Chapter 10: Paint a Portrait for Me

Upon hearing Travis' words, Yanis followed his gaze and spoke, "It's alright, Mr. Cooke."

Then, a thought occurred to her, and she added, "It's normal for someone to bring a female companion to such an event, so there's no need to overthink it."

Travis looked at Yanis seriously and asked, "Do you really think I'm losing my mind?"

Yanis pursed her lips, choosing not to respond.

After a moment of silence, Travis broke it, saying, "If you're suffering in your marriage, you should consider getting a divorce."

Yanis took a moment before nodding in acknowledgment.

Soon, Magnus arranged for someone to take Yanis to the stage.

A large table was set up with a pianist's set and paper, and it was evident that only a few people among the audience would appreciate fine art.

Yanis stood on the stage, taking a bow, and her gaze met Zane's in the front row.

Zane, holding a glass of red wine, had Neve on his arm.

Maintaining her composure, Yanis smiled calmly and asked, "What would you like me to paint, Mr. Lawrence?"

Zane's deep eyes rested on Yanis, as if he was just seeing her for the first time.

Throughout their five-year marriage, he never bothered to know anything about Yanis – her likes, dislikes, or talents.

Thus, to Zane, Yanis was a complete stranger, glowing on the stage, yet he had never truly seen her.

"Mr. Lawrence?" Yanis called out again, breaking Zane from his thoughts.

He looked at Yanis and calmly replied, "Considering the time constraint, it's impossible to create a complex painting that would showcase your skills, Miss Thompson."

Zane paused and then continued, "So, why don't you do a portrait, but only of the lady's face?"

This suggestion caught Yanis by surprise.

Before she could recover, Zane added, "Can you do it, Miss Thompson?"

A slight shock tinged Yanis's expression.

Zane then glanced at Neve and said, "Don't worry, it won't take long."

He pushed Neve forward, withdrawing his arm from hers.

Neve forced a smile and nodded, while internally seething.

Yanis could sense Neve's cold stare, but she remained focused on her task, disregarding the hostility.

Yanis was a skilled artist, and she quickly finished the outline of Neve's face.

A camera overhead transmitted a live feed to a big screen, allowing the audience to witness the entire process of the painting.

Neve, who knew of Yanis's background in art, was still amazed by her talent, even if her praise seemed half-hearted.

In contrast, Ivan was generous with his applause and compliments, recognizing the exceptional skill in the portrait.

Finally, Yanis completed a refined portrait of Neve's face, receiving a resounding applause from the crowd.

As she stepped down from the stage, she was about to leave when Zane called out to her, "Wait a minute."

Yanis halted and looked back at him.

Zane continued, "Miss Thompson, you've shown great talent in creating such a perfect portrait in such a short time. Could you also paint one of me to match the previous portrait?"

Yanis frowned slightly at his request.

Neve, eager to please, interjected, "Then, Miss Thompson, please paint a portrait for Zane, and you can also paint one for us."

Yanis glanced at Zane, meeting his gaze.

She clenched her fists for a moment before walking back to the drawing table, adjusting the paper, and beginning to sketch Zane's outline.

Unlike her drawing of Neve, Yanis didn't need to look up while sketching Zane.

She knew him far too well.

Soon, Yanis finished the portrait in half the time it took for Neve's.

The crowd fell silent upon seeing the finished artwork.

A round of applause followed as Ivan praised Yanis, leading the way for others to join in.

Amidst the applause, Zane's cold voice cut through, "Miss Thompson, since you can create such a perfect portrait in such a short time, could you also paint another one for me, matching the first?"

Yanis couldn't help but frown at Zane's request.

While Neve was happy to hear his words, Yanis couldn't help but feel bothered.

Suppressing her emotions, Yanis returned to the drawing table, making Zane's request come to life.

The crowd marveled at Yanis's talent once again.

Neve, however, eyed her with hostility, but Yanis remained unfazed, focused on her work.

As the applause died down, Yanis stepped down from the stage.

Travis spoke up, "Yanis, I have something to take care of. Do you need Bonnie to pick you up?"

As Travis was speaking, Ivan's voice rang out, "Leaving already, Yanis? Let me give you a ride."

Since Ivan was attending the event on behalf of the Baxter family, he had some free time after greeting Magnus.

Yanis nodded at Ivan and turned to Travis, saying, "Ivan will give me a ride, Mr. Cooke."

Travis knew Ivan and nodded, "Be safe on the road."

Ivan assured him, "Don't worry. I'll make sure Yanis gets home safely."

"Let's go," Yanis said to Ivan as they left together.

As they walked away, Neve stared at them with narrowed eyes, her anger evident.

Next to Zane, Neve pretended to be unwell and asked, "Zane, can you give me a ride home?"

Zane withdrew his arm, waved for Albi to come over, and instructed him, "Take Miss Bennett home."

Neve was taken aback, "Zane, why don't you come with me?"

Zane replied calmly, "I have other matters to attend to at the moment."