Chapter 453
The large screen behind Madelyn displayed the painting created by her. It was spectacular. It was not
just about the colors but also the painting skills. It would usually require at least three to four decades
of experience to achieve this skill level.
Madelyn took a moment to catch her breath. It was hard for her to ignore the gazes of the two people
sitting in the main seats. This was her first time seeing Donna. She thought Donna appeared very
compatible with Ethan. She found them to be a perfect match.
After going through so much, Madelyn would no longer panic. When she saw Ethan, she was more
composed than she imagined.
After she glanced at him, she removed the hood of her coat and said, "I'm sorry for being late. There
was traffic on the way here."
Most of the people there were astonished when they saw Madelyn.
Initially, they were astonished because, despite her young age, her painting skills reached the level of a
prestigious art college. Every year, millions of students applied for the art college through exams. But
only a few hundred students would be accepted. And the judges, this time, were professors from the
prestigious art college.
And now, the audience was stunned by Madelyn's beauty. She was dressed minimally but looked so
gorgeous that everyone could remember it for a lifetime with just a glance.
The best-selling magazine back then only showed Madelyn's vague side face. When the audience saw
Madelyn in person, they thought she was even more beautiful and particularly charming.
A man with white hair in his sixties or seventies in the audience lowered his head to put on his glasses
before picking up the microphone, "Before presenting you with the award, may I ask where you drew
your inspiration for this painting?"
The host handed the microphone over to Madelyn. It was her first time taking the floor. She seemed a
little nervous and did not know how to begin.
She seemed to calm down when everyone quieted to listen to her speak. She said, "Actually, I painted
this piece with a 'give it a try' attitude. Because, at that time, it was the darkest and lowest point in my
life. I missed a very important competition which caused me to nearly... I felt helpless. I even thought of
dropping out of school. I just wanted to live aimlessly.
"Moreover, the theme of this competition was 'hope'. But at that time, I felt extremely hopeless.
"However, a friend of mine once told me that even if a person lives in darkness, they shouldn't fear the
sunlight. If the person is willing, that beam of light can be their redemption. There'll only be a chance for
miracles when grasping the light. The more impossible it seems..."
Forrest's voice appeared in Madelyn's mind, including all the words he had told her.
She continued, "The more you should turn it into a possibility! Hope can arise even in difficult
circumstances. Darkness and light can coexist.
"These words inspired me. No matter how hopeless and sad I felt at that time, at the lowest point of my
life, I wanted to paint a warm picture full of hope. That was what I wanted the most."
After Madelyn finished speaking, she received a round of applause.novelbin
When she received the applause and affirmation, she looked directly in front, not at anyone in
particular.
However, when she noticed the nameplate on the table, she was surprised to find that it was Leonardo
Monet, a national-level painting master. He was also a professor at Ventropolis College of Art.
Initially, Madelyn was not completely sure that it was him. She was only sure when she looked at his
name.
When the host announced the award, Ethan stepped forward and gave her a crystal trophy with a
SkyTech logo, which featured a cartoon character holding a paintbrush.
There was also an agreement to become a contract artist with SkyTech.
Madelyn was hesitating and mulling over whether to sign it. This was a job offer. She hesitated
because she would start working for someone even before she graduated.
"Congratulations." Ethan's low, deep voice could be heard above Madelyn's head.
Madelyn's heart skipped a beat, "Thank you."
There was a dinner party after the award ceremony.
Madelyn did not enjoy this kind of lively atmosphere. She wanted to refuse the dinner party, but she
could not. She was persuaded to stay.
Ethan was a person of high status. He was also the center of attention and was entirely different from
ordinary people. Madelyn was not qualified to sit with him and sat in a different private room.
Fortunately, her classmate, Kennedy, was there too.
However, it was hard for her to strike up a conversation with him. After all, she had not been to school
for such a long time. Usually, their conversations were limited to discussing questions on school
subjects. They did not chat much about any other things.