Home / Romance / His Forbidden Model: The Professor's Obsession / Chapter 111 - Chapter 120

All Chapters of His Forbidden Model: The Professor's Obsession: Chapter 111 - Chapter 120

121 Chapters

111

Davin"The Times wants an interview."I looked up from the painting in front of me as Lucas walked into the studio, dropped into the chair across from my desk, and placed a printed email in front of me. I picked it up and read through the first few lines, already knowing what he was going to say before he opened his mouth again."They want to interview you before the opening. They’re calling the collection the most anticipated show of the season." Then he added, "And before you say anything, I already know what you're going to say."I arched an eyebrow. "You do?""Yes. You're going to tell me you don't like interviews, that you prefer your work to speak for itself, and that you don't need strangers analyzing your life."My lips curved. "Huh. I guess Peggy was right," I muttered. "You do know me too well after all."He snorted, leaning back in his seat. "Why wouldn't I? You've given me the same answer every time I've suggested it for the past three years."I set the paper down. "If you

112

Jasmine"Jasmine, you need to see this."Priya’s voice pulled me away from the half-packed box sitting open at my feet. I had spent most of the afternoon sorting through my apartment, deciding what was worth taking with me after graduation and what I could finally leave behind. Books filled one box, clothes another, while everything I still hadn’t figured out where to put had been pushed into a growing pile beside my bed.I looked up to see Priya standing across the room with her laptop in both hands, staring at me with an expression that immediately made me nervous."What happened?""Nothing. Just look." She crossed the room and held the laptop out to me.I took it, expecting some ridiculous campus gossip or another message about graduation.Instead, I saw the headline.RECLUSIVE ARTIST’S GALLERY RETURN DRAWS INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION: COLLECTION DEDICATED TO ‘THE WOMAN WHO CHANGED MY LIFE.’My fingers tightened around the edge of the laptop, and I stopped breathing for a second.My ha

113

Jasmine“Jasmine Elizabeth Buston.”For a second, I just stood there, listening to my name echo through the auditorium. I was followed by the applause of hundreds of people, but the only sound I could really hear was my mother cheering from somewhere in the crowd.“That’s my girl!”I smiled so hard my cheeks hurt. I walked across the stage, suddenly too aware of every step I took as I approached the dean.The dean shook my hand and placed my diploma in my hand. “Congratulations, Jasmine.”I smiled. “Thank you, Ma’am.”I stepped away from the podium and paused at the edge of the stage. From there, I could see hundreds of graduates and their families. Some were crying, others were taking pictures, and a few were already laughing and talking about what they were going to do after the ceremony.I looked down at the diploma in my hands. I had done it. Four years of late nights, exams, scholarship requirements, part-time jobs, tears, mistakes, and moments when I had wondered if I was strong

114

Jasmine“Final boarding call for flight two-twelve to Ashbourne.”I tightened my grip on my boarding pass and joined the line toward the gate. My suitcase rolled behind me, but I barely noticed the sound of its wheels against the floor. My attention had been fixed on the same thought all morning.I was going back years after leaving that city. Three years since I had seen Davin and allowed myself to imagine what it would feel like to stand in front of him again. And now I was moving back.I’d spent weeks convincing myself this was just a gallery visit. Nothing more. I was there to see the collection and support someone who had once meant everything to me.Except I knew myself better than that.If it was only about the paintings, I wouldn’t have been this nervous.The flight attendant checked my pass and waved me through. I thanked her, then made my way to my window seat and settled in, placing my bag under the seat, trying to ignore the way my hands were still slightly shaking.The wo

115

“You look beautiful.”Ari stood behind me, fastening the clasp of my necklace. Her hands were surprisingly steady, considering mine had been trembling for the last hour.I looked at myself in the mirror.The navy dress fell neatly around my body, elegant without trying too hard. I had worn it once before, years ago, on a night that had changed almost everything about my life.I had kept it tucked at the back of my closet ever since, and maybe some part of me had always known I would need it again.“Are you ready?” Ari asked.I gave her a nervous laugh. “Not even close.”“You’ve been saying that since you bought the ticket.”“And I haven’t changed my mind.” I looked at myself in the mirror. “That’s what counts for something, right?”Ari rested her hands on my shoulders and met my gaze in the reflection. “Good.”She had flown out that morning and refused to let me go to the gallery alone. Bella had arrived a few hours later, bringing her usual energy with her. Between the two of them, t

116

Davin“Jasmine.”Her name left my mouth before I could stop it. For three years, I had wondered what it would feel like to see her again. I had pictured finding her in a crowded room, hearing her voice, wondering what I would say when we finally stood face to face. But none of my imaginings came close to this.She was standing in the middle of my gallery in the navy dress I remembered, her copper hair falling over her shoulders. Her eyes were already blurry with unshed tears.For a moment, I couldn’t move. I just stared at her. The microphone was still in my hand, but I had forgotten about it. The guests around me had disappeared into a blur of faces and movement, and all I could see was the woman I had spent so long trying to get out of my mind.She had changed. There was a confidence in the way she stood that hadn’t been there before. She looked older and steadier, but when her eyes met mine, I saw the same warmth that had always undone me. And whatever control I had left began to s

117

JasmineDavin took my hand after the applause had settled, his thumb moving slowly over my knuckles as if he still needed the reassurance that I was standing beside him.“There’s one more thing.”I looked at him. “You’re not done yet?”He gave me a small smile. “I saved the best for last.”I laughed softly. “You really know how to keep a girl nervous.”“Come with me.”He led me toward the far end of the gallery, where a heavy curtain covered a section of the wall, and stopped in front of it.He glanced at me for a moment, almost uncertain, and that alone caught me off guard. Davin Jackson had always seemed like a man who knew exactly what he wanted to say.Seeing him hesitate made me wonder: What could possibly be behind that curtain that is making him so uncertain?“Okay,” he said quietly. “Before you see it, there’s something you should know.”“What?”“I almost didn’t show this to you.”My brows furrowed. “Why?”“Because I didn’t know if you’d think it was too much.”I studied his f

118

Jasmine“Jasmine?”I turned at the unfamiliar voice and found a woman standing a few feet away, studying me with a hesitant smile. I knew her immediately. I’d seen her in old photographs so many times that recognizing her in person felt easy.“Evelyn?”Her smile widened. “Okay, good. I was really hoping you’d say that.”I laughed softly. “I’d know you anywhere.”“That’s a relief.” She stepped closer. “We never actually met, did we?”I shook my head. “No, not properly.”She glanced toward the crowd, then back at me. “I’ve heard so much about you that I feel like we have.”I smiled. “He talked about you too. A lot. Back when…” I hesitated, suddenly unsure how to explain it to her.Evelyn raised a brow. “Back when you two were together?”I nodded. “Yeah.”Evelyn nodded. “I figured.” She reached for my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “He told me everything eventually, after months of squabbles. You know Davin isn’t exactly the easiest person to get information out of.”I laughed. “I kn

119

JasmineEvelyn made it clear she wasn’t joking about the wedding when she showed up at Davin’s house the following Saturday with a folder tucked under her arm and three venue brochures sticking out of it.She dropped the folder and brochures on the kitchen table and pulled out a chair. “Don’t look at me like that.”I looked at the folder, then at her. “I haven’t said anything.”“You were about to.”Davin walked in behind her, wearing a dark T-shirt and sweatpants, his hair still messy from sleep. He stopped when he saw the brochures spread across the table.“What’s happening?”“Evelyn has started planning our wedding.”His eyes moved from the brochures to his sister. “Already?”“Already?” Evelyn shot back. “You proposed last night. What exactly did you think was going to happen?”Davin looked at me like he wanted backup, but I just lifted my coffee. “Don’t look at me. I’m staying out of this.”“Traitor.”I laughed under my breath as she arranged the brochures across the table.The fir

120

Jasmine“Hold still,” my mother said, pushing another pin into place. “You’re going to ruin an hour of work if you keep moving.”“I can’t help it. I’m getting married in two hours.”“I’m aware.” She met my eyes in the mirror and smiled. “I’ve been aware since Evelyn started circling April on every calendar in this house.”I laughed, but my hands were still restless in my lap.My mother stepped back and studied my reflection. Her expression softened, and I knew that look. I had seen it when I graduated and when I came home from the university after everything fell apart. Her lips pressed together for a moment, and she blinked before looking away.“You look beautiful,” she said. “Really beautiful.”I looked at myself again.The ivory dress fell softly around me, simple but elegant, with delicate embroidery along the hem. Evelyn had taken me shopping three different times before we finally agreed on it. She had complained about every dress that was too plain, too dramatic, too traditiona

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