house, each one a nail in the coffin of the love he once felt. He looked at her, at the fierce protection in her eye

minimalist desk in the corner, and slid open a drawer. In

ce pa

e, a desperate, pathetic plea for her to see him, t

ted line. The ink was black and final. He tossed the docu

nce crossing her face before she dismissed it. "D

ugh with it. To her, he was just a power

d, her tone shifting back to business. "You will

turned and walked out, Mark trailin

was thick with the scent of expensive perfume and the low hum of polite conversation. Olivia was the ce

him to everyo

her voice filled with pride. "The arti

, the silent husband standing awkwardly in the ba

sband? He look

nothing. Just liv

rtist now. You can

f a pain he no longer allowed himself to feel. He was an

mpagne fountain, laughing

Olivia?" he aske

." Her eyes were cold, filled with impatience and a deep, cutting disdain. Sh

world of her own with the imposter. She bid aggressively on every pie

dollars for

the lovely Ms. Sterling, fo

ching a public declaration. A tech titan was lavishing her fortune on

even trying

feel like

ie of

assive. Let them talk. Let them watc

st anticipated piece of the evening! A very special work, donate

on the stage

blood r

maelstrom of black and red, twisted shapes and despe

creat

ain, his terror, his despair. It was the physical manifestation of his worst trauma. He thought it had be

start at one m

. He didn't even think. He just reacted. He had to get it back. He

o him. Olivia look

slight smile on her lips as she looked at Mark. She thought

hot back, his hands clench

She turned to Mark. "Don't worry," she whispered, loud enough for Ethan to hear. "I know

istic look on his face. "It captures a dark t

ll of i

rained. That was all he had. All the money

king, a triumphant look on her face. She was en

He leaned towards her, his voice a desperate whisper. "Don't. Yo

e saw a flicker of the girl he used to know. But

ng a fool of yourself. This painting belon

e million dollars to

It sounded like