Twenty-six

"This is a picture of me," Aria said.

Damien froze in his seat. He threw Aria a strange look. Maybe he hadn't gotten the message right.

"A picture of you?" Damien asked.

Aria turned her gaze to him and nodded her head slowly. Damien's brows knitted together at her response. He scouted closer to Aria and took the sketchbook from her. He examined the sketch himself and he gasped due to shock.

It really was a picture of Aria.

His mouth came open in confusion. What was Aria's picture doing there? How could Liona have drawn Aria when he was very sure that both women had never even met.

Aria exhaled sharply, breaking Damien out of his reverie. Damien brought his eyes back to her and the confusion was still evident on his face.

"How is my face in this book?" Aria asked Damien.

Damien wanted to give her an answer. He wished he could give her the answer she wanted but there was nothing he could say. Instead, he ended up stuttering.

"I— I am afraid I can not give you the answer to that question