Chapter 14
In the days that followed, I often stayed tucked away in the studio, trying to pick up the brush. again.
But I hadn’t painted for many years and it wasn’t an easy thing to do.
I spent a whole month locked in the studio without finishing a single complete painting, overwhelmed by waves of frustration.
Late at night, I stared at the gardenias blooming in the small courtyard, feeling gloomy.
The gardenias were in full bloom, their fragrance filling the entire yard. But the scent did nothing to ease the heaviness in my heart.
“It’s pretty hot today. Want some watermelon?” Without me noticing, Jason appeared behind me, carrying a plate of watermelon.
I was a bit surprised. “How did you get here?”
Jason looked pitiful and said, “I have a wife who’s been working late every night for three and a half days straight. When she comes home, she barely talks to me. My mom keeps asking if I’ve upset you. I tried to explain to her, but she didn’t believe me. Tonight, she kicked me out, saying it I don’t make you happy, I’m not coming back.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Jason, you’re the heir of the Clark Family, who dares to kick you out of the house?”
He sighed, “I’m at the bottom of the family food chain. It’s tough.”
As he spoke, he carefully picked the seeds out of the watermelon, one by one and fed them to me. The summer watermelon was cool, refreshing and juicy, sweet right to my heart.
After a whole month of failing to create a piece I was satisfied with, my gloom was gradually lifted by Jason.
He never once asked about my progress; instead, he cared only about whether I was eating well and taking care of myself, making sure I was truly living.
This routine went on for about three months until I finally finished my first work. I painted a midnight seascape. The waves were wild and turbulent, yet there was a person surfing on them.
Jason stood quietly in front of the painting for five minutes, then said, “The Eliza I know best is finally back.”
Hearing Jason say that, I secretly breathed a sigh of relief in my heart.
“No way I could have finished this painting without you. Come on, Mr. Clark, give this painting a
name.”
Jason pondered for a moment and said, “Rising Waves. May you always ride the wind and break the waves, achieving your dreams.”
Seeing that I didn’t respond for a while, he turned to look at me and asked, “Eliza, why are you crying?”
“It’s all your fault, spouting those unexpectedly touching words! My eyes are burning!”
Jason stepped forward and embraced me, gently wiping away my tears. “It’s all my fault. I won’t
440 pm
dare do that again.”
In the days that followed, I immersed myself even more in my art because I wanted to hold a solo exhibition.
It had always been one of my regrets.
Back then, I debuted under the pen name RED and in my first year, I won a major avand and gained a large fanbase.
A well–known gallery even sent me an invitation, wanting to hold an exhibition for me and represent my artwork.
But before I could respond, the Robert Family discovered everything and forced me to part dows my brush.
I thought that by dedicating myself to creation, the matter with Edward was completely behind
- me.
I never expected that I would meet Edward again.
More precisely, he sought me out deliberately.
4:40 pm D
