Chapter 202

• Trevor Young’s voice wavered, a tightness clenching in his chest. Despite his personal collection featuring two original pieces by Kyle Spencer, this torn artwork before him was different it was breathtaking. This wasn’t just a valuable asset; it was a masterwork. And now… it was ruined.
• The damage to the piece was more than physical it was a blow to the integrity of art, to Kyle’s reputation, and to Trevor’s own judgment. His fingers trembled slightly as he motioned for an aide to hold the opposite edge. Carefully, he aligned the torn halves on a velvet display board. Even fragmented, the painting commanded attention its orchid in full bloom, painted in dynamic strokes so vivid it looked alive.
• This was a level of work that eclipsed the two in his own estate, and he knew why. The inspiration, the brushwork this had been created on-site at Meadow Ridge, the private eco-estate that had inspired Kyle’s best pieces. Not some studio commission. That made it priceless.