Chapter 172
When the camera turned toward them, Jameson and Amelia saw the person on the screen. There was no doubt about it; he looked exactly like Oliver. To be precise, he was Oliver.
His beard was thick and full, his green eyes bright and shining, and his aura was cool and edgy. At that moment, he was in the studio, and behind him, on the shelf, there was a half-finished oil painting.
Oliver’s painting style leaned toward the dark and eerie, and the sense of emptiness and despair in the painting was palpable even through the screen. Not just anyone could create such a piece.
Jameson was completely stunned. ‘Shermaine is actually on a video call with Oliver, and they were chatting like old friends. How could this be?’ he thought.
He had assumed that, given Shermaine’s background, it would be impossible for her to have connections with someone of Oliver’s caliber.
So, not only was Shermaine Danielle’s junior, but she was also on good terms with Oliver. His suspicions and assumptions about her lying and fabricating had been proven wrong.
Jameson’s expression suddenly darkened, and his mood became particularly complex.
He had thought too poorly of Shermaine. After all, she was his daughter. He couldn’t possibly wish ill upon her.
A flicker of guilt began to rise in his heart. But it seemed that Shermaine no longer regarded him as her father. Since her return to the Jean family, she had always been cold and distant toward him, and quite disobedient.
Jameson didn’t like Shermaine at all. She reminded him too much of Ruth. She had been like an omnipotent deity, capable of turning the tide for the Jean Group and winning the trust and affection of the company’s employees.
It felt as if she were a beacon of hope. This made Jameson feel as though he had married not a wife, but a goddess.
‘Natalie and Jason are much better.
‘Natalie is so docile and always defers to my decisions. She might offer suggestions at times, but she’s the perfect supportive partner. And Jason is filial and obedient, always mindful of my wishes,’ Jameson thought to himself.
Quickly, the guilt he felt seemed to dissipate entirely under this line of thinking. He didn’t think he had any reason to feel guilty.
Shermaine now had everything she wanted, even more so than Jameson.
With this new evidence before him, Jameson felt that Shermaine was being extremely tactless. ‘Even if I was wrong first, she shouldn’t leave me any room at all,’ he thought.
Amelia’s face turned even paler. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, her carefully constructed image as a talented painter was about to collapse.
Oliver, seeing the lady in the white dress that Shermaine had mentioned, responded without hesitation, “Sheary, I don’t know this woman. How could I have taken her on as a student?
“As I’ve said before, unless you agree to learn painting from me, I won’t take on any other students.”
Oliver was a man of his word.
The crowd murmured in astonishment inwardly, ‘The long-lost heiress of the Jean family, who has been abroad for fourteen years, is truly something extraordinary.
‘Oliver wanted to take her on as a student, but she refused. It seems she must have done quite well for herself abroad. Whoever spread the rumors about her being a country bumpkin must have been driven by jealousy.
Moreover, even Jameson, her own father, was so unfamiliar with and skeptical of his daughter, it was quite a joke; it was a matter of pride or feeling ashamed instead.
Indeed, rumors weren’t always false.
Jameson began to stray after taking a mistress and having an illegitimate child. His conscience, once tempted, was completely lost, and he started to turn against his wife, his eldest son, and his youngest daughter.
‘If we had such outstanding children, we would be extremely proud,’ they thought.
Shermaine turned her phone back on. “Then, Oliver, you might never take on a student in your lifetime.”
“It doesn’t matter. I won’t feel any regret,” Oliver said.
Originally, before meeting Shermaine, he had no intention of taking on students. Her doodles had shown him her astonishing talent. He thought it would be a pity to waste such a gift.
He hadn’t expected that Shermaine would also be exceptionally talented in other fields, even becoming an idol and a role model that many people could only look up to.
“Are they all here for your birthday?” Oliver asked.
“I didn’t invite them,” Shermaine replied.
“No wonder,” Oliver said, understanding the situation.
Shermaine didn’t chat with Oliver for long. When it was about time, she ended the call, planning to have a proper conversation with him when she had more time.
Amelia felt like dying; her smile was forced as she tried to explain. “I didn’t expect to meet Mr. Green in such a way today.
“Honestly, I’m not sure why there are rumors that I’m Mr. Green’s student. When Mr. Jean mentioned it just now, it was my fault for not having the chance to explain.”
Everyone knew full well that she hadn’t had the chance to explain, or rather, she hadn’t wanted to.
Amelia deliberately lowered her stance, trying to gain sympathy, but it was too late. Her behavior now only made her look ridiculous.
People weren’t fools; they wouldn’t be swayed by her act. It was only after being exposed by Shermaine that Amelia felt the need to explain, which was quite unnecessary.
Those who spent hundreds of thousands, even millions, on Amelia’s paintings, and her fans online who praised her, perhaps didn’t truly see the shining points in her that they claimed to admire.
Shermaine smiled, “Is that so?”
Amelia’s hands clenched, and her eyes reddened slightly. “I’m really sorry for causing any trouble for Mr. Green, Mr. Jean, and everyone else.”
Jameson, with a gloomy expression, didn’t actually blame her for anything.
Shermaine put her phone away. “Mr. Jean, you should get to know me better before questioning me. Otherwise, it’s quite embarrassing for you in front of everyone.”
Already in an awkward situation, Shermaine’s words only added fuel to the fire. Jameson’s face turned red, and he tried to argue back. “Knowing Oliver is nothing to be proud of.
“When Jason was abroad, there were plenty of such famous masters who wanted to take him on as a student. You should learn from him and strive to become excellent.”
Upon hearing this, everyone felt puzzled, ‘If Oliver is so eager to take Shermaine on as a student, how could she not be excellent? And what about that illegitimate child? Is he really that impressive?’
Shermaine didn’t respond directly. Soon, time would reveal who was truly excellent and who needed to learn from whom.
She had no interest in comparing herself with Jason, but Jameson kept bringing them up, belittling her.
Shermaine became serious. If once wasn’t enough, then twice would do.
Janice’s long-dormant headache began to flare up. “Sheary is very excellent. Stop comparing her to Jason all the time.”
She thought to herself, ‘You can’t win by comparing, and in the end, it’s you who will be hurt!’
“Mom, I’m just stating the facts,” Jameson said.
‘Don’t think I don’t know you’re putting on an elder’s demeanor to save face after being embarrassed,’ Janice thought.
“Forget it. I don’t want to argue with you. You’ll understand eventually,” Janice said.
On the sofa, Ross pursed his lips, looking indifferent, but Danielle could clearly sense that he was bothered by Jameson’s constant comparisons between Shermaine and Jason. Even when upset, the refined gentleman showed no obvious signs of anger.
As for Jason, Danielle found it hard to judge. His situation was delicate, pitiable, yet also a bit detestable.
He should have kept a low profile, but instead, he was unwilling to accept his status as an illegitimate child. He could fight for what he wanted, but—
‘Jason, I hope you just don’t use the wrong methods. Don’t even think about competing with Shermaine,’ Danielle thought.
Jason glanced at her, and Danielle subtly turned away, not wanting to get too involved with him. She preferred Ross’ type.
At that moment, Shermaine’s phone rang again. It was an unfamiliar number. After a moment of hesitation, she answered.
Trance’s pitiful voice came through. “Sheary, Basterel is so big, I’m lost.”