Dear Ex-wife, Marry Me novel Chapter 36

Connie still possessed a childlike innocence, her eyes shining brightly as she spoke with an endless flow of words. Being around her felt like a breath of fresh air for Maja, perhaps because she was accustomed to dealing with difficult people.

Maja gazed at Connie's painting without uttering a word. Connie, with a pen in her hand, let out a sigh. She had yet to expect Maja to provide constructive feedback, but she was taken aback when Maja picked up a nearby pen and made a few adjustments to the painting.

Suddenly, the once dull painting came to life, with even the brush strokes appearing more vibrant. Connie's eyes widened in surprise, and she rubbed them to ensure she wasn't imagining things.

"You... you just changed the colors, right? Wow, it's like a whole new painting. Did you study art?" Connie exclaimed, impressed by Maja's proficient strokes and skillful color mixing.

Maja nodded, gently setting down the pen. "Actually, your foundation is quite good. You just need a little work on color combinations."

Connie blushed with excitement, a smile curving her lips. "I knew it! Your changes have boosted my confidence. This painting is actually for a competition. My tutor told me to find inspiration. I wanted to ask Ian, but he... Ms. Pennyfeather really dropped the ball. How could she stand me up?" She complained, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Maja.

"Thank you, you're Penny, right? Where do you live? Can I come to visit you?" Connie asked eagerly.

Maja frowned, not because she disliked Connie, but because she worried about becoming too involved with the Raymond family and having her intentions misunderstood. "Sorry, it might not be convenient for you to come to my place."

In her innocent manner, Connie failed to realize that Maja's response was a polite way of declining. She had never experienced rejection before.

"Then, can we add each other on WhatsApp?" Connie suggested.

After consideration, Maja shared her work account, and Connie happily added her, immediately delving into mixing colors.

"Stay for a while longer. I'll be finished soon. I don't know why, but your guidance has given me a burst of inspiration."

Maja didn't interrupt her, and Connie continued chatting while skillfully blending colors.

"This studio used to belong to Ian. He loved reading here."

Ian's room? Maja couldn't help but glance around. The room had a neat and orderly style, with hollow designs on the walls allowing light to shine through. It was evident that the room had been meticulously designed.

At that moment, Maja was torn between explaining her presence to Ian and discreetly admiring the room's decor. So, this was Ian's style. The doors and cabinets were made of custom dark wood, with intricate details on the handles. The owner clearly had high standards for taste and paid great attention to detail.

Maja felt somewhat grateful to Connie at this point. Her public and private clashes with Ian had provided no helpful information. Now, thanks to Connie, she found herself in Ian's personal space, surrounded by his unique style.

"Every detail in this room was designed by him. Have you noticed those hollow designs?" Connie pointed out.

Among all the elements in the room, Maja particularly liked those designs. The way the light shone through them created an almost magical effect. At night, the illuminated corner provided the perfect place for contemplation.

Suddenly, Maja recalled what Ryan had mentioned — Ian's exceptional talent in art and his business acumen.

"How about that? His taste isn't bad, right?" Connie beamed with pride, clearly admiring Ian greatly.

Once she finished speaking, a frown appeared on her face. "It's a pity. My grandfather insists on him marrying a worthless woman. Even though Carlene isn't great, at least she's educated and not unattractive. But now... it's just not fair!"

Maja remained silent, feeling conflicted. She became even more certain that she couldn't let Connie know who she truly was. The consequences of Connie discovering her true identity were uncertain.

Hopefully, there will be no further encounters in the future.

Realizing she had said too much, Connie swiftly changed the subject. "Can I seek your advice on painting in the future?"

"You can, but I must leave now."

"I'll walk you out."

After leaving the Raymond family, Maja headed straight back to the studio. Connie sent enthusiastic thanks during this time, but Maja paid little attention.

Upon entering the office, Maja spotted Maxwell. Standing beside him was a female coworker named Kim, who Liz had mentioned as always clingy to Maxwell. Kim's face fell upon seeing Maja, forcing a smile that concealed her resentment.

"Look who's back, our star," Kim remarked, and everyone in the office looked up. Word had spread about Maja landing the Ian contract, making their studio quite famous within the design community. Within a single day, their workload had multiplied tenfold.