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Camille reached out a manicured finger, gently touching the plastic horse with the broken tail. Her eyes held genuine warmth, or at least a very convincing imitation of it. / Chapter 4 / 10

Chapter 4 - The Watercolor TestSaturday afternoon arrived with a heavy autumn drizzle tapping against the glass of Grant’s Cherry Creek home.

Nora sat at her usual spot at the kitchen island, wearing her paint-splattered apron. She had spent two hours arranging her "gallery," meticulously placing every colored pencil, crumpled piece of construction paper, and clay figurine.

When the doorbell rang, Grant walked to the entryway. He opened it to find Maya standing on the porch, wearing a knitted green sweater and holding a large, beat-up cardboard box.

"I brought contraband," Maya announced, stepping inside and shaking the rain off her boots.

"Define contraband," Grant said, closing the door.

"Industrial-grade glitter, neon pipe cleaners, and glow-in-the-dark star stickers. My advisor confiscates them if I use them for my thesis, so I figured a high-stakes art gallery was the proper venue."

Nora, hearing the commotion from the kitchen, peered around the corner. Her eyes locked onto Maya’s oversized sweater, the smear of blue marker on her thumb, and the glitter box under her arm.

Maya didn't put on a polished corporate smile. She didn't crouch down into a performative, condescending posture. Instead, she dropped her bag on the floor, walked straight over to the kitchen island, and pulled out a chair without asking permission.

"Is that a fish with a top hat?" Maya asked, pointing at Nora’s latest watercolor.

Nora blinked, her guard instantly dropping. "He's the mayor of the underwater town. He has to look professional."

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He Moved His Mistress Into the Beach House I Bought His Parents—So I Sol...

The dark walnut paneling of Valance absorbed the ambient amber light, making the private dining room feel like a velvet trap. Sabrina shifted slightly beside Nathan, her fingers grazing the base of her crystal water glass. She had spent two hours curling her hair and selecting a dress that whispered corporate elegance, convinced tonight was the night she cemented her place not just in Nathan’s office, but in his life.

The dark walnut paneling of Valance absorbed the ambient amber light, ma...

The amber light of the Fairmont ballroom caught the subtle glimmer of the diamonds against Madison's neck—my diamonds. From my vantage point on the mezzanine, looking down through the polished brass railing, I could see the exact way Ethan placed his hand at the small of her back. It was the same possessive, practiced grip he used to use on me during our early years, before the long hours, the late-night "investor calls," and the quiet erosion of our marriage.

The amber light of the Fairmont ballroom caught the subtle glimmer of th...

"Obviously," Maya agreed, grabbing a purple marker and immediately drawing a tiny briefcase next to the fish. "Can't run a municipality without proper paperwork. What’s his zoning status?"

Grant stood in the doorway, watching them. A fierce, protective warmth bloomed in his chest. For the first time, Nora wasn't evaluating an adult. She was collaborating with one.

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