LOGINThank you for reading!
It was against the rules for anyone on the judging panel to show favoritism or react to a contestant's work before the final evaluation. Yes, this was just a redo to enter into the main competition, but it still counted as just as important.Yet Queen Kennedy couldn't stop herself. Her hand flew to her mouth, trying to cover the shock,"Oh my God..."The words slipped out before she could stop them.The entire room stared at the giant screen, and they were all astonished by what they saw. Meanwhile, online viewers had completely forgotten Joyce existed, and she noticed it too, making her chest burn in jealousy and rage. This was supposed to be her moment. The morning when she would shine and put Dahlia to shame, making Silas finally kick her out, but her plan had once again turned to dust.The comments online were not helping the situation. They were moving so fast that they were impossible to read."Is she painting her pain?""Why am I crying?""Someone help her.""She looks like she
“Dahlia?” Thomas called from the sidelines, but she ignored him. He looked around, but no one was allowed into the center. “Dahlia!” He called again, but she ignored him once again.She couldn't stop now.Not after everything.Not after nearly dying on the road.Not after being called a thief and losing her integrity.Not when this was a promise she made to her grandmother and certainly not when a life had already been lost because of it.After taking another deep breath, she dipped her brush into black paint and continued. She pulled back about to paint, when she felt a painful pull at her side, making her suck in a deep breath.She bit her bottom lip, about to continue with the center, when she felt something warm trickle down her clothes, making her freeze in place. She looked down, and her stomach dropped at the sight of her stitches reopening.A dark stain slowly spread beneath her blouse, and then drops of blood hit the floor.Gasps erupted throughout the hall. Making everyone
Joyce paused, her eyes frozen in place, unable to believe what had just happened. She thought she was seeing things for a second. "What?" She mumbled, rising from her seat."Why?""I brought my own canvas!"The woman smiled softly, her eyes daring and firm, which made Joyce clamp her mouth shut. The lady in question was none other than Queen Kennedy, a prodigy in the Art circle. She was known for her ruthlessness and talented hands. She was the one holding the win for the previous competition. “Sit down, Joyce.” Dahlia taunted. One would think you had something drawn on your template from how you’re behaving. Or is that the case?”“Oh shut up, Dahlia! I’ve had enough of your bullying!” Joyce said through gritted teeth, her mask almost slipping out for everyone to see. She was about to blow up when Jackson, Joyce’s right hand, stepped forward, holding her elbow to root her in place. "Miss Anderson," he said quietly, forcing a smile. "Please sit down."Joyce's chest rose and fell viol
Dahlia's pupils shrank at the sight before her, and time seemed to slow and move in slow motion.The little girl couldn't have been older than six. She was crouched in the middle of the crossing, completely unaware of the vehicle racing toward her. Her mother realized one of her children was missing and turned only to be horrified by the scene before her. "Daisy!" She screamed, frozen in place, not knowing what to do. Dahlia's hands tightened around the steering wheel so hard her knuckles turned white.“No.. no.. no.. please!”Not a child.Anything but a human being.She couldn't hit her.She wouldn't.Not even to save herself.The little girl finally looked up, and their eyes met for a brief second. The little girl closed her eyes, waiting for the impact, and the scene broke her heart. She tightened her hold on the steering wheel as she whispered, "I'm sorry."Whether she was apologizing to her baby, her parents, or herself, she didn't know. Then she jerked the steering wheel, mak
Dahlia had barely started the engine when a knock sounded against her window. She rolled it down and groaned when she saw who it was. Edward.Of course, it was Edward.The old butler stood outside with his arms folded and an expression that already told her he was about to become a problem.With a sigh, she rubbed the sweat off her forehead, suddenly feeling so hot. "Don't." She warned."Don't what?" Edward asked."Whatever speech you're about to give me. I don’t want to hear it, Edward.”"You can't drive, madam. Let me drive you, then take you to the hospital immediately after you finish the painting.”Dahlia rolled her eyes like she needed any more reminders of what she was going through. Dahlia leaned her head back against the seat, putting the gear into drive, and then looked at an angry-looking Edward,"Edward, I appreciate your concern, but I'm already late.""Madam, please.." The old man pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. "If you refuse to listen, I'll call the yo
The loud sound of the alarm jolted Dahlia awake. She turned and groaned from the pain of a headache she was feeling. She had barely slept after midnight because of insomnia, which came at a wrong time when all she wanted to do was to rest a little, especially with the day that lay ahead of her, but her eyes couldn’t just close; to make it worse, she was feeling very emotional whenever she thought of Mrs Whitmore and how painful it must have been dying. Regret kept growing inside her chest until it suffocated her. She spent the whole night crying and wondering who would be cruel enough to poison her while she was carrying a child. She kept thinking it could have been Joyce, but something told her she had more enemies than she could imagine. With a heavy sigh, she stood from the bed, feeling like she had been hit by a damn train.The day of the competition had arrived, and she couldn’t miss this opportunity for the world. She had no idea how bad the poison in her system was, but it worr
“So?” One of the guests shouted, “What has your wife gotten you?” “Yes! Don’t be too secretive!” Another added, “Tell us!”Silas looked at the heading of the document that read:“DIVORCE AGREEMENT.”He closed the envelope and looked at his wife, thinking it was some kind of prank. Surely there was
When she woke up the next morning, Dahlia felt much better and was hungry. She decided to take a shower and then headed downstairs for breakfast. Surprisingly, Silas wasn’t in his usual suit but was dressed casually in a T-shirt and sweatpants. He sat at the table, wearing reading glasses while hold
Dahlia returned to the bedroom and went straight into the bathroom to take a hot shower. The moment the hot water poured over her, her shoulders sagged. Steam curled around her, blurring the reflection in the mirror until even her own face became unfamiliar. She pressed her palms against the cold t
Dahlia shook her head in irritation. “Your constant pretense is starting to get on my nerves. “Don’t you ever get tired of provoking people only to end up pretending to be weak?” Dahlia said coldly, her voice colder than anyone had ever heard her. Dahlia was always rainbows and sunshine at some poin







