The Peony Painting that Josephine Grant gave Master Grant was created by the most famous Painter in the country. It took months of painstaking effort. During that time, the artist barely even stopped for a few bowls of tea, let alone took on other commissions behind her back.
The painting Ethan Grant brought was definitely not as good as hers.
Shirley Thorne sighed internally. 'I'm probably going to lose to Josephine Grant this time.'
It wasn't that she had developed a Mind Reading Technique and knew how precious Josephine's painting was. It was because...
...the painting Ethan Grant had brought was one she had painted!
That's right. The painting everyone was staring at, the one Master Grant was anticipating, was Shirley Thorne's own work!
Shirley Thorne was incredibly mortified. 'This isn't my original world; no one here has ever heard the name Great Master Thorne. And as for the Grant Family's taste in art...'
'...one look at Josephine Grant's silicone face tells you all you need to know about their standards!'
Ethan Grant couldn't hear Shirley Thorne's internal screaming. He took the painting from his bodyguard, handed it to Master Grant at the head of the table, and said with a slight smile, "A Peony Painting specially made by my new wife."
The words had barely left his mouth when Josephine Grant's exaggerated laughter rang out. "HAHAHA, she painted it herself?"
Ethan Grant raised an eyebrow, his gaze turning ice-cold. "Is there a problem?"
Josephine Grant flinched under his stare and shot a wronged look at Warren Grant.
Warren Grant immediately got the signal and said with a stiff face, "Ethan, today is Master Grant's birthday banquet. And this is the kind of painting you bring out?"
Susan Langley, beside him, fumed, "Is a painting by any Tom, Dick, or Harry worthy of being presented to Master Grant? She's just a penniless nobody. How could you treat her work like a treasure!"
In her eyes, Ethan Grant was just taking advantage of the fact that Master Grant doted on him and wouldn't publicly humiliate him. He was only presenting Shirley Thorne's painting to help that nobody make a name for herself!
'See? As long as Master Grant doesn't get angry today, word of Shirley Thorne's supposed talent will spread throughout high society tomorrow.'
The other family members didn't dare offend the richest man in the country, so they buried their heads in the sand. Deep down, however, they agreed with Susan Langley.
'Looks like the new Mrs. Richest Man has beauty but no talent. Otherwise, Ethan Grant wouldn't need to exploit Master Grant's favoritism to build her reputation.'
Shirley Thorne was speechless. 'What kind of parents are these?'
'Are they afraid their son might actually get out of this gracefully?'
Master Grant frowned in displeasure and barked, "Enough! I haven't even seen the painting yet. What are you all clamoring about!"
He refused to believe Ethan would try to fool him with some worthless painting. His proud grandson always had another trick up his sleeve.
Ethan Grant ignored the blatant and subtle taunts from all around him. "Grandpa," he said slowly, "this Peony Painting has already been bid up to a million on the national auction website."
With that, he helped Master Grant unroll the painting.
Master Grant hadn't held out much hope, thinking of it as just a small gesture from the younger generation. But as the scroll unfurled, the look of astonishment in his eyes deepened.
The others couldn't see the artwork. They only heard Ethan Grant say something about it being bid up to a million?
Huh???
'Did the richest man take the wrong medicine recently?'
'Has his IQ really dropped this much?'
"HAHAHAHA..."
Josephine Grant burst into unrestrained laughter. She half-leaned on Leo Graham, laughing so hard that tears streamed down her face. "Ethan, sorry, I couldn't hold it in..."
The other family members also showed faint, mocking smiles, looking as if they were getting sick from holding back their laughter.
Warren Grant's face turned livid. "Ethan," he roared, "you're too out of line! How dare you lie even to Master Grant!"
Susan Langley began to sob pitifully, constantly wiping her tears.
'This unfilial boy! Does he have to embarrass us all to death before he's satisfied?'
'Shirley Thorne's painting bid up to a million?'
'Why doesn't he just claim the painting is already in textbooks while he's at it?'
Leo Graham wanted to laugh too, but he didn't dare. His surname was Graham, not Grant. If he actually laughed out loud, they would hold a grudge against him.
Master Grant exploded with anger. "What are you laughing at? Have you even seen the painting?"
"We don't need to see it to know," Warren Grant said resentfully. "Dad, there's a limit to favoritism. Do you really think none of us have eyes?"
He turned to the clueless-looking Shirley Thorne. "This penniless nobody knows how to paint? Does she even have the money for it?"
Josephine Grant chimed in, "Ethan, I admit I stole your thunder at this birthday banquet, but you shouldn't use such a stupid method to try and get it back. A million-dollar painting? Painted by Shirley Thorne? Do you have any idea how long it's been since the National Auction has seen a million-dollar piece?"
After speaking, she shot a look at Susan Langley.
Susan Langley understood instantly and jumped in to support her. "I'll check the national auction website right now! I'd like to see if there have been any paintings bid up to a million recently!"
As she spoke, she pulled out her phone, swiped it open, and logged in.
"I'd really like to see..."
The mockery in Susan Langley's eyes suddenly froze. Because there on the homepage, she had indeed found a Peony Painting bid up to a million. The artist's name was "Great Master Thorne."