erate act of a woman who couldn' t bear to live with her disfigurement. The news reported it as a suicide. Noah pla

symbol of their new beginning, a light born from his immense sorrow. He became a philanthropist, his c

oah had designed for me. The evidence I left behind, the carefully leaked recording of his conversation with Liam, had been dismisse

burie

t, silvery web around my eyes and along my jaw, but I didn't hide them. They were a part of my new identity. I was no longer Ava, the naive artist. I was Helena, a sharp, unspa

crowded, glittering art gallery, a glass of champagne in my hand. The event was

ed. He moved through the crowd with the same easy charisma, shaking hands, smiling his perfect, false smile. Beside him was Chloe, dripp

s, a tool his parents used to sell their story. I felt a pang of s

destrian, don' t you think?"

a kind face smiled at me. "He b

Philanthropy is often the last re

elena. I' ve read your columns. B

he crowd, his path inevitably leading him toward my section of the room. My

ting near me, making a show of studying it. C

ative quiet around the artwork. "It speaks of a deep, internal confli

rest, the kind he gave to any wealthy donor. He didn' t

he said, his smile pr

aze direct. "Everyone does. The questi

r of confusion crossed his face. Chloe looked at me wit

rry?" No

ed from him to the painting. "It doesn' t care about your public image or your carefully

For a moment, just a moment, I saw a flicker of unease, a ghost of a memory tr

a laugh. "You certainly

smile never reaching my eyes.

e, his perfect evening momentarily disrupted. It wa

t. And I was just