The atmosphere turned cold. Anxiety took over the entire hall, both daughters stood staring at their mother, unable to comprehend what was going on.

“Madam. Why did you…?” Mrs Donalda protested.

“How dare you swindle me?”she asked with rage, completely furious.

Reporters ran there with their cameras.

“Thought you could get away with it?” The lady went on, full of spite and anger.

Anna got up in shock, while samehwk still sat close to her.

The lady and the man climbed on the stage and brought done the painting. The man started dissecting it.

Mrs Donalds still held her cheek in astonishment while the dark glasses man stood behind her, holding her from falling from shock.

“Do you see this?” The lady pointed at the dark circles at the back of the painting.

“It’s a 40 years old painting. How can the colors on big orb sides be the same when part of it was covered by wood? Shouldn’t the exposed pat be darker?” She roared.

“They made the piece look aged by using coffee colored paint and putting a cloth over it. This was also noticed in the Sun James piece you bough previously. There was even a piece with the same number that was found at a foreign art collector’s” the man with her explained.

“So you mean, these two pieces at the very least, are fakes?” The lady asked the man.

“They are fake” the red dressed lady sitting in the audience also, exclaimed.

“What??!” The white dressed also followed.

Tension rose in the air, whispers followed.

“Thats not true. The process I gave to you are authentic Sun James works” Mrs Donalds refuted.

“You know it too. No one can replicate his work” Mrs Donalds argued bitterly.

Anna started walking towards her.

“Why not? You have someone who can replicate anything “ the lady said and pointed do Anna who was almost close to them.

All eyes turned to Anna immediately

“There must be a misunderstanding, madam! Please, don’t do this. Let’s…” Mrs Donalds pleaded.

“Then, you shirks expise everything. Please search through Leila’s art transactions and the collections that the gallery holds. Your list of transactions should be investigated. Let’s see if they are authentic of fake pieces. Okay?” The lady insisted.

Just then, three cops walked in.

“Madam!” Mrs Donalds called as her legs gave way, but Mr Kim quickly held her before she could fall.

“The police will find out” Mrs Donalds whispered to him.

“What do I do?”she shuddered.

Her eyes suddenly glinted as he whispered something to her ears.

“What are you doing? You should round up these people!” The lady yelled in rage.

“Anna” Mrs Donalds called.

“Yes, mother” Anna responded and ran to her.

“You should stop this. Madam Leila was nor involved in this” Mr Kim tried to do the lazy while Anna already got to where her mother was.

“Stop lying. She’s the one who sold the paintings” the lady fired.

“Anna” Mrs Donalds called out of earshot.

Anita stood on the podium, loooking at them, confused at what was going on.

“Help me out” she said to her daughter.

“Yes, mother. What do I have to do?” Anna asked.

“Tell them you did this” she held Anna and said.

“What??” Anna’s expression fell.

“Ms Anna made the painting. She said that she could replicate Sun James style and offered to split the profits with me” as Mr Kim spoke, Anna’s eyes clouded with tears.

“After Ms Anna made the paintings, I masked its origins and showed it to madam Leila. The painting you bought previously was also done by Ms Anna”

“Mr Kim” Anna’s voice broke as she maids to go to him, but her mother held her.

“Anna, please” her mother begged.

“Is that real?” Someone asked from the audience.

Anita who has had enough walked out of the hall, while Samuel hurriedly went after her.

“We need to stop matters from blowing up for the company. You know how people live to gossip” Mrs Donalds explains to her daughter.

“Ms Anna. Is he telling the truth?” One of the cops asked.

“Mother!” Anna shuddered, scared.

“Just play along for now. You just need to stay sooner at the police station. I’ll get you an attorney immediately “ Mrs Donalds whispered.

Anna’s eyes bulged out in astonishment. She made to speak but no words came out.

Her hands and lips trembled.

“Did you do all this?” She asked her mother, tears clouding her vision.

“You mean you knew what was going on?”

“Does that matter right now?” Her mother cut her off.

“Mr Kim. Why did you…?” Anna shivered.

“I have evidence too” Mr Kim yelled.

“In Anna’s car, there will be a list of transactions in the paper company a count containing the funds” Mr Kim yelled aloud for everyone to hear.

“Besides Sun James work, there are river replicas in her studio” he announced.

Anna scoffed in disbelief. The world has come crashing at her feet.

Murmurs followed from the audience.

“She said it would be less suspicious if she painted them there” Mr Kim said.

Annnas heart pounded heavily in her chest as she remembered the brown envelope she had helped him bring from her mothers house. She has placed them at the back of her car.

She also remembered when her mother asked her if she was working on the replicas.

Everything finally made sense to her. She has been used and now, they were trying to use her to cover her. They wanted her to take the blame…alone.

“Ms Anna. Please come with us to the station. We’ll give you the details there” the cops told her.

“It’s my fault as a mother. I’m the one who didn’t raise her well. Please, arrest me instead, officer” Mrs Donalds said, faking her tears.

Anna’s eyes were filled with unshed tears.

She stood there pondering in that moment where she had done wrong. She had only done the things her Lorne has asked her to.

Why was she suddenly turned a criminal? Why did her life have to be destroyed just from obeying orders? Why did her life have to be destroyed just because she was trying to gain the favour and love of her mother by doing what she wanted?.

Was that such a bad thing?.

Why was the whole would against?.

Why??!.