They Called Me Barren, I Married A Billionaire

was already crowded

had generated sig

ces like this. He nodded to a few familiar faces, exchanged brief pleasantries with

ntion wasn't

n the pa

rtist through every exhibition, every period of silence and every

evi

der woman on a large canvas, dominated by deep blues and violent s

e noti

on H

ion Rho

didn't rec

ghtly behind Julian at social functions. She'd smiled politely at h

was a diffe

way that accentuated her features, and she wore

ngaged in conversation with a woman he didn't

attention to her perfect teeth, and Bastien fo

rt, that he'd never rea

-

at the gallery f

first five resisti

ad started alm

Julian Har

she doin

hear she

voices because she w

e to celebr

ry slowly, letting the pain

g of a sky dominated by muted gray clouds

es of anger she'd felt in the mi

it for a l

one's about?" a voice

a glass of champagne in his hand. If his eyes weren't directly

it's about?" M

s focusing on the p

lsive outburst from Asteria," he s

blin

s. The colour is crimson, and the

ith new interest and s

at the canvas, t

nfident inte

s

u've studied her w

sfaction of her full attention. "The crimson isn't impulsive. The entire co

ngry inter

the canvas. "Sometimes red is just... clarity. Th

oment and she felt his ey

tful or very personal," he

it m

you wan

ng and everything. He noticed the way her eyes moved across his face, mea

g to decide whether he

eaumont," she

unhurried interest. "I assumed this exhibition would be full

could see that the eyes he'd once thoug

practiced line,

ticed lines. You spent

aw the faltering in her expression, brief and co

" he said.

did spend six years at Julian's side and tend

giving him

d fully to him now, her smile mischiev

ose enough that he could smell her perfume. It was a subtle spicy scent. H

I'm wondering how much t

mouth twitched,

me right now?" Her eyes had grown comically wide an

ine, you're quite partic

mouth. Bastien was smiling, looking pleased that he

n ten things to each other all the

ong breath befo

aumont. If I was a mouse behind

ised

do you

k like you're going to bite off

ays told him he needed to smile more o

was smi

ass on a passing tray a

, would you promise not to jump on me a

not taking h

m afraid I'm too partic

ard the next painting, le

en fo

l it that. She stopped at a larger piece, a chaotic swirl of blacks and gra

er, close enough that she

ike this one,

d

hy

r a moment, stud

teria's most vis

iece from years ago is her most visceral." I

t most

to look at her

aw the faint colour rise to her cheek

self wanting

u doing here

the col

tation-only

he galler

lse. She finally turned to face him and was about

m her expression. A woman in a silver dress was ap

ow you'd be here. How are you

oulders tensed. The way her smile b

said. "Thank y

And you're here alone

ra

ugh. "After the divorce. I imagine it must be diff

ange. But Bastien saw her fin

aid, stepping forward, "are the

rown off balance. "Mr

s arm. "There's another piece I wanted

, something unreadab

, she too

he woman st

-

ing opinions and disagreeing with each other. As they stood at the la

like they're speaking to yo

expressio

hear if they weren't so

ishly. "I suppo

a

what I expec

r a long moment, the

I expected eith

oo

oo

e're on equ

y fading into the background, the weight

stepped ba

houl

rea

en a lon

ave. "Good night

sti

ight, B

ight, M

r walk away with a

't look