?Chapter 797:

    But Maia acted as though Raegan didn’t exist, refusing her the dignity of acknowledgment.

    With deliberate calm, she turned her gaze to Mariana instead. Her voice carried a casual ease.

    “My terms are straightforward. If you take first ce, I’ll walk away from the art world for good. But if the tables turn and you lose, you’ll have to do the same — disappear from painting forever.”

    A subtle, knowing smile yed at the corners of her mouth.

    “So, Mariana, do you have the nerve to ept?”

    The words seemed to freeze the room. An unnatural stillness swept through the crowd, gripping everyone in ce.

    Spectators stared at Maia in stunned awe, rattled by the sheer boldness of her proposal.

    Nobody in their wildest dreams had expected her to stake everything on the line like this.

    Then, as if on cue, a collective gasp broke the silence, followed by a wave of murmurs.

    “Unbelievable… This isn’t just an art duel. They’re gambling with their entire lives.”

    “She must be out of her mind. Who would risk their future on a contest?”

    “For someone who breathes art, leaving the painting world is the same as being erased.”

    A sharp twitch flickered in Raegan’s eye as realization struck, her mouth twisting with icy amusement.

    “Maia Watson, you must be insane — or you’re ying at something else entirely…”

    Her words slowed, deliberate, dripping with scorn.

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    “You’re only making this outrageous bet to rattle Mariana. Clearly, you don’t have the guts for a realpetition, isn’t that right?”

    That usation sparked another ripple through the crowd.

    “She’s bluffing!” someone shouted.

    “That’s right! Who would really risk everything on a whim like that?”

    “She’s obviously bluffing, just hoping Mariana loses her nerve so she can wriggle out.”

    “Fear, in and simple — she’s scared of losing.”

    Suddenly, the mood in the room shifted, whispers swirling against Maia.

    Kiley, meanwhile, felt a chill creep over her, unsettled by the sudden turn. Her re grew colder, her brows tightening with concern.

    It was bing obvious — Maia wasn’t to be underestimated. From the very beginning, her sights had been set on undermining Cooper Group.

    Kiley realized Maia was a threat, one that needed to be eliminated as soon as possible.

    She longed for a quiet moment with Mariana, hoping to gauge how confident her sister truly felt about winning.

    But before Kiley could intervene, Mariana let out a dismissiveugh.

    “Do you think I’m easily spooked? Quit posturing, Maia!”

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