When the emotions hit their peak and they snapped back to reality, that jaw-dropping scene was still there, staring back at them. It was like a spellbinding work of art, with a depth and uniqueness that left the judges feeling like they couldn’t hold a candle to it.
The judges dissected Lonely Sunset with their expert eyes, while the crowd just went with their gut. Either way, everyone was floored, caught in a shared state of wonder.
Nobody saw it coming-not from Elliana, the girl whispered to be a talentless nobody with no charm to speak of. Heads kept turning toward her, sitting quietly in the corner, as the murmurs rippled through the room.
“I’m no art critic, but my gut’s screaming that Elliana’s piece blows Paige’s out of the water.”
“Same here.”
“Isn’t it wild? Everyone said Elliana was a zero. How’s she pulling off this kind of talent? Did she really paint it herself, or did she pay someone?”
“Nope, it’s all her. I saw the live stream of The Heiress’ Graduation Trip. She painted it right there on camera.”
“That’s insane. Who knew Elliana was a secret art prodigy?”
“Anyone catch that broadcast? Luciano tore into Elliana’s work, and Paige didn’t say a peep to back her up. Looking back, that’s pretty low.”
“Bet Luciano and Paige schemed to keep Elliana down, figuring no close-ups on the live feed would bury her. But Elliana flipped the script by entering this competition.”
“Now they’re eating crow in front of everyone, and they’ve got it coming.”
Luciano and Paige, catching the whispers, were on pins and needles, their faces twisted with unease.
In the back row, Darin’s and Kiara’s smug grins had melted into panic and disbelief. They couldn’t wrap their heads around Elliana suddenly shining in the world of oil painting. No way could they stomach their daughter being outdone by her.
The room buzzed with a tangled mix of vibes-some snickering, some fuming, others just soaking in the drama.
Elliana, the eye of the storm, stayed cool as a cucumber, like the whole circus was just another Tuesday.
Hailee, meanwhile, was practically bouncing off the walls. “Elliana, you’re unreal! I’m totally fangirling over you right now!”
Elliana shot her a playful glance. “Chill out.”
“Chill? No way!” Hailee was hyped, like she’d won the prize herself. “It’s obvious-you’re taking home the crown. After tonight, you’re gonna be the art world’s new rockstar, and I get to say I’m pals with the champ. How am I supposed to stay calm?”
Then, with a flicker of doubt, she added, “You’re not going to ditch me for being too ordinary, right?”
Elliana chuckled and gave her hand a reassuring pat. “Don’t be silly.”
Hailee, still buzzing, clung to Elliana’s hand. “Oh man, I finally scored an epic friend. No way I’m letting you go!”
Elliana, caught between amusement and not knowing what to say, simply smiled.
Suddenly, a judge standing by Lonely Sunset let out a shout. “No way! This can’t be real!”
Every head in the room turned toward the judge, eyes locked on the source of the outburst..
The judge gawking at Elliana’s Lonely Sunset had silver-streaked hair and carried the vibe of an old-school artist, his eyes practically glowing with a lifelong love for the craft. This wasn’t just any judge-he was Luca Wilde, a legend in the art world.
Luciano, much younger, was from a different camp, a rising star in the art scene’s political jungle.
Luciano had climbed the ladder by snagging the presidency of the Calligraphers and Painters Association, leading the faction that played the power game. Luca, on the other hand, held no fancy titles-his clout came purely from his art, honed over decades of devotion.
When it came to pulling strings and making deals, Luciano was the go-to guy. But when the talk turned to painting itself, Luca was the one everyone looked to, hands down.
The art world loved to gossip about how both Luciano and Luca swore they were die-hard fans of the iconic Rosa.
Luciano never missed a chance to name-drop Rosa at big events, piling on the praise with a flair that felt like he was auditioning for her fan club president, even joking he was her “unofficial protege.”
Luca often talked about Rosa, but his way of expressing himself was different from Luciano’s.
When Luciano talked about Rosa, he used flowery language, almost like poetry. In contrast, Luca referenced specific works of hers, using straightforward language to highlight the beauty of her art.
Over time, the art crowd split them into two camps: Luciano, the dreamy romantic, and Luca, the grounded realist.
These two heavyweights rarely crossed paths, their orbits barely touching, which led outsiders to think their worlds just didn’t overlap much.
But those in the know? They’d say Luca wasn’t a fan of Luciano’s flashy style and made a point to dodge events where he’d be holding court.
The Starry Oil Painting Competition finals were the art world’s Super Bowl, and Luca had been roped into judging, even if it meant sharing the spotlight with Luciano.
Luciano knew full well Luca looked down his nose at him, and it ate him up inside. He was always itching for a chance to put Luca in his place, but Luca lived like a hermit, consumed by his art, giving Luciano no openings to pounce.
When Luca let out his stunned exclamation, Luciano’s head snapped toward him, a bad feeling crawling up his spine. His pulse kicked into overdrive, and sweat beaded on his brow.
The host hustled over to Luca, all respect. “Mr. Wilde, got something to share?”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.