"Doesn't it look so real?" Xu Jia Li spoke with feathery soft voice, masking her real feelings. She smiled her sweetest while holding the glass of wine in her hand. She looked at the man she so much despised with eyes cold as the Antarctic, her lips curved upright hiding her abhorrence towards him.
'Zhou Jiayin, how I waited for this moment to happen! You and the rest of your family will suffer. Mom's death will not be for naught!'
As if it was only a fleeting moment, she bowed her head a little before she returned her gaze as she looked at him calmly, not showing any sign of the hatred in her eyes. "The eyes look like they're looking at the deepest part of your soul."
Zhou Jiayin moved his head towards Xu Jia Li's way, he only nodded before he returned his eyes on the painting. "Yes, indeed. It looks so real." He answered as his lips started to twitch. He was too engrossed in it that he didn't even pay attention to Xu Jia Li.
He straightened his back and let out a sigh. His hands were fisted, showing knuckles so white. He dug his fingers on his palm causing the veins in his hands to swell.
Xu Jia Li saw all that. She saw how his eyes were full of hatred, shock and disbelief as they were focused on the painting. She observed all of his reactions, not leaving any single one to be missed. She absorbed all of it, reminding herself that this man had something to do with her mother's death.
'You are the most nefarious man I've known, Zhou Jiayin! And I hate that your blood runs inside me. That same blood that killed my mother.' She scoffed inside, the hate she felt for him knows no bound as she started to formulate in her head the things that she needed to do.
"Whoever painted this might have a very sad life. Those eyes speak for themselves. Letting everyone see the intensity of the pain and sadness in her eyes." Xu Jia Li exclaimed, pretending to analyze the painting even more.
"Do you know who painted this?"
"I'm sorry but I don't. I'm just really awestruck with the beauty of the subject."
"The beauty..."
Xu Jia Li heard the ridicule on his voice upon hearing her. She sneered inside as she continued, "Maybe the subject suffered a lot. She might have been rejected as the pain was clearly written on her face."
Zhou Jiayin didn't reply as he stared blankly at the painting.
Xu Jia Li saw how Zhou Jiayin's eyes bulge as he scrutinized the painting even more. He looked like he was looking for the name of the painter. He looked closely. When he saw the initials written at the bottom part, he started to tremble.
"Are you alright, sir?" Xu Jia Li asked with feigned concern as she moved closer to him. She noticed how Zhou Jiayin's body quivered. She touched his hand as she tapped it before she repeated her question, "Are you alright? Do you need anything?"