Chapter 126

Kayla’s venomous glare pinned the man. "You're not Mr. Vaire. Why are you in his seat?"

Startled, he looked down. "My seat's in the back. It was empty." His tone was defiant.

"This is Mr. Vaire's seat!" Kayla fumed. The thought of her heartfelt words directed at this interloper made her hands clench. She barely restrained herself from attacking him.

Seeing the situation escalate, Janet quickly summoned security, returning the man to his rightful place.

"He's not Mr. Vaire! Where is he?" Kayla spun to Marissa. "You invited him, didn't you?"

Marissa was clueless. Jack had assured her Nion would be there.

Janet's voice boomed from the stage. "Ms. Vanderbilt, please join us for a photo with the artist, Nion Vaire." It was standard auction procedure.

Kayla, impatient, was already searching for Nion. Her haste had led to this embarrassing scene. But Janet's announcement lifted her spirits. She looked gratefully at Marissa. "He's here!"

Relieved, Marissa scanned the room. No one moved. Then, from a shadowed corner, Paisley rose. The spotlight found her as she walked toward the stage.

A vise gripped Marissa's throat. Paisley? Why is she going up there? Why is no one stopping her?

"Paisley..." Kayla whispered, stunned.

Janet smiled, gesturing to Paisley. "Ms. Vanderbilt, please join us for a photo with the artist, Nion Vaire."

Kayla's mind blanked. Only Janet's words echoed: "Nion Vaire." Paisley is Nion!

Paisley's graceful ascent onto the stage ignited a roar. "Nion's a woman!" They'd always assumed "Mr. Vaire" was male.

Paisley had been seated amongst the crowd, initially unnoticed. Her bidding war with Kayla had finally drawn attention.

From the stage, Paisley surveyed the room, a half-smile playing on her lips. Her gaze landed on Kayla. "Ms. Vanderbilt, I'm your life mentor, your soul's home."

Kayla trembled. Stunned, she walked to the stage, her voice choked. "Are you really Mr. Vaire?"

Paisley smiled faintly. "Wrong. I'm Ms. Sutton. 'Mr. Vaire' was a pen name."

"Ms. Sutton..." Kayla repeated, bewildered.

Paisley's smile remained composed. "I didn't expect such devotion. To thank you, and for your charity support, I'll personalize your painting."

Kayla stiffened, remembering her earlier arrogance. She wanted to disappear.

Paisley, unfazed, took the pen from Janet, leaning slightly to inscribe the painting: To Kayla, may you always smile.

Lucy observed Kayla's discomfort. Ms. Sutton knows how to cut to the heart, she thought.

Paisley returned the pen to Janet and turned to the lurking Marissa, her expression dark. "Ms. Prescott, I understand you invited me?"

Marissa's face paled. Her boast was about to be exposed.

Paisley sneered, addressing Lucy. "Do you know her?"

Lucy firmly denied it. "A relative mentioned someone wanted to meet you, at any cost. He was very humble, but I refused." She glared at Marissa. "Ms. Sutton is here for charity, helping poor girls. Don't spread rumors, Ms. Prescott."

The crowd murmured. Rich patrons had offered fortunes for Nion's work, but she consistently refused. That's why Nion's art is priceless. No one had ever met her before. If billionaires couldn't secure a meeting, how could Marissa?