displayed on the walls. My hands were shaking as I walked across the room, holding the fami

uld see the love I had poured into this painting. It wasn't just a piece of art-it was a symbol of my hope, my dream for our family. I

it in silence like she was deciding whether it was worth her time or n

said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Let me guess, you're hoping to hang

t her break me. "No, that's not why I painted it," I said, my voice steady.

touching," she said, rolling her eyes. "But let's be

thing right now. I turned to her, hoping for something that would make this feel

s cold as ice. Finally, she spoke, but her words hit me harder

ogetherness of our family, but all I got was "fine." I swallowed the lump in my th

of wealthy women approached us,

voice bright with admiration as she leaned in

e steady even though I fe

g me compliments I hadn't expected. "It's lovely," one said,

e. Maybe this wasn't a complete failure afte

it was-a small oil paint stain. How had I missed it? I panicked. My hand shook as

uldn't come off. Panic swirled in my ches

our painti

me with his usual smug smile. I forced a small smile and no

id after a moment, but the way he spoke made it clear that he did

dn't say anything. I wasn't

cking on the floor as she approached. Desmond followed c

ila asked, her voice drip

Phillip said with a smirk, his eyes glin

g into a mocking smile. "Oh, you're still trying, aren't you

eak up. That he would defend me. But Desmond didn't even

as if she had every right to do so. "See?" she said, h

could feel my face turning bright red with humiliation. I wanted to s

he didn't. He just stood there, letting Tila cling to him, looking at her wi

and rushed inside, slamming it behind me. I leaned over the sink, staring at my reflection in the mi

g me. I splashed cold water on my face, trying to wash away the hurt, but it didn't help.

wn. But when I opened the bathroom door and stepped

ing," he said, his ton

uttered, ste

t me. There was a mix of pity and frustration in his gaze.

nderstanding. "W

"Your husband and your sister. They're making a fo

know what you're talking about,"

elief. "Don't play dumb. You saw it with your ow

deep down, a small part of me knew he was right. I had seen it. I had seen how Desmond had look

urt you. But you need to wake up. Your husband doesn't care about you. Your sister certainly

hard to swallow. I wanted to deny it, to say that it wasn