Chapter 113: Chapter 113: Hoist With One’s Own Petard

Cecilia Vaughn was startled, looking up into an arrogant and gloomy handsome face.

"It’s clearly a trap, and you’re still going?"

The young man’s voice was indifferent, a tone so cold that it inevitably reminded one of the endless moonlight on a winter’s night—beautiful, yet devoid of warmth.

Cecilia Vaughn glanced at Sean Grant with some surprise. Ever since childhood, most bystanders had always assumed Fiona Vaughn was the weak and innocent one, yet he was able to see through her true nature at a glance.

The girl gave a bitter smile.

"Quite a few of my mother’s keepsakes are still in their hands. If they remain with my stepmother, it would be such a waste."

"I must retrieve them."

As she spoke, the delicate brows of Cecilia Vaughn gradually took on a touch of resilience, like an indomitable bamboo standing tall.

"When soldiers come, I’ll counter with generals; when water comes, I’ll use earth to cover. Do I, in the eyes of Grant, look like someone easy to bully?"

Sean Grant carefully thought for a moment, remembering the scene of the girl in the classroom slicing a chair with a Swiss Army Knife.

The corners of his lips slowly lifted into a smiled smirk.

"Certainly doesn’t seem like it."

The young man’s serious expression softened that innate gloominess a bit.

...

Because of this smile, Cecilia Vaughn now noticed Sean Grant had a pair of fangs.

Yet oddly enough, he lacked the innocent charm typical of young people.

How strange...

Sean Grant should be around her brother’s age. A young master capable of attending Caelus Academy of Fine Arts and riding a Harley must hail from a well-off family.

Moreover, his painting skills are so proficient, he’s hailed as a prodigy by others. Why does he seem as if someone owes him five million?

Cecilia Vaughn was puzzled, but she wasn’t interested in others’ affairs, only in her own.

"By the way, didn’t you say there were conditions for not reporting? Just say it directly."

Sean Grant focused his gaze on her, his gem-colored eyes narrowing slightly, like some kind of dangerous beast eyeing its prey, ready to bare its fangs and devour at any moment.

His voice was as light as the wind.

"The sunset painting from class, I like it. Give it to me."

Such a minor request?

Cecilia Vaughn was at a loss for words, having almost thought from Sean Grant’s deep and complex gaze that he would ask her to commit murder or arson!

She exhaled a long breath.

"Of course, you saved it in the first place, so I’m not really the true owner of that painting."

Under Sean Grant’s brush, the painting’s theme transformed, and its mood became as enigmatic and gloomy as he was.

...

Cecilia Vaughn ran to the podium, removed the exhibit from the projector, and directly handed it to him.

"Here you go, since you like it, take good care of it."

From an artist’s perspective, she admired Sean Grant.

She had some talent in painting, but compared to a genius like Sean Grant, Cecilia Vaughn’s works lacked grandeur and were a bit too crafted.

It might take countless years before she could develop a unique style, with a distinctive art soul that would make her works instantly recognizable.

...

Sean Grant nodded, but as his gaze swept over the red plum blossom birthmark on the girl’s left wrist, his eyes grew dark.

He didn’t say a word and left the classroom once he took the painting.

In a place where no one could see, the boy’s delicate and pale fingers gently caressed the label with Cecilia Vaughn’s signature at the bottom of the painting.

His handsome brows knitted slightly.

His fingers lingered over those three little words, like a morbid obsession that would not end until death.

...

Once Sean Grant had left, the classroom gradually filled with people, and Cecilia Vaughn lay down on the desk to nap.

To the sound of the class bell, Cecilia Vaughn was woken by Bella Prescott poking her cheek.

This class was taught by their homeroom teacher and director, "World Famous Paintings Appreciation."

Normally, Cecilia Vaughn would have been very interested in the class content, but now, when Katherine North entered the classroom joking and laughing, she began to pay closer attention.

Heh, she was a petty person who held grudges, hoping that Katherine North would get what she deserved...

If she hadn’t been lucky this morning, she might have ended up in the hospital with those three thumbtacks, so this "gift" is actually mild!

...

Director Chambers entered the classroom with a notebook, and Katherine North had already taken a seat.

"Now, let’s appreciate the work of Vessaria’s impressionist master Monet, ’The Pond, Water Lilies,’ an important masterpiece from Monet’s late period, where the artist’s capture of light and shadow nearly reached perfection."

"Look at Monet’s painting technique, extremely realistic, yet possessing a dynamic beauty, the tones varied, yet not chaotic..."

Director Chambers adjusted his glasses, speaking enthusiastically when suddenly a scream echoed through the classroom.

"Ah—!"

The classmates were all startled and looked towards the source of the scream.

Only to hear a series of snapping sounds, and Katherine North, sitting in the front row, suddenly fell to the ground with a thud.

The chair, which should have been perfectly intact, had suddenly broken a leg, with splinters flying.

"Ouch, that hurts!—"

Katherine North braced against the floor with her hands, her legs having collided with the front desk, and her knees were badly bruised, feeling like they had been pricked by a thousand needles. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

...

Katherine North’s deskmate was stunned, immediately getting up to help her.

"Katherine, how could you fall just like that? Are you okay?"

Katherine North’s eyes were red, and she roughly pushed away the girl trying to help her, the malevolence in her eyes shocking everyone.

"Cecilia Vaughn! I knew it was you who ruined my chair!"

The girl who kindly tried to help her didn’t expect to be shoved away, feeling a bit wronged, her eyes reddening.

The classmates were not blind.

"Katherine, how could you push Sinclair away? She was clearly trying to help you!"

"Also, we all have no grudges with each other, what makes you say Cecilia Vaughn ruined your chair?"

"Yeah!"

Director Chambers felt a headache as he looked at the chair that had evidently been sawed through.

"Everyone, quiet down. Why don’t we check the surveillance?"

"Teacher, the cameras broke this morning."

"..."

Katherine North now understood the meaning of shooting herself in the foot!

"Director Chambers, it must have been Cecilia Vaughn! She suspected me of putting thumbtacks on her chair this morning, and now this has happened!"

"Plus, only she and Bella Prescott commute from home in our class. Bella went back to her rental, but I and the others saw Cecilia heading to the classroom after lunch!"

"Katherine North, speak with evidence. That was your own line this morning."

"Who else but you? You’re the only one with motive and the time to commit the act!"

Upon hearing this, Cecilia Vaughn’s expression remained extremely cool.

"The classroom wasn’t only occupied by me, and I was observed the entire time I was there!"

...

"Impossible! Everyone except you and Bella Prescott returned to the dorms—"

Katherine North was almost hysterical, but just then, a cool voice spoke up.

"Who said impossible?"