Whispers of Destiny: His Belated Love

Victoria was standing close by, watching them all chummy and cheerful, wishing she could just disappear. Subconsciously, she looked up at Maxwell, only to see his gaze constantly on Rosemary, which spread an endless sourness in her heart.

However, she quickly suppressed her emotions, smiling and inserting herself into the conversation, trying to get Pearl's attention, "Happy birthday. This is just a little gift for you, hope you don't mind."

Pearl gave Victoria a once-over and nodded politely, "Thank you, you're kind."

After taking it, she casually set it on a nearby table without any intention of opening it right away. "The dining area is over there. Help yourself to anything you like."

That was obviously meant to send her away, so she wouldn't be a nuisance here!

Victoria could tell, but pretended that she couldn't. After all, she'd put a lot of effort into picking out that gift and she wasn't about to let it go to waste.

If she didn't insist on Pearl opening it now, who knows where it would end up after the party!

"Why don't you open it and see? I'm not really up on this stuff, so if there's anything off about it, we could get it fixed in time."

With that said, and with so many eyes on them, Pearl couldn't afford to brush her off anymore without making a scene.

While mentally disliking Victoria's behavior internally, she maintained a polite smile and opened the gift box, which contained another wooden box inside. She took a barely noticeable breath, thinking if there was another box inside this wooden box, she would send Victoria away!

Inside the wooden box was a painting.

Pearl unrolled the scroll with a perfunctory motion. She wasn't into art, but when she saw what the painting was, her eyes flickered with interest, and even Norton raised an eyebrow, "Is this that antique painting from before?"

"Yes," Victoria replied politely.

Norton nodded with satisfaction, "You've worked hard. Let me know how much it cost and I'll have Maxwell transfer the money to you."

"It's not about the money. It's just that the restorer is hard to find. That person is elusive in the circle, only takes very a few commissions. Otherwise, it wouldn't have taken this long to restore."

"If the restorer's got the skills, it's normal for them to be a bit eccentric. You've really put in the effort this time."

Rosemary noticed that Pearl was still eyeing the scroll and realized from Norton's words that this painting must belong to the Templeton family, and Victoria had taken it upon herself to have it restored.

"Mom, do you like these things?"

"I don't, but Maxwell's grandfather was. He bought this painting at an auction back in the day. Later on, your dad and I had a fierce argument, and the painting was accidentally destroyed. Ms. Temple offered to find someone to restore it, so I left it in her hands," Pearl said, unfolding the scroll completely.

Norton interjected, "It was more than just a fierce argument. You nearly tore down the old man's study, and the bruises on my leg took half a month to heal."

"Wasn't it your fault?" Pearl retorted, her tone shifting suddenly, "Ms. Temple, how much did you pay for this restoration?"

Victoria was suddenly put on the spot and noticed Pearl's change in expression, feeling confused, she named a figure, "What's the matter?"

"Then you got ripped off. This person couldn't possibly be a master.”

Rosemary frowned, not because of what Pearl said, but there was a noticeable stain in the corner of the painting. It was small but quite obvious.

Victoria saw it too, and her first reaction was to look at Rosemary.

"Isn't Rose a big name in the circle? What's this? How can she deliver something restored like this?"

Rosemary, annoyed by the accusatory tone, thought it should be her asking the questions. The painting she had worked so hard to restore was damaged again!

"The painting was perfectly restored when it was handed over to you, and you confirmed it. Isn't it inappropriate to say these things now?"

Seeing this, Pearl asked in confusion, "What's going on? Rosemary, did you restore this painting?"

Before Rosemary could answer, Victoria cut in, "It was restored by this supposed expert I found in the circle. Rosemary just happens to be her assistant and helped deliver the painting." Victoria continued, her face filled with self-reproach, "It's my fault for trusting the rumors too much. I never expected the so-called 'Master Rose' to be nothing but a fraud with a big reputation!"

Her words seemed to be blaming Rose's lack of substance, but she was also implying something about Rosemary. Rose did the restoration, but Rosemary delivered the painting. Who knows what went wrong in between?

Rosemary was certain that within half an hour, the gossip would spread throughout the entire circle about Mrs. Templeton designing a trap out of love turned hatred for her husband's ex-girlfriend.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you. I'll take the painting back and find someone else to restore it."

Rosemary couldn't let Victoria do that. The guests today were all either rich or noble, and wealthy people liked to collect cultural relics, whether genuinely interested or just for showing off. They were potential clients for her.

If this incident could not only ruin her reputation, but also Rose's, the alias she had worked so hard to cultivate.

Everyone would think Rose was a fraud!

She spoke up to stop Victoria, "No need to trouble yourself. It's just a minor issue. I've learned quite a bit these past few months studying with Master Rose. Let me do the restoration."

Hearing this, Victoria frowned, her tone a bit helpless as if placating a petulant child, "Rosemary, I didn't mean to target you. It was just purely about Rose's poor skills to warn everyone. Following her teaching, how much could you have possibly learned?" NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.

The implication was clear: what could she learn from a fraud?

Victoria went on, "If my words just now made you uncomfortable, then I apologize. It's Aunt's birthday, and with so many people watching, there's no need to let an insignificant person ruin the mood, nor to ruin this painting worth over hundreds of millions."

Rosemary didn't want to waste words with her. Turning to Pearl, she was 100% sure she could restore the painting, but Victoria had a point: The painting was worth a fortune. If Pearl didn't trust her, then so be it. After all, the painting belonged to the Templeton family.

Pearl shot Victoria a look and patted Rosemary's hand affectionately. "Go for it if you want to. You're the lady of the Templeton family, and the painting's yours. Even if it gets further damaged, it's not outsiders' place to comment."

Norton always indulged his wife, so if she said to let it be fixed, then so it shall be. But he felt somewhat regretful inside. If the old man were still alive, and he found out that his antique painting got wrecked in a fit of pique, it could very well kill him again!

The entire hall fell dead silent for a moment.

Victoria was biting her lip, standing off to the side without uttering a word.

Pearl's use of "outsiders” made it clear to anyone with ears whom she was referring to.

Meanwhile, Rosemary instructed someone to prepare the tools, and during the wait, the living room buzzed with noise and excitement again.

"That painting was auctioned off for two hundred million back in the day, and its value has only increased over the years. It's such a pity it was destroyed like this!"

"What if Mrs. Templeton can fix it?"

"Do you actually think restoring antiques is that simple? All those big shots in the field, aren't they of a certain age? It's all about skills honed over the years. Look at Mrs. Templeton's age: she's practically an apprentice, and a con artist's apprentice at that. Tsk, tsk, what a pity." As he person spoke, they started to sigh with regret again, obviously someone who truly appreciated antiques.

Maxwell, who had been silent, was already looking stormy. He grasped Rosemary's hand and, in front of everyone, whisked her upstairs without further ado.

As soon as they were out of the guests' view, Rosemary pulled her hand from the man's grasp. "If you've got something to say, say it. Don't get handsy."

Maxwell pinched the bridge of his nose, looking quite agitated. "Just say you're not feeling well, and I'll take you out of here."

Not feeling well? Rosemary was taken aback for a second but then caught on. "You don't want me to touch that painting?"