Chapter 156: Face-slapping, Shannon Everett Is Banned

Chapter 156: Chapter 156: Face-slapping, Shannon Everett Is Banned

Morgan Everett had come to the charity gala not only to seize the opportunity to meet with Julian Forrester, but also for another purpose.

A few minutes later, the emcee on stage announced:

"Next up for auction is a famous painting provided by Shannon Everett! Shannon is unable to join us tonight due to illness. However, the painting she has prepared is a truly exquisite piece. The starting bid is also ten thousand!"

The moment Shannon Everett’s name was mentioned, the vast hall fell silent.

It was immediately followed by an uproar.

"What the hell? How does a piece of scum like Shannon Everett still have the nerve to show her face? Get her out of the entertainment industry!"

"Exactly! Who would want to bid on her stuff? It’s just asking for bad luck!"

Amid the clamor, a man who appreciated traditional painting spoke up. "Hold on, don’t be so quick to judge. Look at the stage—that painting Shannon Everett provided is a rare, authentic masterpiece! Besides, she’s doing this for charity. Shouldn’t we cut her some slack?"

Hearing this, Keith Sterling scoffed wordlessly. ’Charity, my ass!’

’That piece of trash Shannon Everett is just trying to use charity to whitewash her image!’

’Saying she’s too sick to come is just an excuse! Right now, Shannon is a pariah everyone wants to condemn. Does she even dare to show her face in public?’

Keith Sterling was still fuming. He nudged Sienna Everett’s arm and whispered, "No wonder Morgan Everett and Miles Everett are at this gala. It was all for Shannon Everett."

Sienna Everett could tell at a glance that the painting on stage was indeed a priceless masterpiece.

’No doubt about it,’ she thought, ’Miles must have prepared it for Shannon.’

Miles Everett was a Restorer with a special fondness for calligraphy and paintings, and he had an extensive collection of famous works.

To be willing to take out a beloved piece from his collection for Shannon’s sake, to go this far for her... he was truly a devoted older brother.

At that moment, near the entrance of the banquet hall, a figure wearing a hat and mask, completely bundled up with only her eyes showing, slipped into the venue. It was Shannon Everett.

Shannon Everett had thought it over and over. She couldn’t accept it and just had to come see for herself.

But her reputation was in tatters, a pariah scorned by all. She had to disguise herself so thoroughly that her own mother wouldn’t recognize her just to avoid being cursed out on the street.

Seeing Sienna Everett sitting glamorously in the second row at such a prestigious event while she herself had to hide in the shadows, Shannon’s eyes filled with a twisted hatred.

’When I get back, I’m going to get a bitch and name her Sienna Everett!’

’I’ll beat her and curse her every single day!’

The thought eased some of the hatred in her heart. She looked toward the famous painting on stage, her expression full of confidence.

It was an authentic painting, worth at least twenty million.

’Now it’s being auctioned at a starting price of ten thousand. As long as they’re not idiots, everyone will surely fight to bid on it, fight to own it.’

’Hmph. So what if my reputation is bad?’

’Aren’t you all still going to fight over my things?’

’Once the reporters write about this, they’ll say how I, Shannon Everett, took out an authentic masterpiece from my collection for charity. How selfless! It’ll win me a good reputation, leaving the netizens with no reason to criticize me.’

On stage, the emcee had already announced the start of the bidding.

Those who didn’t care for art had no interest in the item, and they were utterly disgusted by Shannon Everett’s character.

"Pah! Who would bid on something from that trash? Get it out of here!"

"If you ask me, someone like Shannon Everett isn’t qualified to participate in a charity gala! Her item shouldn’t have been brought on stage in the first place!"

"Exactly! If anyone bids on Shannon Everett’s painting, I’ll despise them too!"

However, for art lovers, this was an opportunity that was simply too good to miss. A starting bid of ten thousand was incredibly tempting.

But hearing the crowd’s scorn and curses directed at Shannon Everett, they didn’t dare raise their paddles to bid.

After all, everyone attending the gala tonight was a prominent figure. Being despised by these tycoons over a single painting simply wasn’t worth it.

Thus, a bizarre and rare scene unfolded in the banquet hall: a famous painting worth twenty million, with a starting bid of a mere ten thousand, had not a single bidder.

Shannon Everett was dumbfounded.

’Are these people idiots?!’

’How can they pass up such a huge bargain?’

Morgan Everett’s brow was furrowed so tightly he could have crushed a mosquito with it. Miles Everett’s expression, however, remained largely unchanged, as if what was happening had nothing to do with him.

Finally, an older gentleman sitting in the front row seemed to want to raise his paddle.

Shannon Everett was suddenly overjoyed. She recognized him—it was Jordan Summers, the president of Summers Properties.

’For Jordan Summers to be in the front row means he’s a titan among titans. If he raises his paddle to bid, no one else in the hall will dare say a word, no matter how angry they are.’

’My painting is going to be sold!’

Shannon Everett had even planned out the comments for her paid online posters to spam: *Shannon Everett’s famous painting bought by tycoon Jordan Summers, a contribution of her love to charity! So Shannon has such a beautiful and kind side to her! I hope everyone stops criticizing her. Am I the only one who feels sorry for Shannon Everett?*

Back in the front row, Jordan Summers was a man who liked to affect an air of culture. Though he knew nothing about art, he felt the painting looked rather nice and was about to raise his paddle to bid on it.

The emcee noticed his movement and immediately looked his way with eager anticipation.

Just as Jordan Summers began to slowly raise his paddle, he suddenly felt a gaze as cold as a frozen wasteland land on him.

A tingling numbness spread across Jordan Summers’s scalp. He turned his head fearfully and met a pair of sharp, indifferent eyes.

’J-Julian Forrester?’

’What’s going on?’

Jordan Summers was a slick operator who had navigated the business world for years. Although Julian Forrester’s gaze held no overt threat, it radiated a formidable, chilling hostility.

Jordan Summers understood in an instant.

’No matter how powerful Summers Properties is, it’s no match for the Forresterer Group. Several of Summers Properties’ recent projects are banking on a partnership with the Forresterer Family.’

Meeting the man’s frigid glare, a chill ran down Jordan Summers’s spine. He immediately got the message.

The emcee was still looking earnestly at Jordan Summers, who had been about to raise his paddle. "President Summers, are you going to bid on Shannon Everett’s painting?"

Jordan Summers let out a dry laugh and pretended to raise his hand to scratch his head. "I was just scratching an itch. Just an itch, haha!"

Scratching an itch?

Hearing this, the crowd burst into laughter. How could he be so ridiculous!

The emcee laughed along. "For a moment there, I thought you were about to raise your paddle."

Jordan Summers’s expression immediately turned serious. He put on a stern, righteous face and declared, "Don’t be absurd. Who would bid on a painting from someone as wicked, selfish, and deceitful as Shannon Everett!"

Jordan Summers delivered this long tirade without even taking a breath, as if he were desperate to distance himself from the matter.

After speaking, Jordan Summers shot a fawning, sycophantic look toward Julian Forrester beside him.

But the mogul had already withdrawn his gaze and wasn’t looking at him anymore.

Jordan Summers’s words had been incredibly harsh. To string together three such damning accusations in public made the surrounding crowd gasp.

Shannon Everett’s face went deathly pale, her nails digging harshly into her palms.

’Didn’t Jordan Summers want to bid?’

’Why did he suddenly change his mind?’

’And why would he curse me out so openly in public?’