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Chapter 14

Author: E. L. Knox
Jenny texted: [Emily, Daniel's in the hospital.]

I didn't answer.

[He crashed while looking for you. Almost died. First thing he asked when he woke up was, "What day is it?" Even the doctors think he's lost it.]

I stared at the screen, took a breath, and deleted the thread.

"Bad news?" Luca asked.

"No. Past tense."

After that, I disappeared into painting.

Up by five. Started the second the light hit the studio. Bread and cheese for lunch. No breaks. I'd keep going until Luca knocked late at night.

"You'll burn out," he said, frowning.

"I can't wait anymore." I glanced at the three finished canvases. "I've waited too long."

He paused. "Need a model? I'm game."

And just like that, he was in all of them—his blond hair in morning light, his focused face while carving, that calm, steady smile.

"You make me look better than real life," he said.

"You already look good."

He blinked, then smiled. "Thanks."

A month later, I had all five pieces done. Matheo took one look and said t
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  • You Chose Her, Remember?   Chapter 20

    A Month Later – TuscanyThe wedding was held at the Belmont family's century-old estate. Small guest list, but packed with heavy hitters from the art and finance scenes."Nervous?" Jenny adjusted my dress."Not even a little." I looked in the mirror—custom Vera Wang, Cartier tiara, pink diamond necklace from Luca. Dream dress, dream day, dream guy."By the way," Jenny paused, "there's something I should tell you. Daniel, he—""Don't say his name. Not today.""Got it." She let it go.The music started. I took Luca's dad's arm and stepped into the aisle. Luca stood beneath the floral arch, eyes soft and steady."I do." We said it together.As he slid the ring on, I glanced down. The scar from two years ago? Gone. Replaced by something brand new."I love you, Emily." He kissed me.The crowd erupted. Rose petals floated down like confetti.This was it. The wedding I dreamed of. The life I chose.***Meanwhile, across the ocean, in a run-down apartment—Daniel sat in his whee

  • You Chose Her, Remember?   Chapter 19

    I woke up to my phone buzzing. NYPD."Emily Egerton? I'm sorry—your husband, Daniel Wilson, jumped off a hotel roof..."The phone slipped from my hand."...He's alive. Both legs shattered, spine wrecked. Docs say he'll never walk again. First thing he said when he woke up? 'Tell Emily... today is Day 151.'"I hung up. Just stared out at the Venice skyline.Luca knocked, stepped in. "You okay?""He jumped," I said. Calm. "Didn't die. Just broke himself.""His call," Luca said, sitting next to me. "Not on you.""I know." I leaned on his shoulder. "Guess now he's got forever to count."My lawyer called."Ms. Egerton, huge break in your father's case. Police got their hands on an audio recording—from Sophie Montrose's ex."My heart kicked hard. "What kind of recording?""It's Sophie and Daniel. He told her to have someone inject your dad with a sedative to delay surgery. Sophie upped the dose. She's been arrested in Zurich—being extradited. Daniel's looking at murder charges on

  • You Chose Her, Remember?   Chapter 18

    "She's not your wife.""Legally, she still is!" He yanked out some paper. "See? New York court ruling. She bailed, so they tossed the divorce!"I grabbed it. It checked out."So what?" I ripped it up. "You think that's gonna hold me?""Emily, come back to New York," he begged, voice cracking. "I swear—I'll remember everything this time. Your birthday, our anniversary, all of it... I wrote it down. Look!"He flipped through a notebook like a madman. Every page was packed with notes about me."Too late," I said, flat. "I'm not staying with someone who needs a notebook just to remember me.""Please!" He dropped to his knees out of nowhere. "Emily, I'm begging you! In front of everyone—I'm kneeling! Day 150—I finally got on my knees!"The crowd gasped. Wall Street's golden boy, wrecked and counting days on the floor."Please, just come home." He was full-on sobbing. "I can't breathe without you. I've been waiting 150 days...""Then go die."I said it cold.It hit him like a kni

  • You Chose Her, Remember?   Chapter 17

    The whole restaurant went dead quiet."Sorry for ruining dinner," I said.Luca shook his head and took my hand."No. You were brave."We walked out, Daniel's screams still echoing behind us.At St. Mark's Square, pigeons flapped beneath the moonlight."You okay?" Luca asked."Never better." I looked up at the stars. "You know what's wild? Seeing him like that doesn't make me feel any better.""Why not?""Because my dad's still gone." My voice stayed even. "No matter how much Daniel breaks, it won't bring him back."Luca squeezed my hand."Let the past stay in the past. What matters now is the future.""You're right." I turned to him. "Luca.""Yeah?""Thank you for showing up in my life."He paused, then smiled."It's an honor, Emily."Moonlight spilled over everything as we walked through the quiet alleys of Venice, side by side.***In the shadows they left behind, Daniel leaned against a wall, scribbling.[Day 134: She held someone else's hand. I'll keep counting.

  • You Chose Her, Remember?   Chapter 16

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  • You Chose Her, Remember?   Chapter 15

    The Venice Biennale was even bigger than I pictured.Artists, collectors, critics—everyone who mattered was here. Luca guided me through the pavilions, casually name-dropping as we went."That's Robert Rappolt, editor-in-chief of ArtReview," he whispered. "Landing his cover? Basically your VIP pass into the art world."Robert looked exactly like you'd expect—British, serious, tortoiseshell glasses."Luca speaks highly of you. Says you're the next Tracey Emin.""He's exaggerating.""Your work will speak for itself." He adjusted his glasses. "Tomorrow, 3 p.m. Venice Academy of Fine Arts. Bring your portfolio."An interview. The kind every artist dreams about."I'll be there." I tried not to lose it.On the gondola ride back, Luca clocked my nerves."Relax. Your stuff's strong.""What if I mess it up?""Then you try again." He stared out at the city glowing over the water. "Failing's whatever. Giving up? That's the real loss."I watched him, silhouetted in the moonlight."Wh

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