My Amnesic Ex Married My Sister, So I Married His Uncle-Chapter 148: The Scam

Led by a secretary, Kiana Sterling entered the reception room on Ethan Rhodes’s arm.

Sean Shaw was sitting alone at the table, drinking tea.

There was no one else in the room; he had even brewed the tea himself.

The table faced the main door, but when Kiana Sterling and Ethan Rhodes came in, he acted as if he hadn’t noticed, continuing to sip his tea.

It wasn’t until the secretary announced, "President Shaw, Miss Sterling and her fiancé have arrived," that he moved.

Only then did Sean Shaw put down his teacup and glance up.

Unlike the man they’d seen on television or in magazines, this was their first time meeting Sean Shaw in person.

The middle-aged man was well-kept, dressed in a black Tang suit with a subtle pattern. Although his face held a smile, he exuded an imposing aura of authority.

Ethan Rhodes immediately felt the pressure.

He couldn’t tell if it was just his imagination, but he got the strange feeling that President Shaw was somewhat displeased.

Sean Shaw politely gestured to the seats opposite him. "Miss Sterling, Mr. Rhodes, please sit."

Kiana Sterling immediately smiled and said, "President Shaw, you’re too kind. I must thank you for giving me this opportunity. Oh, and this is Ethan, my fiancé. He’s always admired you greatly. When he heard you were coming today, he insisted on coming to meet you."

Kiana’s words brought Ethan Rhodes to his senses.

He followed her lead, adding a few words about his great admiration for Sean and his hope to one day learn from him.

Ethan Rhodes racked his brain for compliments, but Sean Shaw remained impassive the whole time, which made Ethan’s heart pound with anxiety.

Seeing Sean Shaw’s complete lack of enthusiasm, Kiana Sterling couldn’t figure out the source of his displeasure.

For a moment, both of them felt deeply uneasy.

Sean Shaw glanced at Kiana Sterling before speaking. "Miss Sterling, to be perfectly frank, an old man like me doesn’t quite understand this modern art stuff. But a younger member of my family is a fan and recommended your work, so I thought I’d buy it and join in on the excitement."

’He didn’t care how good Kiana Sterling’s painting was. What he cared about was that she was a daughter of Jandor’s Sterling Family.’

’While it was true that boy, Ryan Shaw, had recommended it, he later took the Everlake Resort project into account and decided he didn’t mind using this opportunity.’

’Once you have money, its only purpose is to make you even more money.’

’He’d spent a fortune on a painting he didn’t understand to build Kiana Sterling’s reputation.’

’Then, he would use Kiana Sterling and this painting to build the reputation of Everlake Resort.’

’Business is business, after all. It’s all about profit.’

’So, it wasn’t that he valued Kiana Sterling all that much.’

’The fact that Kiana Sterling was using this opportunity to bring her fiancé to meet him was even more laughable.’

’At his level, what sort of ploy hadn’t he seen before?’

’If it had been the young head of the Rhodes Family who came today, he might have actually paid attention.’

’Then again, Owen Rhodes had gone and gotten married so quietly, and to that girl of all people...’

Sean Shaw felt a headache coming on and couldn’t help but frown.

Unaware of his inner thoughts, Kiana Sterling and Ethan Rhodes watched him, their hearts pounding in fear.

However, Sean Shaw quickly composed himself and said to them, "The luncheon is about to begin. Please, make your way to the hall."

And just like that, the two of them were escorted out of the reception room.

Ethan Rhodes had been receiving the cold shoulder from everyone lately, so he was already in a bad mood.

He had hoped to gain something for himself through Sean Shaw, but the man’s disdain was even more blatant.

Ethan Rhodes’s mood was abysmal.

But the guests at today’s luncheon were all from the top families of Jandor’s social pyramid, so there was no way he could just leave.

Despite his displeasure, he went to the banquet hall with Kiana Sterling.

Evan Rhodes wasn’t here today, and Owen Rhodes hadn’t arrived yet either.

He was the only one from the younger generation of the Rhodes Family present, so Ethan Rhodes naturally became the object of everyone’s flattery.

Those insincere compliments still made him feel a lot better.

In a corner, Faye Rhodes was eating while mentally complaining about the glamorous Kiana Sterling.

’I don’t know how she has the nerve to stand there.’ 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

’Just wait. Once Zion Shawcross’s album is released, we’ll see how arrogant she can be!’

Zion Shawcross didn’t know what she was angry about. Looking at her puffed-out cheeks, he couldn’t tell if it was from anger or from stuffing too much food in her mouth.

Zion Shawcross reminded her, "Slow down. No one’s going to fight you for it."

Faye Rhodes shot him an annoyed look. "Weren’t you leaving? Why are you still here?"

To be honest, Faye Rhodes didn’t even know why Zion Shawcross was here today.

Zion Shawcross poured her a glass of water. "Since I’m already here, I might as well stay for lunch."

"You got an invitation?"

Faye Rhodes didn’t think someone of Zion Shawcross’s status would receive an invitation from the Shaw Family.

But she wasn’t that curious about him; she was just making small talk.

"Someone got me in. Faye, are you staying for the unveiling ceremony?"

"No," Faye said instantly.

Just thinking about Kiana Sterling’s smug face made her feel sick.

She always felt there was something wrong with Kiana’s painting, *Sea Mist*, but unfortunately, she had no proof.

But Zion Shawcross said, "You should watch. There’s going to be a show."

"What kind of show?"

Zion Shawcross refused to elaborate. "I guarantee you won’t be disappointed."

Faye Rhodes gave him a suspicious glance, wondering what he had up his sleeve.

Halfway through the luncheon, the banquet hall suddenly grew lively.

She glanced over from a distance and saw that Owen Rhodes had arrived.

Not only had Owen Rhodes arrived, but he had come with Stella Sterling.

Most of the people present had attended Ethan Rhodes’s engagement party. Seeing Owen Rhodes and Stella Sterling appear together, everyone was instantly reminded of the farce at that event.

But, thinking back to that scene, and now seeing the two of them appear together...

Looks of amused interest spread across everyone’s faces.

Perhaps having heard that Owen Rhodes had arrived, Sean Shaw also appeared in the banquet hall not long after.

The entire banquet hall instantly became even more abuzz.

Sean Shaw made his way through the crowd, greeting members of the major families one by one, finally stopping in front of Owen Rhodes.

He glanced at Owen Rhodes, then at Stella Sterling, before shaking Owen’s hand and starting a conversation.

「At 1:30 PM, the opening ceremony for Everlake Resort’s soft launch officially began.」

After Sean Shaw went on stage to give a speech, it was time for the highly anticipated unveiling ceremony.

Kiana Sterling’s painting was hung in the most prominent spot in the resort’s lobby. It was currently covered by a red velvet cloth, waiting for Kiana and Sean Shaw to unveil it.

At the host’s signal, the two of them each pulled a long rope. The curtain slowly fell, and *Sea Mist* was finally revealed to the crowd.

Thunderous applause erupted in the lobby, and Kiana Sterling stood at the front of the stage, basking in it all.

Her gaze found Stella Sterling in the crowd. She stared at her, and the smile on her lips grew even brighter.

It was at this moment that the scene descended into chaos.

A faint buzzing sound suddenly came from the painting on the wall.

Someone cried out in alarm, and everyone’s eyes shot toward the painting.

Inside the frame, the priceless painting began to slowly descend.

It was as if the bottom of the frame contained a shredder. Before everyone’s eyes, the canvas was sliced into strips that fell onto the marble floor.

In the blank frame, only a line of English written in red paint remained: [SHE IS A LIAR.]