Chapter 362
Chapter 362:
“Mariana, I was the one born into the Morgan family. It was Maia who stole the life that should have been mine p>
Roughly brushing away the tears with the back of her hand, Rosanna continued, her voice breaking with emotion. “She didn’t just steal my identity. She took my parents’ love. Now she’s coming after my fiancé, trying to destroy everything I have! I’m falling apart. Why is she doing this? What did I ever do to deserve it p>
She looked as fragile as a flower caught in the teeth of a storm. Mariana merely arched an eyebrow, her expression unreadable and cool.
She had already pieced together the truth behind Rosanna’s past and knew that this girl wasn’t lying.
At last, a slow, approving smile played at the corners of Mariana’s mouth.
Reaching out, Mariana gently took Rosanna’s injured hand, softening her voice. “I decided to make friends with you myself. Why would I ever look down on you? Just stay loyal, no second thoughts — and I’ll have your back p>
Her gaze briefly fell to Rosanna’s swollen, battered hand, her tone growing even gentler. “That looks bad. You should have a doctor check it later. Don’t let it get worse p>
Relief washed over Rosanna the moment she realized that Mariana believed her. She nodded quickly, obediently.
“Thank you, Mariana.” Mariana answered with another faint smile and turned, striding deeper into the gallery.
The instant Mariana’s back was turned, Rosanna swiped at her wet cheeks, her expression hardening into something cold and sharp. She had weathered Mariana’s tests and won her trust. She swore that someday, she would grind Maia beneath her heel.
Rosanna sneered inwardly, “Just you wait, Maia. You stole seventeen years of the life that should have been mine. I’ll make sure you pay. I’ll make you know what it’s like to be crushed, to be humiliated the way I was p>
They wandered through the gallery a little longer, the space gradually filling with new visitors. A crowd gathering around a centerpiece painting soon caught Mariana’s eye, and curiosity tugged her forward.
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The artwork, somber and weighty, captured a dying bird twitching weakly on the earth. All around them, murmurs floated through the air — this was whispered to be the gallery’s crowning jewel.
Rosanna, squinting at the painting without much understanding, leaned close to Mariana and asked under her breath, “Mariana, is this really that incredible p>
Mariana’s eyes flicked to the signature scrawled in the lower corner. She frowned, puzzled — she didn’t recognize the name at all.
Tilting her head toward Rosanna, Mariana let a smirk curl across her crimson lips. “The painting’s decent. But calling it the gallery’s treasure? That’s a stretch p>
Rosanna nodded, awkward and unsure. “I don’t really get these things… Mariana, could you teach me sometime p>
“Of course. I’m headed to a world-class exhibition soon. Even their rejects would outshine this. If you’re free, I’ll take you along. You’ll see what real art looks like.” With that, Mariana spared the so-called masterpiece one last dismissive glance.
A faint, mocking hum slipped from her lips as she turned away. She gave a soft, disdainful hum and turned away.
Moments after they left, several gallery staff hurried over, carefully rotating the painting 180 degrees.
The moment the back of the painting came into view, a collective gasp of astonishment swept through the crowd.
“There’s another painting on the back p>