Chapter 29
After contemning the authenticity. Dolores packed the painting back into the box carefully and took out the prepared contract for Alison to sign,
As Alison signed, she couldn’t resist mocking “You were once a top art student, with your painting fetching six hundred thousand dollars event before graduation. How does it feel now, being a mere assistant?”
This stain on Dolores lite could never be washed away. But Alison didn’t get to see her anger. Her face remained cold and indifferent.
Dolores said nothing, holding the painting as she tumed to leave. She kept her back straight until she got into a taxi, where she finally relaxed like a deflated balloon.
Knowing the painting was damaged severely, requiring a significant amount of work in a short time, Dolores didn’t waste any more time and went home immediately. She lived in a two–bedroom apartment, one of which she had converted into a studio.
Dolores spread the protective paper on the workbench, smoothed it with water, and placed the nearly unrecognizable painting on top, spraying it with fifty–degree water. The process required a lot of patience. By the time she finished the first step, it was completely dark outside.
Her phone vibrated, interrupting her concentration. Dolores glanced at the screen. It was Adam calling. Her gaze fell on the ancient painting before her, recalling Alison’s taunting words today about the secondary card Adam had given out.
With a frown, she answered impatiently. “What do you need?”
Adam on the other end of the line also frowned. “Do you wake up on the wrong side of the bed?”
Get to the point, or I’m hanging up. Dolores was about to hang up when his command stopped her.
“Come downstairs” Adam said..
“What” Dolores walked to the window and lifted the curtain. Sure enough, she saw the familiar Bentley downstairs. He had come here
Tm busy. If you have something to say, do it over the phone.” Dolores said.
Dolores feared seeing Adam would make her lose control and smash his face with her high heel. One minute, he was settling accounts with his wife coldly, and the next, his lover was flaunting his secondary card. Even dogs were more consistent than him.
“Let’s go have dinner,” Adam said after a brief pause, his voice laced with amusement. “Or do you want me to come up and drag you to the restaurant!”
Dolores refused flatly. “Not hungry. I’m not going.”
The reservation is from Mom. If you don’t want to go, call her yourself,” Adam added.
When Dolores heard this, her momentum deflated.
Yara had always hoped they would go on dates like a normal couple. So she had put in a lot of effort, booking romantic restaurants for them to enjoy some time together occasionally. But Adam’s aloofness meant they had never held hands in public, let alone on a single date.
“As for the romantic restaurant, we have never been there. Now he is playing the obedient son? Dolores hesitated but eventually went downstairs.
Dolores hadn’t eaten since noon and was starving. The fridge had nothing but a few bottles of yogurt. So she decided to go to fill her stomach.
Yara had chosen a romantic restaurant, with dim lighting, flickering candles, soothing piano music, and private booths. Everything is perfect for a date.
As they walked in, Dolores saw several couples kissing. Almost instinctively, she glanced at Adam, not out of any other meaning but sheer awkwardness
Adam remained expressionless, but his words made Dolores want to hit him. “What, jealous? Want a kiss?”
Suppressing her urge to hit him, Dolores whispered, “There might be reporters here.”
This kind of place was likely to attract paparazzi. Adam had avoided such places before to keep their marriage out of the public eye. He didn’t seem to care, and Dolores dismissed her reminder.
Sighing theatrically, Dolores answered. “Yeah, I’m jealous. But when I think about kissing you, I don’t want any of it.”
“If not me, then who?” Adam turned to her, his jaw tight, his eyes fixed on her. Even in the dim light, his rage was evident.
Adam’s provocative tone was loud enough for others to hear. People glanced over, their faces amused. Dolores didn’t want to discuss such embarrassing topics in the middle of the room, so she found a seat quickly
Eager to leave, Dolores grabbed the menu and started ordering, telling the waiter. “Please, make it quick”
Adam frowned at her urgency. “Starving“”
Dolores didn’t answer but thought, Just don’t want to be around you.”
While waiting for the food, Dolores brought up the agreement. I’ll repay the 60 million dollars I owe you.”
Adam’s eyes remained dark as he repeated. “Why should I believe you?”
muttered.
Dolores felt exasperated. Adam is doing it on purpose. I have promised to repay, yet he drags it out, she m
“Alison is back. Aren’t you in a hurry?” she asked.
Adam didn’t look up, “I am, so hurry up and repay.”
“I won’t default just because we’re divorced” Dolores tried to reason. “Besides, you don’t need that 60 million dollars.”
Dolores underlying message was that money wasn’t worth more than happiness.
Adam’s gaze landed on her anxious face, finally smiling “Mrs. Walcott, just because I don’t need the money, you think you can act so
in act so arrogantly! Who
gave you that right? Instead of wasting time here arguing, you should be figuring out how to make 60 million dollars quickly”
Dolores gritted her teeth in frustration. “Stop calling me that.”
Throughout their marriage. Adam had always called Dolores by her name, without any affection. Now, on the brink of divorce, he called her “Mrs. Walcott,” which felt like mockery
Adam sneered. “Don’t want to be Mrs. Walcon Want to be Mrs Hunter instead?”
