The CEO's Wife Is a Medical Master-Chapter 190: A Fake Painting
After Elise Langdon spoke, she looked at Vera Xavier and asked, "I wonder what birthday gift you’ve prepared for Mr. Nathan today?"
Vera Xavier’s gaze darkened. Elise Langdon’s taunt was blatant. Before Vera could even speak, Elise added coldly, "I bet a country bumpkin like you wouldn’t understand the first thing about etiquette. You probably didn’t prepare a gift at all!"
Vera Xavier remained noncommittal. Elise continued, "It’s fine if you don’t know any better. We’ll just have to teach you what propriety is today. Consider it an eye-opening experience!"
With that, she shot Cara Preston a look. Cara, taking the hint, brought out a painting from behind her back. She unfurled it with a smile before Master Nathan and said, "This is a *Lady Painting* by Thaddeus Thornton. Please have a look, Mr. Nathan."
In the Crestfall of the 1990s, the winds of reform and opening-up had begun to sweep through the country. The city’s prominent families had started collecting antiques as status symbols. As a preeminent artist of the Bright Dynasty, very few of Thaddeus Thornton’s *Lady Paintings* had survived, and any authentic piece was worth a fortune.
Master Nathan was also somewhat surprised. He glanced at Cara Preston, who offered him a gentle smile.
The brushwork on the *Lady Painting* was exquisite and the figures remarkably lifelike. The paper was yellowed with age—at a glance, it was clearly a priceless treasure from a bygone era.
The onlookers, of course, knew how much an authentic piece by Thaddeus Thornton was worth, and they all began to murmur in admiration.
"Is that really an authentic work by Thaddeus Thornton? If so, it must be worth a fortune!" 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶
"Judging by the seal, it looks authentic. Whose daughter is she? What an extravagant gift!"
"Wow, to think I’d get to see a genuine Thaddeus Thornton in my lifetime. This is incredible!"
A look of smug satisfaction spread across Rona Langdon’s face. She had been worried a moment ago when Vera Xavier stole Cara Preston’s thunder, but now that Cara was the center of attention, she was secretly glad she’d listened to her and stolen the painting from the old estate.
She had always thought those paintings weren’t worth much, but seeing the expressions on everyone’s faces, she suddenly understood they were likely all treasures. She silently cursed her grandparents. ’Those old fossils! Keeping such amazing things from me, just letting them get eaten by pests in the attic. How heartless!’
She even began scheming in her head. ’When I get back, I have to find a chance to return to the old estate and sell all of it for cash!’
Zachary Preston recognized the painting instantly. His face turned livid with rage, but with so many people around, he couldn’t say a thing.
Cara Preston basked in the crowd’s admiring and astonished gazes. She shot Vera Xavier a defiant look, her eyes filled with smug triumph.
Vera Xavier merely smiled upon seeing the painting, saying nothing. ’Looks like Cara Preston is about to make a huge fool of herself today,’ she thought.
Cara Preston, however, was completely oblivious. She smiled and said, "Mr. Nathan, this painting is a gift for you!"
"I cannot accept this," Master Nathan said, his tone cool and distant. "I don’t know where you got this painting, but I absolutely cannot accept it."
Cara Preston had expected to make a grand impression on Master Nathan today. She thought he would naturally accept the painting, which in turn would cement her good reputation and leave a favorable impression on him. She never imagined that Master Nathan would refuse her gift at all.
Her smile froze on her face. "Why?" she asked hurriedly.
"Because if I were to accept this painting," Master Nathan said calmly, "everyone would assume that it’s real."
