Chapter 61

Had Leyla discovered earlier that Davin was a man who carried both unshakable principles and a generous heart, she would have approached him long ago to earn his goodwill. If she had managed that,becoming his student might have happened much sooner.

With that title, the Clarkes could have seen her as a worthy match and perhaps welcomed her into their fold without hesitation. Still, she knew it wasn't too late to change her path now.

"Absolutely, I'd be honored! I only worry that my skills might fall short and end up tarnishing your name," said ,Leyla, her heart alight with excitement even as she kept her tone humble and her expression modest.

With a faint smile, Davin gave her shoulder a reassuring pat. "There's no need to downplay yourself.I know how to recognize talent when I see it." Her work already carried a distinct signature, though it still bore the traces of youthful inexperience. With the right guidance, he figured, she had the potential to become renowned all over the world.

"Thank you so much!" Leyla replied without hesitation.

At that same time, Elíana reached the entrance of the exhibition hall. She'd tapped out a quick message to Tristan,then lifted her eyes to take in the sweeping architecture.

What most people didn't realize was that this masterpiece had been her creation, completed when she was just eighteen.

Now, seeing it rise before her in all its glory stirred a deep swell of emotion within her.

Her quiet moment was broken when a voice called out-someone who had attended her welcome banquet just days earlier.

"Isn't that Ms. Murray? She got invited as well?"

The comment sparked curiosity among those nearby,and heads turned toward where the speaker was looking.

At the far edge of the red carpet stood a young woman radiating a poised elegance.

Instead of a gown like the other women wore,she was dressed in a crisp white suit tailored to perfection.

Beneath the jacket was a silky white blouse, its collar slightly open to reveal a graceful collarbone adorned with a diamond pendant that caught the light with every movement. Straight white trousers flowed seamlessly down her long legs, enhancing her striking height.

When the breeze swept past, the hem of her jacket swayed, as though even the wind acknowledged her quiet authority.

She carried herself with effortless authority, the kind that made her seem like the one running the entire event.

One sweeping glance from her was enough to draw collective awe, especially from those wvho had previously dismissed her in favor of Leyla's so-called brilliance.

"Wasn't she supposed to have grown up in a poor family? How can she carry herself like that?"

"She's far prettier than Leyla. "

Not everyone was willing to join in the admiration.One voice cut through with a sneer. "Oh, please. It's just the outfit. Dress any woman well enough and she'll look the part. For all we know, she's hiding a terrible figure under that suit. Her family's broke, but they must have scraped together enough to hire a whole team of stylists to make sure she passes for refined."

The speaker's original plan had been to tear down Eliana's appearance by claiming her beauty was all makeup.

Yet the sunlight betrayed the truth-her skin was flawless, untouched by even the faintest trace of cosmetics. Unable to fault her appearance, the woman who had mocked Eliana earlier latched onto something else."So she's pretty, big deal. Leyla's got Davin Gordon himself greeting her, while Eliana's standing here like the rest of us, waiting for a ticket check."

Until then, Eliana had been absorbed in admiring the building she had brought to life on paper years ago,only now noticing the quiet murmurs around her.

Though the words were hushed, one name reached her ears-Davin Gordon.

Were they talking about that stubborn old man who had insisted she should take him on as a student? So he was here today.

Of course he'd be here; he never missed an art exhibition. Actually, the timing worked in her favor.'Lately, his work had shown a clear decline in finesse,and she wasn't about to let that association dull her own name. This might be her chance to remind him,tactfully or not, to sharpen his skills where they'd begun to slip.

A sudden stir ran through the entrance as a.group stepped into view.

All eyes shifted toward the newcomers without a second thought. At the center of the entourage strode an impossibly handsome man, flanked on all sides by bodyguards.

It was as if he carried his own glow, each step drawing quiet awe, and the girls near the doors could only gasp.

"Oh my God!"

"That's got to be Mr. Pearson. I heard he was attractive, but seeing him up close... it's almost unreal.I'd call this trip worth it already."

"Wait, that's really Mr. Pearson? He looks like he walked straight out of a movie."

"I've heard his brother, Jermaine Pearson, is more handsome than most celebrities. But now that Tristan Pearson's here, I can't even remember what Jermaine looks like."

"Keep your voice down. It's not wise to talk too freely about the Pearsons."

That single reminder smothered the murmurs in an instant.

Still, the question lingered-what was Tristan doing here now? Was he waiting to receive someone important? Who could warrant Tristan Pearson's personal welcome? Could it be Elbert Pearson himself?But if the rumors were true,Elbert was still confined to bed and couldn't possibly appear in public.

Speculation only deepened with every passing second.

From her spot near the entrance, Eliana finally caught sight of him after several long minutes.

Her brows knit together, and she shifted forward, but the press of bodies around her kept her from moving any closer.

People surged forward,each trying to get as close to Tristan as possible, desperate to grab this rare moment.

The guests might have been dripping with wealth or power, but at an event hosted by the Pearson family,status melted away-no one wanted to squander a chance to stand in Tristan's shadow.

'Blocked from advancing, Eliana was just about to call and ask him to send someone to escort her in through a quieter entrance-when she caught sight of him moving directly toward her with his entourage in tow.

Tristan had already seen her.

In an instant, his bodyguards moved into action,parting the crowd with swift, decisive gestures.

Within moments, the space ahead of her was clear. Tristan stopped right in front of Eliana, disregarding the curious stares around them, and said, "Did I keep you waiting? I ran into someone unpleasant and missed your message.Took me a couple of minutes to get here."

The moment his voice carried over the crowd, the buzzing chatter died.

Eyes widened across the crowd as realization sank in -the person he had come to greet was Eliana!

Some blinked hard, even rubbed their eyes,convinced they were mistaken.

And yet the truth was undeniable. Tristan, whose expression was usually cool and unreadable, was looking at her with unmistakable warmth and a smile that broke his usual composure.

Since when had he ever smiled like that? The answer was never.

"It's fine, I only just got here. We should get going."Eliana had already felt the weight of people's eyes before he appeared.

Once he showed up, it was as though every eye in the place had latched onto her.

She had no interest in being paraded like some curiosity, so she kept it brief and started walking inside.

To the onlookers, it appeared as though she remained completely unaffected by Tristan's presence.