TIED BY FATE

. Her fingers hovered delicately over the sleek, immaculate sheet, the ink on the page so precise that it appeared as though it had been produced for an idealized reality. She fou

st. He had exuded confidence when proposing this arrangement; however, a subtle tension now marked his posture-perhaps he was anticipating her withdrawal. Or perhaps, just perhaps, he was secretly wishing she would commit. Finally, Ava broke the silence, he

ngement will essentially be a business one." Ava frowned, her brow deeply furrowed. She could already sense the weight of what this entailed, the strain it would impose on her personal life; yet, it also held immense potential for her art. "And what exactly do I receive in return?" Julian leaned back in his chair, fingers interlaced. "In retur

times, as she focused more on survival than on creativity. She had sacrificed so much; however, the idea of no longer worrying about rent or whet

t wha

aint smile, revealing a blend of amusement and something more profound lurking beneath the surface. He leaned closer, his gaze sharpening. "I'm not engaging in this for philanthropic reasons, Ava. There's a business arrangement I'm navigating, one that

d marriage? It seemed utterly absurd. And yet, the allure of financial stability-of stepping into a life where she would not have to struggle for every single penny-was difficult to dismiss. "You mentioned I'd have to live a public life with you. What does that entail, exactly? How public are we talking about here?" Ava inquired, still attempting to comprehend the situation she was ab

e remarked dryly, raising her eyes to connect with Julian's. "However, I've spent enough time in the art world to recognize that matters are seldom as straightforward as they appear." Julian grinned, a smile that conveyed both assurance and experience. "Life is rarely uncomplicated. But that's precisely why you require someone adept at navigating it. You need not fret over the parti

g for herself and her art-something she had tirelessly worked toward, yet had never been able to fully embrace. "I'll do it," Ava declared, her voice now resolute. "I'll sign the contract." Julian's eyes sparkled with an inscrutable emotion, his expression momentarily enigmatic before his lips transformed into a satisfied smile. He slid the contract toward her, accompanied by a pen. "Good," he remarked, his tone cr

d herself unable to determine whether she had made the best decision of her life or,