Aiden Knight's POV
The tension in Virtuous Benevolence Hall thickens like fog. Every patron holds their breath, waiting for my next words. Jasper Finch grips the golden railing so hard his knuckles have turned white.
"You want proof?" I repeat, my voice cutting through the silence.
Scarlett steps forward, her designer heels clicking against the marble floor. "Yes, I want proof. You can't just walk in here and destroy my grandfather's reputation with wild accusations."
Her voice trembles with barely contained fury. The crowd around us presses closer, forming a tight circle. Someone's phone camera flashes.
"Very well."
I approach the painting with deliberate steps. The ornate frame gleams under the hall's expensive lighting, but my focus remains on the canvas itself.
"First, observe the cracking pattern in the upper right corner."
