The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 612

The painting, titled "Midnight," was the only one among all his works to feature a human figure.

No one knew if the subject in this piece held some secret significance for Summer. Or perhaps, the woman in the painting was the artist's first love—a love lost and never found?

On stage, the auctioneer spun wild tales about the inspiration behind the artwork, speculating freely about Summer’s creative process.

Seated in the audience, Abby couldn’t help but chuckle. “These people really do have a knack for making up stories. Now it’s about a secret first love? If they ever quit their day jobs, they’d make a killing in screenwriting.”

Neville grinned. “A little drama helps drive up the price. That’s how you get a bidding war.”

Abby shook her head. “They don’t even know if the artist is a man or a woman, and they’re already inventing tragic romances. I can’t.”

Meanwhile, Joshua, who’d been quietly studying the painting, suddenly spoke up. “Is it possible that the woman in the painting… is Ms. Cameron herself?”

Abby turned, looking at him with a glimmer of admiration. “Joshua, sharp eyes! How did you figure that out?”

He smiled modestly. “I’ve seen Ms. Cameron play the violin from behind so many times. The way the woman stands in the painting, the posture, even the fall of her hair—it’s just like her.”

The painting projected above the stage showed a woman in a flowing white dress, violin cradled under her chin, standing with her back to the viewer beneath the midnight sky. She was alone in the garden, bathed in moonlight so pale it seemed to dust her hair and shoulders in silver, casting a faint glow across the grass.

The garden itself was tranquil, with a gazebo standing quietly in the distance. A gentle breeze lifted her long hair and tugged at the hem of her dress, setting both adrift in the night air.

It was a beautiful, evocative scene—poetic in its silence. Even without seeing her face, the woman’s silhouette inspired endless curiosity, making you long to know the story behind her.

Candida leaned in, studying the painting closely. “Is that really Star on the canvas?”

Antoney Watson and Abby—who had known Stella since childhood—exchanged a knowing look. Of course, they recognized her.

Candida hadn’t known Stella long, so it was no wonder she hadn’t made the connection. But Joshua…

Abby couldn’t help glancing at him in surprise. How had he recognized Stella so quickly?