ssive-aggressive comments, trying to undermine Chloe's confidence. She' d leave articles on the kitchen counter about bri

with false concern. "They will try to tear you down in this inter

yn's anxiety wasn't for her, but for herself. If Chloe succeeded, Evelyn

ty, forgotten box. It was tucked away behind a stack of Evelyn' s bland, technically proficient b

apers, school records, and at the very bottom, a thick man

young, struggling artist couple. The beneficiary was listed not as Chloe, their only

n told: her parents had died in a tragic studio fire, a horrible accident.

mount was substantial, enough to allow a moderately successful artist like Evel

y childhood, vague flashes of her parents' studio. It was always filled with th

Chloe had asked for them years later, steering her toward cheaper, domestic

an artist of mediocre talent who was deeply envious of Chloe' s parents, both of whom were on the cusp of a maj

t just steal her art style. She had stolen her entire life, built her career on th

f poverty, it was a direct consequence of Evelyn' s cheapness, her delib

was about justice for her parents. The memory of her slow, painful death was now overlaid with the image of he

t confront Evelyn with this. Not yet. An accusation this monstrous required absolute, un

he said, her voice soft and conspiratorial. "I have some connections on the admissions committee. An old fr

application last time. She was offering to "help" again, trying to regain control of the situation. Chloe kn

" Chloe asked, injecting a

We need to present a unified front. We should probably say that your style was a natural

sign the theft. She wanted to walk into the academy with Chloe

n everything from her, who had watched her die, w

ady. "I don't think that will be necessary. I want to get i

's very naive, Chloe. You don'

mile never wavering. "But I'm

e hallway, her face a mask of fury and frustra

would not stop until she had checkmated the queen. The interview was no