The Wicked Wife's Dark History Keeps Coming Back To Haunt Her - Chapter 187
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âMadam, do you like it?â
âYes, thank you.â
Nina looked at her reflection in the mirror.
Her hair was neatly swept up into a smooth round bun, and she wore a light sky-blue formal dress.
Considering that the color sky blue symbolizes imagination, it was a fitting outfit to greet todayâs guest.
Henry Reginald.
She had run into him not long ago at the hunting festival.
Today, Nina had invited him to her home.
She intended to ask in more detail about what he had said to her back at the festival.
And since he was likely to become a court painter, it wouldnât hurt to build a closer relationship just in case.
She didnât know when heâd become one, given her own interference in his life, butâŚ
Nina examined her reflection from different angles and smiled brightly.
She was loosening her facial muscles with the thought, I need to make a good impression.
But at that moment.
Marsha, looking out the window, spoke.
âLooks like your guest has arrived.â
âReally?â
Time to go greet him.
Nina gave her appearance one last check, then stepped out into the lobby.
Henry, stepping down from the carriage, greeted her with a radiant smile.
âMadam, have you been well?â
âIâve been doing fine. How about you?â
In truth, she hadnât been that fine, but greetings were meant to be exchanged out of courtesy.
âIâve been a bit busier than usual preparing for my solo exhibition.â
âSolo exhibition?â
Henry smiled with joy.
âDid His Grace the Duke not mention it to you? Iâm deeply grateful. Heâs been helping me prepare for the exhibition.â
âOh, I see. I did hear something about an exhibition, but I assumed it was a joint one.â
She honestly hadnât known.
Lately, sheâd been preoccupied planning Ianâs productive holiday, but aside from that, Ash hadnât said anything about the sponsorship process.
She had only learned Henry was attending the hunting festival on the day itself.
âWell, as long as I keep track of Henryâs paintings, thereâs not much else to say.â
âCome on in. Letâs talk in the greenhouse.â
âYes, Madam.â
As Nina walked alongside Henry, she glanced at him and thought.
ââŚThis is a bit unexpected.â
No one holds a solo exhibition for a rookie painter unless theyâre prepared to throw money down the drain.
Itâs not the kind of thing you can wrap up in a day or two.
You have to pay for his working period, rent out a gallery for a stretch of time, invite guests, distribute ticketsâŚ
It costs a lot of money, and most people arenât willing to pay high prices for a new artistâs work.
Besides, no matter how much money you spend, some of the proceeds from the sales end up going into your own pocket anywayâŚ
âSo why would Ash go so far to support this at a loss? Honestly, I donât quite get it.â
And didnât he dislike Henry?
She had only seen Ash and Henry together a couple of times, but it was clear enough.
As subtle as it was, Ash held animosity towards Henry.
She didnât know why, but even if someone got along well with her, they might not with someone else.
So sheâd assumed there was just something about Henry that rubbed Ash the wrong way and let it go.
But then again, if he was supporting a solo exhibition, maybe that wasnât the case after allâŚ
ââŚWait, how much do I have in my vault?â
At the mention of a solo exhibition, a thought popped into her mind.
What she wanted was full ownership of the works.
Getting a cut from sales was one thing, but it was far more profitable to buy the works herself, store them, and resell them later.
Which meant sheâd need to buy them at the exhibition, so sheâd need to check how much was in her vault.
She had been gradually selling off dresses lately, so she should have enough.
Shortly after, Nina arrived at the greenhouse with Henry.
âThe greenhouse is truly beautiful.â
Nina smiled as she gestured for him to take a seat, watching him admire the surroundings in awe.
âDo you remember what I asked you at the hunting festival?â
âOh, you mean the Delphinium Fund.â
âI wanted to continue that conversation.â
Henry hesitated, as if debating something, then began to speak.
âI had a feeling you were interested in that matter, so I did some personal researchâŚâ
