How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Chapter 501

Patricia Aldridge finally let a smile curl at her lips. “So, you're saying this painting really is one of your early works?"

"Yes, it is. Why?" Selma's brow furrowed slightly. For some reason, a strange unease crept over her.

Patricia had been waiting for her to admit it in front of everyone.

She gestured, and another painting was carried over.

"In that case, did you create this painting as well?"

There was quite a crowd in the room. As Patricia finished speaking, she had her assistant unveil the new painting.

The moment Selma got a clear look at it, her face changed dramatically. She stumbled back a step.

Elodie Thorne glanced at the painting and froze in shock.

Because―

The painting Patricia had brought out was the missing bottom half of Winifred Thorne's diptych, "Extinction," the one created for the School of Art at Fairview University.

years, aside from the top half-"Dwelling”—which Jarrod Silverstein had famously purchased for millions abroad, there had been not a single trace of the bottom

suddenly gotten her

"Dwelling" was ever delivered "Extinction" vanished without a trace. Later, Winifred had to create another series in a similar style for her graduation project. It was right then that the scandal broke: Selma accused Winifred

Winifred's name was dragged through the

she died. She'd worried about that maligned

feet, her expression changing

Selma's mind was reeling.

bought after returning home, planning to deal with it later-or perhaps just leave it to gather dust forever, hidden away, while her own work

of the

Patricia have possibly

you going

work or

icy, her lips twisted in a

exactly,

cracking, but she managed

never gotten the chance to sign "Extinction" before she died. Who

She stepped forward, her face cold, her voice steady as she stared Selma down. "This is my mother Winifred's original work, created for the

The room erupted.

wasn't just a show for