Chapter 341 A Hidden Clue
Rose shook her head. "No, thanks. I know my way around."
As she led Grace and Alicia through the gallery, a question lingered in the back of her mind.
How had Ryan known she was coming with Grace?
He probably hadn’t known the exact time. More likely, he’d instructed the staff to take care of Grace the moment she arrived. That sounded like him—always planning several moves ahead.
Then again...
Grace Taylor wasn’t just any guest. She was one of the most famous researcher and national treasure, and Ryan now controlled the family gallery that was supposed to belong to Rose.
Giving Grace whatever she wanted here would earn him a valuable favor.
Rose let out a quiet, humorless laugh.
Typical Ryan.
She guided Grace upstairs to the gallery’s fine art collection.
The second they stepped into the exhibition hall, Grace stopped walking.
Her eyes locked onto a single painting displayed beneath its own spotlight in the center of the room. It stood alone behind museum-grade glass, separated from every other piece.
Grace hurried forward.
"Oh..."
Her voice trembled.
"That’s it."
Tears welled in her eyes.
"This is the original."
She stood inches from the glass, staring at the brushstrokes.
"I’m certain of it."
The painting Samantha had shown them before had been badly water damaged, making it nearly impossible to authenticate. But this one...
Grace recognized the artist’s style immediately.
There wasn’t the slightest doubt in her mind.
Rose quietly released the breath she’d been holding.
At least they had finally found it.
Unfortunately, there was still a problem.
Ryan hadn’t officially transferred ownership of the gallery back to her.
Even if she wanted to hand the painting to Grace immediately, she couldn’t make that decision.
Before she could say anything, the gallery manager approached with several employees.
He smiled politely.
"Mr. Knight anticipated Mrs. Taylor’s visit."
He gestured toward the painting.
"He asked us to reserve this piece for her. If you’re ready, we’ll package it and have it prepared for pickup."
Grace blinked in surprise.
So Ryan had arranged all of this beforehand.
Truthfully, she had never cared much for the man.
His relationship with Samantha had left a terrible impression on her, and the way he’d treated Rose over the years hadn’t helped.
But today...
He had handled everything with remarkable thoughtfulness.
She nodded.
"Please thank Mr. Knight for me."
The words felt heavier than she liked.
Now she owed him.
Grace had spent decades building companies and negotiating million-dollar deals. She understood exactly what had happened.
If she had offered to buy the painting, Ryan could simply have refused to sell it. They would have spent half the afternoon negotiating before she finally accepted the inevitable—and she’d still owe him a favor.
Instead, he’d removed the entire conversation.
There was nothing left for her to bargain over.
It was an elegant move.
Grace couldn’t deny that Ryan understood people remarkably well.
Still...
Knowing someone was capable didn’t mean you had to admire them.
Her opinion of him hadn’t changed.
Rose wasn’t bothered by the painting leaving the gallery.
Apart from a handful of priceless museum pieces kept in secure storage, most of the collection existed to be appreciated—not locked away forever.
The manager carefully supervised the packing process before turning back toward them.
"If you’d like, we’ll load everything into your vehicle while you continue touring the gallery."
Alicia immediately volunteered.
"I’ll show you. The driver’s stepped away for a few minutes."
Grace nodded.
"Thank you."
As Alicia accompanied the staff downstairs, Rose stayed beside Grace.
The gallery occupied three expansive floors, each devoted to a different category of art and antiques.
Although Rose no longer remembered every individual piece, she knew the layout by heart.
"This level houses paintings, antique furniture, porcelain, historic glass, and our gemstone collection."
She pointed toward several displays while explaining where many of the pieces had originated.
Grace smiled.
"You really know this place."
Rose laughed softly.
"I should."
After a brief pause, she added, "It was supposed to be mine."
Grace looked at her.
"My father forced it out of my hands years ago."
She shrugged.
"After a long chain of events, Ryan ended up owning it."
"But he promised he’d transfer it back."
Grace nodded thoughtfully.
"Well..."
"At least he kept his word about something."
Rose smiled faintly but didn’t answer.
As they continued walking through the gemstone gallery, Grace suddenly froze.
Her expression changed instantly.
Without another word, she hurried toward one of the display cases.
Rose followed.
Inside were dozens of pieces of jade, emerald, and other carved gemstones arranged beneath soft lighting.
To Rose, most looked beautiful—but similar.
Grace stared at one pendant in complete silence.
Her breathing became uneven.
"What is it?" Rose asked.
Grace slowly raised a trembling hand.
"That pendant..."
She swallowed hard.
"The Taylor family pendant."
"It’s here."
Rose looked where she was pointing.
In the center of the display rested an extraordinary pendant carved from vivid imperial green jade.
Even without any expertise, she could tell it was exceptional.
"You mean this one?"
She unlocked the display case without hesitation.
Lifting the pendant carefully, she placed it into Grace’s hands.
"Take a closer look."
Grace accepted it almost reverently.
Just days earlier, Samantha’s pendant had been exposed as a fake.
Everyone had assumed the mystery ended there.
No one expected the real one to be sitting inside this gallery.
Grace removed her reading glasses from her purse and carefully examined every inch of the carving.
After what had happened with the counterfeit pendant, she refused to trust first impressions.
Yet every detail screamed the same answer.
The craftsmanship.
The carving.
The polish.
Even the smallest imperfections.
Everything matched.
Her heart pounded.
She looked at Rose.
"I know this is asking a lot..."
She hesitated.
"I never imagined I’d find it here."
"Would you allow me to borrow it for a couple of days?"
"If that’s not possible, I’ll buy it."
"I’ll pay whatever the gallery is asking."
Rose understood exactly why Grace was so emotional.
If this pendant was genuine, it might finally lead them to the missing Taylor daughter.
She wished she could simply hand it over.
But she couldn’t.
"I’m sorry."
She shook her head apologetically.
"I don’t have the authority."
"The gallery still legally belongs to Ryan."
She sighed.
"I’ll have to ask him first."
She wasn’t about to give Ryan another excuse to claim she had overstepped her authority.
The gallery was supposed to be hers.
Until the paperwork was finished, though, she intended to follow every rule.
At that moment, the manager returned.
"I’m afraid that won’t be possible."
Everyone turned toward him.
"Our owner has instructed us that certain pieces from the permanent collection are never to be sold."
He glanced at the pendant.
"This is one of them."
"If you’d still like to discuss it..."
He smiled politely.
"You’ll need to speak with Mr. Gabriel Bennett."
Rose blinked.
Ryan had left the decision to her grandfather.
That surprised her.
Then again...
The permanent collection had always been her grandfather’s pride.
Those rules had existed long before Ryan entered the picture.
Grace immediately looked at Rose.
"If your grandfather is willing to meet us..."
Rose nodded.
"I can take you there."
Grace carefully held the pendant as though it might disappear if she loosened her grip.
For reasons she couldn’t explain, excitement and hope surged through her chest.
She had the strange feeling she was standing on the edge of discovering something life-changing.
"Grandma?"
Alicia had returned.
She noticed Grace clutching something tightly in both hands.
"What happened?"
Before Grace could answer, the manager stepped forward.
"I’ll secure the pendant for you."
"We’ll prepare the loan paperwork before your visit with Mr. Bennett."
Reluctantly, Grace handed it over.
As the manager placed the pendant into a padded case, Alicia caught only a brief flash of brilliant green before it disappeared from sight.
Grace followed an employee to complete the paperwork.
Rose checked the time.
Her grandfather would be awake by now.
She turned toward the exit.
Then a furious voice cut across the gallery.
"Rose!"
She stopped in her tracks.