Escaping His Obsession, Finding Love

lio of my designs into a briefcase w

had been planning to leave for New

is voice, cold and authoritat

here ar

alone. I heard the soft click of a

ase and walked out

ound Katarina Ward. She looked up at h

that?" he asked, his eyes

ects," I lied, my voice steady

I could see it in th

mmanded. "You're n

ngs being moved, of drawers opening and closin

anct

numb fingers and clattering to the fl

oks, my father's drafting tools, my mother's paintings. It was a room fu

as I looked up the stairs. "N

"Oh, Elliott. I don't want to be a bother. I can stay in a

s he looked at her, then hardening again as he

sure crumbling. "That was my mother's

ke stones. "She doesn't need a studio. Katar

oice. "Mary! Ge

t the top of the stairs, their faces fu

ispered, tears bl

small sob. "Elliott

. He strode over to me, grabbed my arm, and threw me asid

ast me and went ba

afternoon light. The smell of oil paint and old paper filled

of here," Elliott ord

recious memories of my parents with careless haste. A box o

em up, but they were b

knees, sobb

l smile playing on her lips. "Don'

table. It was my favorite picture of my parents and me,

thumb stroking the glass over my mot

she "t

nd shattered on the floor. The

stumbling backwards. "Ava, I di

his face a mask of fury. He didn't

lapp

e sprawling. My cheek

his voice shaking with ra

ed to explain, but

m, out of the house, and onto the front lawn. I

k about what you've done," he hi

r's scattered, muddy letters

ep your preciou

I heard the heavy front door slam

ain. With the shatter