After Divorce: Remarried to a Tycoon with Twin Babies-Chapter 21: The Jealous Husband, Vivian Gets Caught Red-Handed by Mr. Thorne!

Chapter 21: Chapter 21: The Jealous Husband, Vivian Gets Caught Red-Handed by Mr. Thorne!

Harvey Holloway explained helplessly, "Grant the Second, we really just happened to run into each other."

"Are you seriously jealous of even me now?"

Austin Grant thought the sight of the two standing together was truly an eyesore.

He shot Harvey a harsh look, then glanced back at Vivian, his tone utterly casual: "I never knew you liked going to art exhibitions, too."

"I thought you wouldn’t show up."

"Since you’re here, why didn’t you call me?"

Austin pulled out his phone, only to realize that Vivian had texted him half an hour ago.

His expression stiffened slightly.

"Vivian, I..."

Zoe suddenly pointed ahead: "President Grant, I think I just saw Master Greenshire pass by!"

"We should hurry and go greet him."

"He hardly ever accepts visitors. Today’s a rare chance! If we miss him, we’ll have to find another way!"

Without any real hesitation, Austin tossed out, "I’ll explain to you later."

"Vivian, wait for me."

And with that, he strode off after Zoe.

Vivian didn’t even turn around.

There was a hint of sarcasm in her eyes: "No, I’ll never wait for you again."

She strode away decisively, completely unaware of the swirling excitement and agitation in Harvey Holloway’s eyes behind her.

Why did Young Madam Grant look as if she didn’t care about Grant the Second at all anymore?

Vivian finally found a trace of peace and quiet.

Since she was already at the exhibition, there was no reason not to look around.

Besides, she had always liked these things, so she wasn’t willing to leave just because of Austin and Zoe’s presence.

After skillfully shaking off Harvey Holloway, Vivian settled in to seriously appreciate the works before her.

Unknowingly, she was so entranced she couldn’t pull herself away.

She’d had a talent for painting ever since she was a child.

But her parents and Elias never liked her spending too much time with paint, and certainly didn’t want her wasting so much effort on painting.

So ever since junior high, Vivian was no longer the obedient "good girl."

"Why is this painting standing all alone over here?"

"Yeah, it’s taking up an entire wall by itself—it seems they separated it out for special appreciation."

Without realizing it, Vivian turned a corner crowded with people.

A massive work stunned everyone present; the colors and story in the painting stopped everyone in their tracks.

Including Vivian.

She recognized instantly whose work this was.

The person beside her exclaimed, "Isn’t this not Master Greenshire’s own painting? Look—the label says it’s by Master Fiona Rhodes!"

"Fiona Rhodes? Didn’t she move her whole family to Yvria some years ago? Her paintings were all taken into collections here long ago—I can’t believe we’re seeing an actual original!"

"God, it’s unbelievable. It really is breathtaking work!"

"Mist shrouds the myths in the mountains—there’s an unknown beast hidden! In the woods at the foot of the mountains, there’s a little girl in red burying something..."

"Why does this painting seem so different from Fiona’s usual style? She’s always been skilled at landscapes, birds, and beasts, and sometimes paints the mythic creatures from the Classic of Mountains and Seas. But this one is... unsettling, almost creepy... It makes people uncomfortable."

"Exactly, it’s chilling. This must be a fake! How come we’ve never seen any trace of this painting online before?"

"It really doesn’t look genuine. That little girl in red is just too jarring."

"Above the clouds it’s all myth, but in the middle it’s realistic landscape, and the bottom suddenly turns into a fairy tale. If this isn’t a mishmash of a fake then what is?"

The crowd began voicing their opinions one after another.

Vivian suddenly pointed at the so-called little girl in red: "No, it’s been depicting a single mythological story from beginning to end!"

"The clouds above the mountains are called the Ninth Heaven."

"Beneath the Ninth Heaven are all living things."

"Fiona Rhodes excels at landscapes and mythic beasts, but she’s especially adept at telling mythological stories."

"What’s hidden in the mists isn’t some nameless monster—based on its tail and coloring, it’s the Celestial Drake."

"It symbolizes our ancient people’s reverence and awe for the forces of nature. And down there among the woods, that isn’t a little girl in red at all."

"It’s the Vermilion Bird."

"Even wearing a cloak, the fallen feathers around her give it away. Likewise, the Vermilion Bird is one of the Four Divine Beasts in our tradition..."

Simply put, this is a story of the Celestial Drake and Vermilion Bird coming to save all living things. Every soul below has turned to bones, and their arrival in the world is for salvation.

Vivian narrated as if telling a story, and all those around listened, completely enraptured.

Including Julian Thorne, who had appeared at the edge of the crowd somewhere along the way.

He wore his usual black casual wear, tall and straight-backed, looking faintly out of place at the very back.

But he didn’t leave.

When he heard Vivian’s voice, he came to a standstill, letting his gaze settle fully on her.

Vivian wore an oversized khaki trench, her long hair pulled into a ponytail.

Even dressed plainly, her stunning beauty was impossible to hide.

Amid the crowd, she exuded a cool, otherworldly aura—she was striking at a glance.

As she spoke about the painting, her confident ease contrasted sharply with the tabloid image of the fallen Sinclair heiress: the woman recently making headlines for smashing a jewelry store or for scandalous family gossip.

Lina Holloway was shocked too: "The Young Madam Grant really knows her art!"

"Once she starts talking about it, she shines. And she really sounds like a pro."

"This side of her—is totally dazzling and so surprising."

Special Assistant Linden pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses: "Indeed, an unexpected surprise. The Young Madam Grant today at the exhibition is a completely different person from the one we thought we knew."

As he spoke, Special Assistant Linden inexplicably turned to study Master Julian in curiosity.

What could Master Julian be thinking...?

By the time she realized she’d said too much, Vivian had already gathered plenty of admiring, curious eyes.

She realized instantly she’d drawn too much attention and, not wishing for the spotlight, slipped away from the growing crowd.

Once away from the bustle, she quickly put on a mask.

She intended to quietly enjoy the rest of the exhibition, but to her annoyance, she bumped into Zoe and Austin again.

Vivian swiftly turned around and pretended to study the painting behind them.

It looked like they’d failed to find Master Greenshire.

They were standing before the painting of a tiger facing the sea.

Zoe tugged Austin’s arm and swayed playfully: "Austin, tell me honestly, which is better—my painting, or this one by W?"

Austin: "W."

Zoe seemed a bit offended: "Hmph!"

"I knew you always liked this W!"

"Back in school you admired his paintings, so your family home has two, right?"

Austin: "Yeah. That’s why I’m so surprised to see his work on display today."

Zoe dismissed it with a pout: "But didn’t you always say my paintings were full of spirit too?"

"Back then I even won second place in the city contest. Can’t you just humor me once and say I’m better than her?"

"Come on, Austin, just say it and make me happy for once!"

Exasperated yet indulgent, Austin gazed at Zoe’s antics.

"Fine, yours are better than W’s. Happy now?"

Zoe really was delighted.

She flopped onto Austin’s shoulder, laugh bubbling over.

Vivian listened to them flirt without the slightest ripple in her heart.

Her focus remained on unpacking the painting before her.

Suddenly, a tall shadow loomed beside her.

She was about to sidestep when a familiar low voice sounded:

"Vivian, W."

"So you are W. Am I right, Young Madam Grant?"

Vivian felt as if she’d been struck hard inside. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

She lifted her eyes, gaze sharp and piercing, to meet his.

Julian Thorne!

Why was it always him?

Vivian forced her heartbeat back under control, lowering her gaze and schooling her breath: "Sir, I have no idea what you’re talking about. I think you have the wrong person."

With that, she turned on her heel to leave.

Only to run right into Austin Grant’s eyes as she did.

Luckily, Lina and Special Assistant Linden stepped in together, blocking her path and cutting off Austin’s line of sight.

Austin was about to approach, but Zoe yanked him back.

"Austin, let’s buy this painting, okay?"

"You like it anyway. I want it for our place."

"Looking at this picture reminds me of our dating days. Remember, you said what you liked most about me was the look on my face when I painted."

"You even said your image of W was someone who looked like me."

"It’s a pity W is so mysterious. You searched for years, only to find out that W—the one who paints all these gorgeous, profound works—is actually just a rough-looking brute."

"Thank goodness I came into your life and saved what tenderness you had left for that fantasy version of W."

"Austin, I also want a W painting as a symbol of our love."

"Can’t we buy it?"

Thinking back on the past, Austin knew it all sounded ridiculous now.

He shook his head with a laugh: "My Zoe is gentle, beautiful, and a wonderful painter, but W... While it’s true I like W’s work more, his paintings are all he has going for him."

"How could he compare to my Zoe?"

He gently wrapped an arm around Zoe’s shoulder, looking up at the painting: "We’ll buy it."

Vivian’s eyes now brimmed only with disgust.

"I said you have the wrong person. Please move."

Lina and Special Assistant Linden exchanged glances—had Master Julian guessed wrong?

The two of them turned to look at Julian behind Vivian.

Once they saw Julian’s nod, they stepped aside.

Vivian had no heart left for the exhibition. She hurried out of the gallery.

No sooner had she gotten in her car than her phone rang.

"Vivian, I heard you came to my exhibition, but I never saw you?"

As soon as she heard the voice, Vivian sat up straight, respect filling her tone: "Uncle Greenshire."