Chapter 14
Since when had Gloria become Joanna?
Without a change in tone or expression, Nicole said, “So, it turns out that Ms. Ashford is the famous artist, Joanna Muller? Joanna is well known everywhere, be it in the creative industry or out.”
Hayden asked lowly, “Do you want to go? If you’re interested, I can go with you.”
Nicole’s expression instantly darkened as she replied, “I’m not going.”
She refused to go to an imposter’s art exhibition. Besides that, she also made a mental note to pay Joanna a visit once she had returned aboard. There were so many questions burning in her mind. If Gloria really was impersonating Joanna, then it was essential that Nicole tell Joanna of this matter.
Hayden took her hand. “Don’t reject me. It just so happens that I’m free tomorrow. It’s been a really long time since we had a date anyway. Come with me?”
Nicole locked eyes with his gentle gaze. Was he seriously planning on bringing his fake wife to his real wife’s art exhibition as a date? Was there nothing he wasn’t capable of doing?
A chilly look entered her eyes, but she was helpless to stand her ground. After Hayden’s relentless pleading, she finally reluctantly agreed.
Within moments, Gloria received a message from Hayden.
Seeing Hayden’s confirmation of attendance, Gloria curved her lips into a sneer. Then, she dialed a
number.
The call was answered before Matthew’s tender voice came over the line, tinged with a hint of surprised delight. “Ms. Ashford!”
“Matt, have you still not mended your relationship with your mommy?”
Her tone was as gentle as could be, a stark contrast to the sharp sneer on her lips.
Pouting, Matthew answered glumly, “No.”
“Don’t be upset. Isn’t your mommy bringing you to my art exhibition tomorrow? I’ll buy you something delicious then,” Gloria said casually, wicked amusement crossing her face.
Matthew was dumbfounded when he heard that. “She isn’t bringing me there. I didn’t even know about it!”
Gloria purposely let out an exaggerated gasp and feigned surprise. “Perhaps she is unwilling to take you because she’s still mad at you? But I told her she had to bring you along.”
Matthew’s expression instantly darkened as he retorted, “Well, I don’t care whether she takes me there or
not, nor do I need her to!”
“Alright, alright,” Gloria said, her voice gentle and coaxing. “Your mommy knows you care about her. She’s
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probably assuming you’ll apologize for all the unpleasant things that have happened between you two lately. That’s why she’s purposely ignoring you. I’ll take you there tomorrow, so don’t be unhappy, okay?”
Her words touched Matthew deeply, and he let out a snort before saying, “As I thought, you’re the best,
Ms. Ashford. She really has taken things too far!”
Gloria took the opportunity to ask, “Then would you like to teach her a lesson and prove to her that you have your pride too? Once she gets a taste of your temper, she’ll definitely stop neglecting you.”
Matthew’s eyes lit up. “Sure! What do you have in mind, Ms. Ashford?”
Quirking her lips into a mocking smirk, Gloria deliberately lowered her voice. “You…”
With that, the two eagerly began planning out their move.
The next night, Nicole stood outside the art exhibition entrance with Hayden. A standee of a shadowy
figure with the words “Artist Joanna Muller” printed on it had been set up outside the exhibition.
After shooting it a glance, Nicole fished out her phone to take a picture.
Noticing her action, Hayden smiled gently and took her hand. As he led her inside, he teased, “Aren’t you
happy that you agreed to come with me?”
Nicole, not wanting to deal with him, tried to pull her hand back. But Hayden suddenly froze, his gaze
locked on a spot nearby. His brow furrowed in a frown as he muttered, “What is he doing here?”
Following his gaze, Nicole spotted Gloria talking to several exhibition–goers with Matthew by her side.
The boy was clinging to her hand intimately, looking entirely dependent on her.
They painted such a heartwarming sight of a loving mother and son.
Hayden tugged on Nicole’s hand. “Come on, let’s head over there.”
“I want to see what’s over here.” Nicole pulled her hand free from his and strode off in the opposite
direction from where Matthew was.
She no longer viewed the boy as her son, choosing instead to believe that the child she had given birth to
after much effort had died in the hospital back then.
Her pace was quick, and she didn’t bother to check whether Hayden had come after her. She moved with the crowd as they went from one painting to the next.
Even with a glance, she could tell that the paintings were all done with the intent to imitate the real Joanna’s style. However, they lacked her distinct mastery over colors.
Someone among the crowd muttered, “Why does it seem like Joanna’s sense for handling pigments has degraded?”
Nicole was surprised to find someone so knowledgeable here and followed the voice to see who had spoken. From a short distance away, a server came walking over with two wine glasses in hand.
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“Excuse me. Please make way.”
She instinctively stepped back, only to suddenly feel someone give her waist a hard shove from behind.
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