All Chapters of BURN FOR ME.... Mr COLE: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

The house was silent. That kind of silence that was left behind after Eleanor was gone. Damian was standing in the kitchen. Making coffee. 2 cups. Out of habit. Then he remembered. Now there was only 1. He poured the second cup into the sink. It made a sound. Damian closed his eyes. Ava came in from behind. Silently. She hugged him from behind, around his waist. "It's okay," she said. "I used to do the same." Damian didn't turn around. He just took her hand in his. "Couldn't sleep?" "No." "The dream again?" "Yes. Mom was saying `the coffee got cold`." Ava turned his face toward her. "Come. We're not going out today. Today it's just us." Damian nodded. But there was still that emptiness in his eyes. ---*DAY 322-325: THE WEIGHT*Four days passed. Damian went to office. Worked. Had meetings. But at night he'd come back and sit on the sofa. Scroll his phone. Nothing. Ava noticed. He wasn't smiling. Wasn't painting ei

*DAY 350. MONDAY. 6:00 AM.*The house was empty. Damian opened his eyes. The spot beside him was cold. Empty. "Ava?" No answer. He checked the bathroom. Kitchen. Studio. In the studio the easel was knocked over. Paint on the floor. And on the table, 1 envelope. Written on it: `FOR DAMIAN` Damian's hand started shaking. He opened the envelope. Inside was Ava's handwriting. Written in a hurry. The ink was smudged in places. From tears. `Dami, I lost. What happened yesterday at the gallery... Everyone saw. My painting was the smallest. The worst. People were laughing. "Is she even an artist?" I heard them. I tried. For you. For Mom. For myself. But I guess I'm not even a painter. You took care of me for 60 days. Healed my hand. Put my heart back together. And me... I'm not good enough for you. You deserve some strong girl. Someone who wins. I only break. I'm leaving. Somewhere far. Where no one knows

*DAY 381. FRIDAY. 4:20 AM.*Riverside. Mountains. Mud. Rain. Damian’s car was parked outside the village. Engine off. Wipers running. He opened the door. His foot got stuck in the mud. He kicked it. "AVA!" No answer. Only the sound of the river. Clara came from behind. With an umbrella. "Brother, come inside. You’ll get soaked." Damian shoved her. "I want to get soaked." --- *DAY 381: THE SEARCH*6 AM. The village was waking up. Damian knocked on every door. Photo in his hand. Ava’s. From the bus stop. "Have you seen this girl?" Old man: "No son." Women: "No." Kids: "No." One woman said: "Yes, 2 days ago. Sitting by the river. Crying." Damian’s heart slammed. "Where did she go?" "Don’t know. She kept saying `I’m a burden`." Damian clenched his fist. "You’re not a burden." He yelled. The villagers were watching. Clara grabbed his hand. "Brother, lower your voice." Damian yanked his hand away. "She w

*DAY 398. SUNDAY. 2:00 PM.*The car entered the city. Ava looked out the window. Her city after 20 days. Her streets. Her hands were trembling. Damian held her hand. "Don't be scared." Ava whispered: "Will home be the same?" Damian kissed her hand. "No. This time it will feel more like home. Because you’re here." The gates opened. The gardener. The staff. Everyone stood in a line. Clara and Thomas were already there. Flowers at the gate. The moment the car stopped, Damian opened the door. And took Ava’s hand to help her out. Everyone bowed their heads. "Welcome back, Ma'am." Ava’s eyes filled with tears. Damian whispered: "Hold your head high. This is your home." ---*DAY 398: THE WELCOME*Inside. The same sofa. The same chandelier. The same scent. But everything had changed. Because Ava was back. Clara ran and hugged her. "You crazy girl. Why did you leave?" Ava broke down. "Forgive me." "Shh," Clara stroked he

*DAY 442. SUNDAY. 10:00 AM.*3 months. `AFTER THE STORM, HOME` sold for 50 million. Then print rights. Then museum deal. Then brand collabs. Ava Cole. Her name was everywhere. Magazine covers. Billboards. `THE BILLIONAIRE ARTIST` Forbes List: `Top 10 Self-Made Women Under 30` Net worth: 1.2 Billion. Damian’s house was now Ava’s gallery. ---*DAY 442: THE CHANGE*Morning. Ava woke up. Maid: "Good morning, Ma'am." Driver: "Ma'am, the car is ready." PR team: "Ma'am, you have 3 interviews today." Ava looked in the mirror. Designer dress. Heels. Diamond ring. That same blue one. She smiled. "I made it." Damian was making coffee in the kitchen. "Up, billionaire." Ava kissed him. On the cheek. Quick one. "I have a meeting. We’ll talk tonight." Damian handed her the cup. "Breakfast?" "No time. Flight to New York." And she left. Damian stood there, holding the cup. ---*DAY 443-450: THE FAME*1 week. Ava. New York.