The True Lady Strikes Back by Susanna Lucius - Season 2 Episode 27

Gordon’s words surprised Cecilia. She didn’t expect him to recognize her.

After all, living under the same roof for three years would naturally create a sense of familiarity, even if he tried to ignore it.

Now that he had guessed her identity, she decided to stop pretending to be mysterious and removed her fox mask directly.

Looking at the stunning face on the stage, Gordon almost fainted.

Although he suspected that the person on stage was Cecilia, he never expected it to actually be her.

He stuttered, “Ce… Ceci, are you Enigma?”

Cecilia smiled upon seeing Gordon’s look of disbelief. “You can be absolutely certain of it.”

Her words caused another uproar in the audience.

“Which bastard spread the rumor that Enigma is a senile old man in his seventies or eighties? Are they blind?”

“Who could have thought that Enigma is actually Cecilia? The Yancey family must be full of regret now that they did not recognize such a precious gem before!”

Those words were deliberately meant for Gordon to hear, with the intention of benefiting Cecilia.

Everyone who loved painting admired Enigma and wanted to get acquainted with her.

Gordon had long regretted kicking Cecilia out of the house. Now that he knew she was Enigma, he regretted it even more.

“Ceci…”

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The True Lady Strikes Back

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As soon as he started, Cecilia interrupted him, “The starting price of this painting is 2 million dollars.”

The paintings she sold had a minimum price in the millions, and that was for her earliest work.

Her later paintings were sold in the nine–figure range at least, so even if she started with a low offer, the auction price would still soar to astronomical heights.

Herman knew the value of Enigma’s painting and immediately raised the starting price.

“20 million dollars!”

He increased it tenfold right away, making many people hesitant to bid further.

However, many people wanted the painting, so in no time, the price had risen to 70 million dollars.

This was close to the highest price she had sold her artwork for.

But today, it was a live painting, which made it more valuable. The final selling price was expected to exceed 80 million dollars.

Cecilia knew very well that if her paintings were taken to Elite Auction, they might not be able to sell for the same price. The buyers there often did not understand the real value of her art and bought them simply for collection purposes.

The buyers here, however, were primarily owners of

calligraphy and painting stores who knew how to trade art for profit.

In the end, Cecilia’s painting was sold for 86 million dollars and purchased by Herman.

Gordon had initially considered bidding for the painting, but after discovering Cecilia’s identity as Enigma, he never raised his bid.

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Because he could not face her.

When Herman went backstage to settle the payment, he hesitated before following.

Cecilia was dealing with the wet painting when she noticed a shadow cast beside her.

She knew it was Gordon, but she ignored him.

Gordon gazed at the familiar yet unfamiliar Cecilia for a long while, and a mixture of emotions welled up within him.

After a while, he said, “Ceci, you are indeed my daughter. You’ve painted well, and have surpassed me.”

This made Cecilia laugh.

She looked at Gordon, who looked so proud, and retorted sharply, “Why do you feel so entitled to my success? Have you ever taught me or helped me in any way? Don’t tell me you actually believe that I could become a master painter because of your good genes.”

She had seen people flattering her before, but never had she encountered someone so audacious.

Gordon was a little embarrassed by her words.

Yet he still believed that Cecilia had inherited his talent, which allowed her to excel in painting.

Just as she could sing well, he thought she had inherited her mother’s genes for that.

“Ceci, no matter how much you deny it, I’m your biological father. We share an unbreakable blood connection, and there’s no need to be enemies,” he said.

Seeing him trying to act as if nothing had happened and

wanting her to remain obedient as in the past, Cecilia could not contain her disdain anymore.

“Gordon Yancey, have you heard of the term ‘double

standards‘? At first, you thought I was an embarrassment and

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wished you had never given birth to me. You were so delighted to break our familial ties back then. Now that you think I have something to offer, you mention our blood connection. Don’t you feel sickeningly hypocritical?”

“Ceci, it was you who suggested leaving the Yancey family first,” Gordon replied.

He implied that although he had made a mistake, Cecilia was also at fault.

By agreeing to sever ties, he was also accommodating her. Upon hearing this, Cecilia did not want to say anything further. It would be a waste of saliva talking to him.

Gordon also realized that his words were not entirely

appropriate, so he cleared his throat and said, “Ceci, there is no overnight grudge between father and daughter. You…”

“There is!”

Cecilia suddenly spoke, and Gordon was a little taken aback. “What is there? What is it?”

“Gordon, you better listen carefully. I’m vengeful,” Cecilia spat. “No matter who it is, as long as they have done me wrong, I will fiercely retaliate, and never forgive them in my lifetime, understand?”

As she said this, her expression was grave, and her eyes were filled with a chilling coldness.

Gordon was now completely certain that Cecilia would never return to the Yancey family again.

The damage was done.

He moved his lips but ultimately did not say anything. He then turned around gloomily and left the backstage.

Cecilia snorted and continued to deal with her painting.

In no time, Herman finished paying the auction money and came to find Cecilia.

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He looked at the painting he had won and his eyes were beaming.

“Ms. Yancey, may I have the honor to take a photo with you and your painting?” he asked.

Cecilia knew that taking photos for memory was just a farce. His real intentions were to increase the value of the painting.

After all, this was her first on–site painting and the first

exposure of her identity.

With the photo, it would not only double the value of the painting but also earn her at least an extra 20 million dollars. Cecilia decided to joke with him. “Mr. Hughes, I can tell your intentions.”

He smiled awkwardly and said, “If you are unwilling, then pretend I said nothing.”

Even if there was no photo, he had a way to increase the value of the painting.

It was a pity that his hopes of exponentially increasing the value of Enigma’s posthumous work after her death in the future were crushed.

Cecilia didn’t respond, instead, she asked, “Mr. Hughes, did Mr. Yancey come with you?”

Hearing this, Herman thought Cecilia was blaming him.

He hurriedly tried to explain. “I didn’t know you were Enigma at the time. If I had known, I definitely would have not let Mr. Yancey come.”

Although Enigma and Gordon were both painters, they were not in the same league at all.

Naturally, he leaned more towards the former, as the status was there.

Looking at Herman’s nervous face, Cecilia gave him some

reassurance. “I’m not here to find fault, I just want to know why

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Gordon looked for you. If you give me a good answer, taking a photo together won’t be a problem.”

This made Herman smile with joy.

Although his buying out of Gordon’s painting was supposed to be confidential, it was worth selling it out to do Cecilia a favor. So, he straightforwardly told her about the matter.

The practice of artificially inflating the value of artworks was a recognized secret in the circle, and there was nothing that could not be said.

After listening, Cecilia concluded, “It seems that the Yancey family is really at the end of the road.”

Gordon, who was wholeheartedly dedicated to painting, had now unexpectedly decided to put away his brush and buy out the paintings. It was unbelievable.

Herman sighed. “Yes. I’ve mentioned it to Mr. Yancey before, but he firmly refused. Yet he took the initiative to approach me this time. It seems that he is in dire need of money.”

Cecilia asked, “Have you reached an agreement for your collaboration?”

“Not yet,” Herman replied.

He instantly understood what Cecilia meant as soon as she spoke. “Ms. Yancey doesn’t want me to collaborate with Mr. Yancey?”

Before Cecilia could answer him, he added in a hurry, “I’m a businessman. I’m profit–oriented.”

Implicitly, if Cecilia could give him the leverage he wanted, he would not buy Gordon’s painting.

Cecilia pointed to the painting she had just finished. “How about we collaborate?”