The Phoenix Artist

exhibit in New Yor

gallery. "Echo

liberate choice. A

as so

t, Sarah," he' d

ere

e opening

d against my rib

ent. Or not just

e

city.

a calm presence in th

h art critics, collect

lls. My pain, my resilien

I saw

he crowd

Vand

Harder.

found min

d. The noise of

ards me, a m

e me, his hand insti

voice was a raw

et away from Liam, who watched, h

Ethan said, his g

is expensive sh

it was

eart. Faded, per

stopped l

This wasn't Leo. Thi

out. "Chad. Tiffany. They' re nothing now. The Harrington

d, alight with a

spiratorial hush. "The one who started it all. Who took my memo

nd sharp, pier

s was madness. This was ab

than," I managed, my voice tre

d, placing a protec

ut carrying an undeniable authority. "This

led by a sudden surge

inket' on social media. It wasn't a trinket. It was my grandmother's. My last piece

licker of genuine pain

too littl

, his tone leaving no room for

Liam to me, his ha

t in me for him but a col

ed, and disappear

hrummed with hi

my return, f

derbilt did

eared at the gallery

But there was a new edge to

y?" she asked, her eyes sweepi

ce even. I wouldn't let her

His obsession with you, it' s become destructive. His actions

s to focus. He needs to move on. You

mplied offer, t

letely. For everyone's sake. Liam seems like a nice young man. It would be a

e sheer, unadult

aze, my own

hen, not now. And if you threaten Liam, yo

rise in her cold

regret thi

leaving a chi

d. I had Liam. I had

ldn't

ngton, however

Her engagement to Ethan

was now destroying her world, all in

tim, though. She had

hlessness had pu

out, was a game s

arted

to "atone" and dismantle his

ing. Corpora

ger he' d "

esting something far darker than just financial ru

hered h

delivered it to the

r became