Chapter 248
“What do you mean?”
“If he stayed silent, the police would find Macy anyway, but now there’s no justification. People speculate the two met and the Duke confessed to clearing Macy’s name by claiming he set the fire.”
“Hmm, plausible speculation…”
It was obvious the family’s reputation would suffer from the Duke confessing to setting a wildfire a year later.
But Duke Krygen had already stopped caring about his reputation to find Macy, so he probably didn’t think much of it.
“So does that mean Macy really was found? Then what happens to me?”
Suddenly, Yannick felt anxious.
What if Macy showed up in Laden again and resumed painting?
What if she painted noble portraits in the same style?
What would happen to him then?
Yannick paused, then laughed out loud.
“But what if she does show up? Even if she paints again, people’ll just call her a copycat. I’m clean now!”
Yannick now had proof to clear his name about having a proxy painter.
“Exactly! Nobody can bring us down now!”
Catherine hugged Yannick proudly, chuckling.
“Weren’t you the one shouting you wouldn’t marry an incompetent man?”
“Ah, I just said that in frustration!”
“Seriously. So where’s the envelope with the painting money?”
“Here it is.”
Catherine handed a thick envelope to Yannick.
“Take this and show off your skills again after a long time.”
“Yes!”
Yannick took some cash from the envelope and gave it to Catherine. Then he strode happily to the second floor.
“Varmon!”
When he opened the door to Macy’s old studio, a stranger stood before the easel.
The man had light brown hair tied back in a ponytail and wore silver-rimmed glasses.
“Rude. Didn’t I tell you to knock before entering?”
The man frowned and, as if losing focus, set the palette down on the table.
Varmon was a painter Yannick had recently met in a tavern. He approached Yannick and said,
“I will help you reclaim your name.”
“What nonsense?”
At first, Yannick ignored him, thinking he was just another scammer, but when he saw Varmon’s paintings, his attitude changed immediately.
“Amazing! How can you paint exactly the same?”
“I told you so.”
Varmon could perfectly imitate Macy’s style.
It turned out he was infamous in the back alleys for flawlessly copying paintings.
Yannick brought him home and made him paint instead of Macy. People believed Yannick had overcome his slump because of Varmon’s work.
‘Obelt’s art world is full of complete fools.”’
Yannick thought bitterly. He pulled some bills from the envelope and handed them to Varmon.
“Ha! Sorry! I’ll keep that in mind next time. Here’s your pay for today’s paintings.”
“Hmm.”
Varmon took his share of the money but stared longingly at the rest of the envelope in Yannick’s hand — which looked much thicker.
“What, what are you doing?!”
In a flash, Varmon swapped envelopes with Yannick.
“On second thought, this isn’t profitable. You only lend your name, you do nothing.”
“You’re nothing without that name!”
“So, how about I reveal it all now? Your sister acted as the proxy painter, and I’m painting in your place.”
“Ack! Fine! Just this once!”
“Hmph.”
Varmon snorted and pocketed the envelope. Yannick could only sigh and leave the room.
‘Next time, I won’t split the money in front of that guy! Who knows how much he’s making off me!’
It was all because of Yannick’s name value. Trying to take more money than Yannick just because he could imitate paintings.
From the start, the guy was nothing but a scammer.
“Honey!”
“What?”
“Come here!”
Yannick stomped down the stairs, and Catherine called him out, fussing.
“This is why you shouldn’t get involved with street people. Pfft!”
“Look at this!”
Catherine ran over, clutching a brown envelope.
“What is it?”
Yannick frowned and opened it.
“What’s this…?”
It was a summons to the police, telling Yannick that a complaint had been filed against him and he must come for investigation.
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