Chapter 4

After leaving, I immediately called my brother, Cameron.

"Can you come home?"

"What, is the old man finally calling me back to inherit the family fortune?

"Tell him I'm making more money than him now, I'm not coming back.

"But your voice... what's wrong? Were you just crying?"

Cameron had been very rebellious as a teenager, running off abroad and refusing to return.

He didn't even show up for my wedding.

Dad, furious, cut off all contact with him.

Outside, rumors even circulated that he was dead.

"I've been wronged."

"I'll be right back. Whatever you need, I'll help you."

Seven days later, Julian returned, almost giddy with excitement.

"I want to introduce you to someone. But promise me you won't get angry, okay?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Seraphina Blake casually walked through the door, a subtle smirk playing on her lips.

How dare they?!

Before I could react, Julian pulled me down onto the sofa, kneeling in front of me.

"I know because of that painting, you might see her as a rival.

"But I brought her back solely to secure investment from Maplewood Venture Capital.

"Her brother knows Maplewood's controlling stakeholder."

All of this was my plan. That mysterious controlling stakeholder was my brother.

I just never expected him to bring Seraphina directly to me!

"You've been in contact with her this whole time?"

Julian clearly had his story ready.

"I ran into her by chance during my business trip.

"Maplewood is holding a large art exhibition here and will be looking for excellent art investment companies to inject capital into.

"She told me all about it."

Seraphina seized the opportunity to walk over to me.

"Alexa, for art students, these things are nothing out of the ordinary.

"Me standing naked in front of him was no different to him than those plaster statues.

"Please don't misunderstand us because of that painting and jeopardize Julian's career."

No different to him than those plaster statues. The memory from the alley flashed back.

Julian composed himself and squeezed my hand. "There's one more thing," he said, his tone deliberate.

"I need Seraphina to stay here. Too many eyes are on this project. I have to ensure perfection."

His gaze held its usual, practiced sincerity.

Julian, I thought, you must be so tired from all this acting.

"Of course," I heard myself say. "The bigger picture is more important."

A swift, furtive glance passed between them.

I swallowed the bitterness and told myself to treat it as exposure therapy.

In the days that followed, I felt like a ghost in my own home.

The brief eye contact across the dinner table, the accidental brush of shoulders on the stairwell...

I saw everything.

It must be so hard for you to hold back, Julian.

I'll make sure you both get exactly what you deserve.