Painted Hearts
ContemporaryArtistGolden BoyGoodgirlCampusSportsBetrayalDramaSteamy
Vivienne Kane has spent years forging her future in silence and shadow—her final thesis exhibition the only thing standing between her and the betrayal that once stole her voice, her art, and her trust.
When a campus plumbing catastrophe forces her into a cramped off-campus apartment with Asher Donovan—the university's charismatic rugby captain whose life is all noise, team spirit, and golden-boy pressure—she braces for war.
He's too loud, too present, too everything she avoids.
Yet from the moment he catches her painting through a half-open door, Asher is hooked—not on her beauty, but on the storm she hides in every brushstroke. He starts small: quiet coffee deliveries, late-night silences in her studio, fierce defense against anyone who dares threaten her work.
What begins as clashing egos and slammed doors spirals into something neither can ignore—raw vulnerability, protective fury, and a heat that scorches through every boundary she's built.
In a world of late-night canvases and bruising practices, two guarded hearts collide: one learning to trust again, the other discovering what it means to fight for someone who finally sees you.
Enemies at first sight. Roommates by disaster. Lovers by choice.
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Chapter: Chapter 6The apartment stayed quiet for the next few days, but it was a different kind of quiet now. It wasn’t empty, wasn’t cold, just... full in a way neither of them wanted to talk about.Asher still made coffee every morning. He left the mug on the counter in the same spot. Vivi still drank it. Sometimes she rinsed both mugs and left them side by side in the sink. Sometimes she left one of his energy drinks in the fridge, label turned toward her side. Little things. No notes anymore. They didn’t need them.One Thursday afternoon, Asher came home from class earlier than usual. His shoulders ached from morning practice, and a fresh bruise was forming on his ribs. He dropped his bag by the door and headed straight for the kitchen, looking for something cold to drink.He stopped when he heard it.The soft sound of a brush moving across canvas came from Vivi’s room. The door was open just a few inches. Not on purpose, probably. She must have forgotten to close it all the way after getting water
Zuletzt aktualisiert: 2026-06-26
Chapter: Chapter 5The next morning was quiet again.Asher woke up before his alarm rang. He lay on his back for a moment, staring at the ceiling, thinking about nothing and everything at the same time. Then he pushed the blanket off and got out of bed. He moved through the apartment carefully, almost like he did not want to wake anyone, even though he knew she was probably already awake.He made coffee the way he liked it, black and strong. The smell slowly filled the kitchen. He poured some into his mug and then poured another cup for her. He placed it on the counter in the same spot as before. He did not leave a note this time. He told himself he did not want to push her. If she wanted it, she would take it. If she did not, he would not say anything.After that, he grabbed his bag and left for practice.When he came back around nine thirty, his body was tired and sore. Sweat clung to his shirt, and his legs felt heavy. He dropped his bag near the door and walked into the kitchen. The first thing he n
Zuletzt aktualisiert: 2026-06-16
Chapter: Chapter 4Asher woke up at 5:30 a.m., staring at the ceiling like it had done something to him. His room was still dark, but his mind had been awake for hours. He had barely slept. Every time he closed his eyes, his mind went back to the hallway again. The soft creak of the wooden floor. The small ray of light under her door. He turned his head to the pillow, face buried in it and moved his head against it, trying to push the memory away but it didn’t leave.He hadn’t meant to stand outside her door that long. He hadn’t meant to listen for any sound from inside. He didn’t even know why he had walked down the hallway in the first place. Maybe he just wanted to make sure she was okay. Maybe he just wanted to hear proof that she was still there.The worst part wasn’t getting caught. It was how much it mattered to him.He threw the blanket off and sat up, feeling restless. The apartment was silent. Too silent. It reminded him of the quiet after a bad game, when everyone avoided eye contact and the
Zuletzt aktualisiert: 2026-06-16
Chapter: Chapter 3Vivienne Kane turned the key and pushed the door open at 3:37 p.m.Music came out immediately—indie rock, loud bass, guitars ringing clear. The apartment was bright from sunlight coming through big windows. A leather couch sat against one wall. A large TV was mounted above the fireplace. The dining table was covered with protein powder containers and one rugby boot lying on its side like someone had kicked it off.The air smelled like fresh coffee, garlic cooking on the stove, and clean soap with a hint of grass.A man turned from the kitchen.He was tall—six-foot-four—broad shoulders, dirty-blond hair still wet from the shower. He wore a faded hoodie that fit tight across his chest. Sleeves rolled up. He was stirring a pot of sauce and humming quietly.He looked at her and smiled—a big, warm smile with deep dimples. His lower lip was still cut from the hit and there was a small bruise on his jaw, but the smile still looked kind and easy.“Hey,” he said, wiping his hands on a towel ov
Zuletzt aktualisiert: 2026-06-16
Chapter: Chapter 2Asher Donovan woke up with the taste of blood in his mouth.It was 6:15 a.m. on the rugby field. During practice, Theo’s shoulder had smashed straight into his face during a drill. It was a clean hit but it was just part of the game. No anger, no grudges, no resentment. He spat on the wet grass, saw the red stain, and laughed it off. The sting faded quickly. He jumped back up and kept moving. The field felt alive in the early morning. Boots tore through the grass, Shouts echoed around the empty stands, Finn’s speaker blasted loud music that cut through the cold air. Asher sprinted down the sideline, caught Finn’s pass, took another hit to the ribs, and still managed to pass the ball to Theo despite the sharp pain from the hit. The play was fast and smooth. Everything aligned.The whistle blew. It signaled water break.Asher dropped to one knee, breathing hard. His jersey was soaked with sweat. He poured water over his head and shook it off. The cold air cleared his mind for a moment
Zuletzt aktualisiert: 2026-06-16
Chapter: Chapter 1Vivienne Kane painted at 4 a.m. because sleep always brought back the bad memories.Studio 412 was quiet except for the buzz of the lights overhead. The room smelled of turpentine, oil, and paint. She stood barefoot on the drop cloth in her paint-covered overalls. Her black hair was tied up in a messy knot, a few strands sticking to her sweaty neck. Her skin looked pale under the bright lights, her face sharp and serious.The canvas in front of her showed piece twelve of her series *Shatter & Mend*. It was a woman’s body cut down the middle. One side was fixed with thin gold lines. The other side fell apart into black paint that dripped down. She picked up a wide brush, dipped it in dark blue, and pulled it across the break in one slow line. The color spread into the cracks.Six weeks left until her final exhibition. Six weeks to show everyone that the guy who stole her ideas and laughed about it hadn’t destroyed her.Her phone lit up on the stool. Marcus.Marcus: You’re still there?
Zuletzt aktualisiert: 2026-06-16
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