LOGIN~NATE~For a couple of seconds, Ava only stares at me. Every color drains slowly from her face, disbelief replacing the confidence she’d worn all evening.Then she lets out a shaky laugh.“Nate… what are you talking about?”“I figured you’d deny it.” Reaching into my pocket, I pull out my phone and tap the video.The footage begins to play.The second Ava sees herself on the screen, she looks just as pale as a ghost. After asking security to delete the footage earlier, I made sure to get a copy sent to me first because I suspected she might try to lie. And she just did.So now, not only is she a manipulator, but also a liar. The two combinations I hate the most.“Nate, I…” she stutters, the words dying before they fully form.Her shoulders sag, then tears spill down her cheeks.“I messed up, didn’t I?”“You think?” The bitterness in my voice catches me off guard. “I expected better from you, Ava.”She lowers her head as sobs shake her frame.“I was insecure and scared,” she whispers
~NATE~“We believe you arrived with one of the contestants, Miss Ava Sterling, correct, sir?”The second security officer’s question only deepens the frown already pulling at my brow as I follow them into the security office.Several monitors line the walls, each displaying footage from different sections of the building.“Yes,” I answer. “Why?”The two men exchange a glance before one of them steps toward a monitor and begins rewinding the footage.“Actually, sir, there appears to be a problem.”The video stops.A hooded woman appears on the black-and-white screen. She’s inside the gallery.At first glance, nothing seems unusual. Then I notice the way she keeps looking over her shoulder before approaching one of the displayed paintings.Her movements are hurried and nervous like a thief as she lifts the artwork and quickly leaves the room.My confusion grows.“What’s this supposed to mean?”The officer turns toward me. “Does she look familiar?”I study the footage, but the hood obscu
~NATE~“Congratulations on winning, Lori. You were incredible out there.”“No, that’s too much.” I drag a hand through my hair and pace near the building’s exit.“Congrats, Lori.”I stop. That sounds stupid too.For the past ten minutes, I’ve been standing here like an idiot, rehearsing different ways to talk to my wife while she remained inside accepting congratulations from literally everyone at the competition.The irony isn’t lost on me.I have spent years convincing myself Lori wasn’t talented, ambitious or worthy enough. Only for her to walk onto that stage and prove me wrong in front of hundreds of people.Not only is she talented, but she’s also exceptional.Even Ava, who had attended one of the most prestigious art schools in the country, wasn’t able to move the audience the way Lori did.Heavens, why am I overthinking things?I’m sure it’s just that I feel it’s right to congratulate her. Or maybe I simply want an excuse to properly look at her.Because ever since she’d stepp
~LORETTE~ Despite the humiliation threatening to swallow me whole, I somehow manage to stay seated. The old me would’ve run out of this hall long ago. I would’ve hidden in the nearest restroom and cried until everyone forgot I existed. But for Ella’s sake, I sit quietly and watch as the judges continue scoring the remaining paintings. When participant twelve’s artwork is revealed, a few judges nod in approval. Participant nineteen earns impressed murmurs from the audience. Then participant twenty-two’s painting is brought forward, and I don’t need anyone to announce the artist’s name before I know who it is. One look at Ava’s face and I already know it’s hers. The confidence radiating from her is a dead give-away. The moment the covering cloth is removed, appreciative gasps ripple through the hall. At the center of the painting stands a massive ancient tree, its branches stretched toward the sky. As the eye travels across the canvas, the seasons change around it—spri
~LORETTE~ Within minutes, everyone is seated and the hall falls into a tense silence as the final round officially begins. My heart is pounding so hard that I can barely hear anything else, but I still manage to keep myself together. Thankfully, Ella is beside me. She reaches for my hand beneath the table and gives it a reassuring squeeze, offering me a small smile. At the center of the stage, the host steps forward with a microphone. “As stated in the rules communicated to all finalists,” he announces, “all paintings were submitted yesterday and collected ahead of today’s event. To ensure fairness, every artwork will be judged anonymously, with only participant numbers attached to each piece.” Excited murmurs ripple through the hall. “No names will be revealed until the scoring process is complete. The judges will evaluate each painting based solely on creativity, execution, and interpretation of the theme: Time.” I swallow hard. Yesterday, after finishing my paintin
~LORETTE~ “We’re really sorry we can’t be there to cheer you on today, Lori.” Lucas’s voice is filled with regret as he speaks to me early the next morning. “It’s a pity that our brothers and I all ended up having important work commitments on the same day.” He shakes his head before offering me an apologetic smile. “But I promise I’ll make it up to you. In fact, I have a surprise waiting for you.” “It’s okay, brother. I understand.” I smile reassuringly. As much as I would have loved to have Lucas, Hunter, and Jace there with me today, I can’t expect them to jeopardize their jobs because of a competition. The job market is already difficult enough without risking unemployment over something like this. “Just wish me luck, okay?” Lucas chuckles softly. “All the luck in the world, little sis.” After my brothers leave, Ella takes over. She helps me into my dress, fixes my hair, and somehow manages to transform my face with makeup without making me look like a complete
~NATE~“What do you mean someone else is handling her mother’s medical bills?” I stare at Micheal across my office in utter disbelief, certain I must have heard him wrong.Because there is simply no way. No fucking way.“How is that even possible?” I ask, my voice sharpening as frustration begins c
~LORETTE~“Up next, we have Ava Sterling!”A round of applause spreads across the hall as the host calls her name.From where I sit, I watch Nate lean toward her, pressing a brief kiss against her forehead before whispering something too low for me to hear. Whatever he says makes her smile softly,
~LORETTE~ “I shouldn’t have accused you the way I did…” Nate continues, his hand still gripping my wrist gently. “I’m sorry, Lori.” I blink, stunned. Nate? Apologizing to me? It might as well rain monkeys today. I clear my throat and firmly pull my hand from his grip. If this had been any othe
~LORETTE~ “Nate…” I’m about to ask again when he moves with the speed of a lightning. One second there’s space between us, and the next, his hand grips my waist. And his mouth crashes hard against mine in a starved kiss. My eyes snap wide open in shock and panic at Nate’s sudden action. His lip







