GoodNovelChapter 519 The Unfamiliar Chill of Dislike The moment Selena appeared, the eyes of the event organizers sparkled with surprise. They hadn't anticipated the protégé of Mr. Butler to be so youthful and attractive.
"Miss Selena, a pleasure indeed! Our gallery would be honored to display your work at any given moment," one of them greeted enthusiastically.
"Our gallery shares the sentiment," chimed in the other.
Both men extended their business cards, their faces alight with anticipation.
Selena had been considering the idea of inaugurating her own stuand hosting an art exhibition once her current commitments were fulfilled. However, the ongoing Fair family made her feel obligated to politely decline their offer for now.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"I appreciate your offer. I look forward to future collaborations," she responded.
After all, her hand wouldn't be able to command a paintbrush for quite stime.
Raymond's eyes had been locked onto her, his brow furrowing at the sight of the white bandage encircling her hand.
"What happened to your hand?" he inquired.
Olivia had also sustained an injury to her hand, but it was a mere dislocation that would heal with a few days of rest. Selena's injury, however, appeared far more serious, her hand immobilized.
Ignoring Raymond's question, Selena shifted her gaze towards Henry.
Oblivious to the tension between Selena and Raymond, Henry carried on his conversation with the two exhibition organizers.
"Selena never publicly acknowledges her relationship with Mr. Butler, and he's fiercely protective of her. If she decides to paint again, she'll need your support," Henry stated. As a respected and influential figure in their circle, his siding with Selena made the two directors hesitant to cross her, particularly with the backing of Mr. Butler.
The old adage held true - you could offend anyone, but never an artist. Artists commanded legions of admirers, many of whom were notable figures themselves. Mr. Butler was a celebrated figure in the realm of oil painting. Who wouldn't be proud to own one of his masterpieces? If they upset his protégé and he intervened, they would face a scandal.
"Mr. Spencer," the directors assured him, "we'll accommodate any request Miss Selena makes." Olivia, standing nearby, was seething with rage. The two esteemed galleries were known for their exclusivity and superiority, yet here they were, fawning over a designer in her presence. But the knowledge that Selena's hand was now permanently damaged by her own actions brought a surge of satisfaction.
What did it matter if she was Mr. Butler's disciple? She would never hold a paintbrush again! As the directors raised their glasses to toast Selena, she hesitated due to her still-healing wound that couldn't be exposed to alcohol. But before she could take a polite sip, Raymond intervened.
"Alcohol isn't conducive to healing," he informed them, "I'll drink on her behalf." He drained the glass in one gulp, intending to resthe conversation. However, they watched as Selena accepted a fresh glass from a passing waiter, raising it in a toast.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"To both of you," she said, expertly feigning a sip without actually drinking.
The directors insisted, "The gesture alone is enough; please don't drink." "I'll make it up to you with a proper apology once I'm fully recovered." "There's no need, having you visit our gallery would be our honor," they replied.
Raymond, still holding Selena's empty glass, was hit with a realization - he was being disliked. How could he be the object of dislike?
He managed to keep his temper in check, silently stewing as he watched her engage in animated conversation with the two directors for ten minutes. Each the attempted to interject, she would smoothly change the subject, seemingly not hearing him. After half an hour, Raymond's grip on his glass tightened, his frustration mounting.
Selena had been discussing paintings for half an hour before she finally turned to Henry. "Mr. Spencer, I have other commitments tonight. 1 ve must take my leave." Henry had only expected her to make a brief appearance. "Of course," he responded cautiously, "just ensure you take care of your hand. A painter's hand is precious." "I understand." With that, Selena set her glass down and made her way towards the exit. Raymond placed his glass down and followed her.
Olivia had been standing on the sidelines the entire time, unable to contribute to the art discussion. What could she possibly add, especially in the presence of Mr. Butler's close disciples, when Mr. Butler himself had publicly humiliated her? She would only make herself a bigger laughingstock. Seeing Raymond protect Selena from drinking too much, despite her apparent ungratefulness, Olivia seethed with anger. What was that woman being so haughty about? She hurried after Raymond, "Raymond." But Raymond didn't stop; instead, he dismissed her curtly, "You should go find sfriends." The wave of humiliation that washed over Olivia was so intense that her fingernails dug into her palms as she glared at his retreating figure.
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