as sharp and clinical, reflecting off the polished glass walls of the Dirgantara estate. Her head felt heavy from the lack of sleep, but the adrenaline of he

ed even more haunting. It was Adrian, or at least, the soul of the man she had glimpsed through the library

ing his deep, monotonous voice.

of the paint that she didn't hear

is t

d streak of white across the blue. Вshe spun around to see Mika standi

tching her chest. "It's way too early. You

ract painting. "It looks like the ocean in a storm," the girl said

than adults gave them credit for. "It's just

leep or she'd tell Daddy I was being difficult. But I saw the ligh

wn jeans. She pulled Mika into a hug. "Never. In this room, there

up like a Christ

color as Mika's raincoat from the day they met. "Here. Put a litt

t peaceful Liana had felt since her mother passed away. But the peace was shattere

hold, stood there. His face

at on earth is

ka behind her. "We're painti

e a few drops of water had spilled. "The young mistress has a schedule! 6:30 is her time for morning hygiene

i. It washes off," Lian

th indignation. "The rules are very clear. Your 'art' was not to interf

y matching his. "She's been living in a museum, Hadi. She's a little girl

ked at Liana, then slowly walked toward the butler, her head hanging low. The spark that had been in her e

the kitchen. She needed coffee, and she needed

they just moved. A chef was plating a piece of grilled salmon a

or Mika?"

t looking up. "Master Adrian's order

ttered. "Can she have

as if she had asked for a plate of poison.

dy there, reading a digital newspaper on his tablet. He looked perfect, as usual.

in the sunroom," Adrian said,

rom him. She felt his peripheral vision twitch. "If by 'incident' you mean

ething-frustration, perhaps-in the depths of his gaze. "Hadi tells me she was

er, Adrian," Liana said, usin

. "Mr. Dirga

g you, as someone who actually has a heart that beats, that your daughter is lonely. She's bored. An

I am raising a woman who will be able to lead an empire. The world doesn't care about 'smiles' and 'paint,' Liana. It cares about di

ad mentioned his late wife. The bitterness in his voice

yourself before the world gets

ard a muscle pulsed in his cheek. For a moment, Liana thought he was

e. "Take her to school. If she is a minute late because she was '

Liana said, watch

ing out the window. Liana tried to make conversation, but the girl seemed

nd. "Don't worry about Hadi. Or your dad. We're going

tiny glimmer of hope r

promise to be the best stu

Mika w

a plan. She went to a local hardware store and a discount craft shop. She used the last of the cash she

yard. There was a small, shaded area behind the guest house that was barely used. It was

nd the garage and laying them out. ВShe spread out a giant plasti

ht Mika back from school,

asked, her eyes going wide as s

nding Mika a pair of old oversized T-shirts she had bought. "We'

use brushes. They used their hands, their feet, and even sponges to hurl paint at a giant roll of paper Liana had t

he felt alive. For the first time since her mother's funeral, for th

e shadow fel

w who it was. The air around them s

s wearing a black trench coat over his suit, looking like a dark omen. Behind

ing with bright green paint. "Look at what I made! It's a dragon

s coat, her paint-covered fingers in

back!" Adr

was physically painful to watch. She looked down at her hands, th

t, though it did little to help. "She just wanted t

e wasn't looking at Mika anymore; his eyes were locked on Liana. "I gave you a chance.

When was the last time you saw her this happy? When was th

dle of blue paint. He didn't seem to care. He grabbed Liana's arm, his grip f

ka cried as Had

face inches from hers. She could see the flecks of gold in his dark eyes, and for a mo

e and 'fix' us because you have a tragic backstory and a paintbox. You

throat. "Tell me why you're so scared of a little girl hav

pushing her away as if she were a flame that had just burned

d distant again. "You want to make me 'bertekuk lutut'? You want to make me fall in lo

't realized her intentio

r you to win. It died a long time ago. You are here for Mika. If you ever-ever-cross the line

away, his footsteps

. She was covered in paint, she was exhausted, and she had just been humiliated. But as

ed when he let go of her arm. He wa

the empty backyard. "You do have a heart.

y to get past his defenses without getting herself fired. She had to find out what happened to

oom. The girl was looking out the window, her hand pressed against

ing started. And Liana was no longer

the library, she saw the door was open again. Adrian was sitting there, staring at his

y strong. To make a man like Adrian Dirgantara fall

the neon colors swirling down the drain like a fading dream. Tomorr