’s not like that, President Charles.They bumped into Mirabella without apologizing and then flaunted their ‘Labella’ piece. Labella’s brushwork is powerful. It’s not at all like what they have. Don’t believe me? Take a look: “No need,’
President Charles said gently. “There’s nothing worth seeing.”
Mya’s heart skipped a beat. Was President Charles going to favor his own students?
Upon hearing this, Lynn and the other girls seemed to gain confidence, their expressions becoming more arrogant.
President Charles always wore a gentle smile, “By a lucky chance, t also possess a piece of art by Labella, personally gifted to me.”
At that revelation, everyone was left dumbfounded.
Even Mya was taken aback. Could it be that the esteemed elder that Labella gifted the painting to was President Charles?
That was turning into quite a spectacle.
“Labella and I have been acquainted for years. I can recognize her brushwork.” President Charles turned his gaze to Lynn, “The original piece is with me. The one you have is definitely a counterfeit.”
Lynn was utterly flabbergasted. Nothing could be more humiliating than being publicly called out by the college president.
But how could it be fake? The painting was sold to her mother by Auntie Elvira.
Auntie Elvira had charged her mother fifty thousand dollars!
Lynn’s friends were equally shocked. Could it be that Director Elvira had sold a counterfeit to Lynn’s mother? Asking fifty thousand dollars right off the bat?
That’s outrageous.
Whoever befriends someone like that was just asking for trouble.
“No, it can’t be.” Lynn shook her head in disbelief.Her family owns several other paintings by Labella, two of which were sold by Auntie Elvira.
If Auntie Elvira did sell them counterfeits, how much money would her family lose?
But why? Auntie Elvira and her mother have been best friends for years. Why would she do something like that?
“I heard you bumped into Bella and refused to apologize?”
President Charles’s words left Lynn in a difficult position, “That’s not how it happened.”
“Don’t even try to say Bella bumped into you first. There are cameras everywhere. Would you dare to lie in front of your president?”
Mya’s words further deepened Lynn’s humiliation.
“If you bump into someone, you should apologize. Is that not what Summerfield College teaching you?”
President Charles’s tone held a hint of pressure.
Lynn had no choice but to mumble, “I’m sorry”
“I didn’t hear you, speak up.’ Mya deliberately said. “You were very loud when you were boasting about owning Labella’s artwork, weren’t you?”
Although Lynn was angry, she couldn’t find any words to retaliate.
“In front of your president, you can’t even sincerely apologize. I wonder why Summerfield College would allow a student like you?” Mya deliberately stirred the pot.
Lynn bit her lip and finally approached Bella, “I’m sorry for bumping into you earlier. Please forgive me:
Bella looked at her coldly, showing no signs of forgiving her.If it weren’t for Grandpa Charles being here, Lynn would never apologize!
“Let’s go, Lynn”
“You should call your mom and ask if Director Elvira sold you a fake painting.
If she did, your mom should confront her.”
“Yeah, give your mom a call. If necessary, get it appraised by a professional.
The girls offered Lynn a way out.
Lynn looked at President Charles, “Then, President Charles, I’ll be leaving now: With that, she was swiftly escorted away by her friends.
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.