Divorced, But Queen - Chapter 234: Chapter 234

Down in the audience, Aria's lips curled in the faintest smile.
Collin's face drained of color. He looked to Hannah, incredulous. 'Didn't she say Mono agreed to take me?'
In the audience, Hannah's grip tightened on her painting, frustration twisting her features. "What is Mono doing? Collin is so gifted—how could he refuse?"
Liam shot her an odd look. "It's normal for Mono to refuse. Just because someone's talented doesn't mean Mono should take them all."
So Collin had turned down Johan for Mono—and now was being turned away.
Smirking glances from the crowd burned at Collin's pride, his face turning crimson. "Mono, didn't... didn't you say you'd accept me as a student?"
"If Hannah hadn't told me you would, I never would've turned down Johan," Collin insisted.
Mono frowned. "I'm seeing you for the first time today. When did I ever promise to take you?"
Johan interjected, "Hannah came to the Fine Art Society and told me that if Collin asked you in public, you'd agree to take him."
"Nonsense!" Mono's temper snapped. "When did I ever say that? Where is Hannah? Tell her to come out here right now!"
Collin finally understood. He'd been duped by Hannah. Mono had never agreed.
He'd rejected Johan for nothing.
His cheeks burned with shame as he stared daggers at Hannah. "Hannah, what the hell is going on?"
Everyone followed his gaze—there she was, clutching her painting.
Mono met his own apprentice's eyes and looked away with a cold snort.
Aria thought, 'Impossible to please. Not without sympathy.'
Mono's gaze sharpened on Hannah. "So it was you telling everyone I'd accept Collin?"
Hannah hadn't expected things to spiral like this. Her face flushed, but she straightened. "Collin, I knew how much you admired Mono. I just wanted to give you the courage to ask—I never said Mono had agreed to anything."
Her words said one thing, but her intent had been clear: push Collin to ask and hope Mono would relent. "I figured Johan would pressure you in public, so you'd have no choice but to agree..."
Mono looked sideways at Johan. "Was that your plan?"
"Utter nonsense!" Johan barked, his face dark with anger. "He's not nearly good enough for me to coerce him into apprenticeship."
Collin couldn't believe what he was hearing.
Hannah had said things that outrageous.
He turned to Johan, desperate. "Johan, I've always been grateful for your guidance. I never said anything like that."
Johan waved a dismissive hand. "No point dwelling. Seems we're not meant to be master and student."
No Mono. No Johan. All because of this mess. Collin's heart was in his throat, but he could only swallow the pain. "Sorry, Mono. I'm just not worthy."
Contestants were called offstage. Collin, seething, stormed to the backstage area. Katrina skipped off to find Johan, only to be waved off by him.
"See me in the judges' lounge later."
"Okay!" she chirped, floating away.
Aria stood, ready to follow the crowd when she heard Liam call, "Aria, your paintings."
She turned, about to collect them, as Liam approached with Hannah right behind him, still clutching her painting.
But disaster struck in an instant.
Someone bumped into Hannah. She stumbled, tripped over a chair, and fell forward.
The painting slammed into the edge of a chair, the sharp sound of glass breaking ringing out.
Hannah shrieked, eyes wide with horror as she tore back the canvas covering, only to find a jagged crack slashing right across the prized painting.