From Ashes of Scandals to His Embrace novel Chapter 455

“Of course not.”

“Not? Then why won’t you just show everyone? Stop pretending you have something to hide.”

Nelly moved to grab the art case, but before she even got close, a slim, porcelain-pale hand caught her wrist and yanked her back a step.

“I’d think twice before you touch that," Laurinda said, her voice calm but sharp. "If you break it, you couldn’t even dream of paying for it.”

Laurinda was done watching the scene unfolding. Adolphus might let Nelly run wild because they were family, but there was no way Laurinda would play along.

Nelly stumbled, then saw who had grabbed her. The second she realized it was Laurinda, her whole expression went cold. Laurinda’s jab about not being able to pay for damages clearly stung, and something just snapped.

“Can’t pay for it? What could I possibly not afford? You must be Laurinda, right? Don’t think I don’t know who you are. You’re just some orphan, thrown out of your own home. You probably used whatever dirty tricks you could to stick yourself to Adolphus. Pathetic. What kind of girl your age is this shameless, this sl—”

She didn’t get to finish. Laurinda’s words were cut off by the loud smack echoing through the room as Tanya’s hand connected sharply with Nelly’s cheek.

Nelly clutched her face, stunned, eyes filling with disbelief as she looked at Tanya. Her own mother had just hit her right in front of everyone.

“Mom, you’d really slap me for some shameless—”

Another smack, harder this time. Tanya’s voice rang out, cold and furious. “Don’t you dare talk like that. This isn’t about Laurinda. Did I raise you to use filthy words against another girl? I chose to have Laurinda here, and that’s final. If I ever hear you talk like that again, you’re out of the Lane house for good.”

“Mom, I’m your daughter!” Nelly sounded shocked, betrayed, as if she couldn’t believe what Tanya was saying. She looked like she was on the verge of tears.

“If you weren’t my daughter, you’d already be out in the street,” Tanya shot back, brushing her off with a dismissive sound. Then, without even glancing at Nelly again, she faced Jarred, her tone suddenly gentle. “Sorry you had to see that. Is there an issue with the painting? Why did you stop?”

Jarred, clearly rattled by the family drama, took a breath and straightened up, doing his best to act like nothing had happened.

“I just need a pair of gloves,” he said, glancing down at the art case. “It’s important not to touch the painting directly. Even from the scroll, I can tell this is a genuine Thorpe. But to confirm exactly which painting it is, I’ll have to open it up.”

The mention of Thorpe’s name had everyone’s full attention. People in the room turned all at once to look at Laurinda. She just stood there, as calm as ever, like owning an original Thorpe painting was nothing special.

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