Chapter 3

Emily helped me rent a penthouse with a little courtyard in the neighboring city.

The place was so close to the ocean that as soon as I opened the window, the salty, damp air washed over me.

I set up my studio right by the floor-to-ceiling windows, so sunlight could flood the whole space.

The first week after leaving Edward, I was like a ghost.

I'd sleep in until the sun was blazing, then sit there, lost, staring at a blank canvas.

My left hand was still recovering, too weak to do much, and there was a restless fire inside…