Episode 4

******Later that night*****

Through windows, the villa welcomed the passage of the night, the dining room was alive with the vibrant hues of the chandeliers. The room was spirited with laughter as she walked down the staircase.

The dining room carried a happy vibe interwoven with the aroma of the meal together. Adeline did not know why, for some reason, she always comes last to the dining.

When she got to her seat, she saw him. Her eyes widened swiftly in the realization, She was already suspicious, and now seeing him seated on the table, made her confirm that wild guess. He must be Mr. Williams Luther.

Mr. Luther who was talking with the man turned to introduce Adeline to the new person in the room. "Oh, Adeline there you are. Meet my younger brother, Williams. Wils, This is Grace's niece."

During the introduction, She could feel his gaze on her body as he sat there with an indifferent expression.

"Hello, Mr. Williams. Nice to meet you." She proclaimed to which he just nods at her, and continues his conversations with Mr. Luther.

_What an a**hole_

Adeline glared with a scowl on her face, her fork stabbed into the steaks as though it was a certain person. She was busy cutting steaks that she failed to notice the mischievous smile on Madeline's face. Not until everyone's attention was on her that she grasp what Madeline said.

She saw the displeased look in his eyes and wanted to irritate him, so she decided to go along with it and call him like her step-siblings.

"Uncle Willy."

The current her looked innocent except for the small curve on her lips as looked at him and smirked. She did not notice the strange looks on the faces of the people present, as Williams hated to be called by that and only the naughty Madeline call him that name.

There was an indescribable look in his eyes that she could not understand. Williams gazed calmly at her before turning his attention away.

Madeline glared at her and snickered. Did she think she is qualified to call Uncle Williams, just like her? Surely she will be in trouble, first of all, she entered his room without permission and now she called him the name he hated.

she could not wait to see drama. Oh, how interesting that will be.

&&&&&&

"Class, we will be having our Class outside today." The homeroom teacher announced to the students of Class B.

The students surge into a discussion as they walked to the designated place outside the classroom. The space was divided into sections, in each stood a painting board, and by the side were brushes and paint.

"Alright, everyone, take your position just like your sitting arrangement in Class.

The teacher nodded at the students and continued, "Today, we will be painting the Gift of nature. I want to see what you can create with your imagination." He instructed and stood straight to look at the students. He further looked at them, before dropping the announcement.

"The most outstanding painting will stand a chance to participate in the auction for the school's fundraiser. And also, have a chance of competing in the National Artist Talent show."

An uproar occurred in the crowd, as the students rippled with excitement.

"Oh, my Gosh! Can you imagine?"

"The National Artist Talent Show is one of the most popular shows in the country, imagine if I could get there and win. That would be a straight entry into the most prominent Arts University of U.S."

The students could not contain their excitement as they walked to their positions.

It was already break-time, as some students rounded up their work.

"Maddy, your piano skills are amazing." A slender-looking beauty with curved eyes and full Lips exclaimed with a cheerful grin on her face.

"I am still learning though, my mentor said, I could probably enter the top ten in the National Artists Talent show," Madeline mumbled with a false sense of modesty. She seemed humble as her lips slanted into a soft smile.

"Hmmph.. some people do not know what is good for themselves, Comparing you to that cousin of yours."

The news has been on the forum lately, mostly the male students seem to compare Adeline to Madeline in terms of beauty. As the former had taken over the position of the school belle. Some were waiting for her to make a fool of herself. What was beauty without a brain?

"Cherry Creek, will you stop listening to rumors besides my cousin is not that bad," Madeline said, calmly but the annoyed look in her eyes did not escape Cherry.

"Whatever, I heard that Class 3a will be participating in the fundraiser event and stand a chance to compete in the National Artists Talent Show. let's go and see what your cousin is capable of painting."

"Cherry wait..."

Cherry did not give her a chance to refuse and directly dragged her away, "come on, let's go."

♦♥♥♥♥♦

"jiss... What is she painting?!"

"Hahaha..... Oh, my Goodness! What am I seeing? did she just paint a naked man's body?"

The students who were comparing their works gasped when they glanced over at Adeline's painting. How can this be any outstanding than what they had drawn, they thought with mocking smiles on their faces.

Caleb shook his head at his seatmate and could not help asking, "Adeline. Don't you think perhaps, you should paint something else?" His expression was funny, and he was trying not to laugh. What was this girl thinking, she was so engrossed that she drew something so 'unique.'

_This seatmate of mine is interesting._

Adeline was quite embarrassed, her chocolate skin flushed red as the area on her cheeks turned a little bit darker than usual. She stuttered embarrassingly, "Oh, no. no. Not exactly, I haven't finished it yet."

If her friends were here and seen this painting, they would have been shocked. Adeline they knew did not make this kind of mistake on her paintings.

_Ah! Adel why did you paint this.. ahh! was her brain fried She could not think of anything else than that. How can I possibly paint that guy? She was still in a daze, as those abs, we're constantly in her mind. she had subconsciously painted Mr. Williams, that... that jerk. He refused to acknowledge her after getting a feel of her butt._

Caleb glanced at Adeline and chuckles when she raised her hand to scratch her head, she looked so comical.

"Alright, I'll just finish this," Adeline muttered and walked away with the painting to a corner.

"Damn... did you, see that? She just made a fool of herself. Hahaha... I can't stop laughing. Maddy your cousin sure has a unique taste." Cherry, bent over and started laughing.

Madeline was silent but was in fact, inwardly happy to see Adeline embarrass herself.

_let's see who will compare me with that bumbkin, after this."_

°°

"Wills, please let me explain. Please, give me a chance..." A crying voice from a woman was heard from the phone. It sounded anxious as the woman pleaded.

The hand holding the phone, tightened his grip on it, as veins popped around his knuckles as they turned white. His eyes were set ablaze with the anger in his heart.

"Don't you dare call this number again. I won't be polite next time. We are just strangers, let it remain that way." Williams spat out the words with a cold face, before deleting the number.

*knock*knock*

Adeline stood outside for a while, before raising her hand to knock, on the door, when it suddenly opened revealing the devilishly handsome man.

She had arrived pretty early today at the dining table, as she was almost the last person to arrive, she was told to call Mr. Williams down for dinner.

"Uncle Willy, Dinner is ready, you are asked to come down," Adeline murmured, distracted as she gaze at him. He was Moody for some reason.

Ever since that night, the atmosphere between them had gotten a little ambiguous and Adeline was so sure she was attracted to the man before her.

He pulled her into the room and onto the wall next to the door, Williams brought his face dangerously close to her as he nuzzled her chin. He leaned over and whispered hoarsely, "I know what you're doing, but you shouldn't play with fire or you'll get yourself burnt."

Adeline's eyes were closed and her breathing was a little bit unstable when he suddenly pushed her away. She felt ashamed for no reason, why did she close her eyes, was she expecting a kiss? She calmed herself and followed behind him.

"Mom, my mentor thinks I can enter the top 10 in the competition."

"Oh? that's great, you must work hard for it, Madeline." Grace Luther spoke with a doting smile.

"I think cousin wanted to join the competition, unfortunately only the person with an exceptional work can be chance to participate in the competition," Madeline revealed as she sends a smile to Adeline.

_This girl..._

"Oh, did something happen?" Mr. Luther answered quizzically.

"Yes, Dad. Do you know what she painted? She made a painting of a naked man!" Madeline smirked as she revealed this.

*Cough*cough*cough*

"Cousin are you alright? You can't be choking because I told mom and dad right?"

_This brat..._

Adeline glared at her as she smiled innocently. When she felt her mother's stern glance, she faked a laugh. "Aunty, it's not like that, I did not paint a naked man. When the assessment is out, I'll Bring it for you to see."

There was an awkward pause. "Then, I want to see this painting," Williams said with a smirk.

Adeline shot him a glare, 'you are doing it on purpose...'

"Yes, yes," Adeline replied obediently.

Rex Luther raised his brows and peek at his brother. He felt suspicious for some reason, "Okay, we will wait for you to surprise us then." He said disabling the awkward atmosphere.

"Yes, Uncle."