“This is just the beginning. You made me lose
Olivia. You’ll pay.” Blake’s voice was ice.
Ashley screamed curses as security dragged
her from the building. Blake returned to the
empty house, pulled the blue journal from the
back of a drawer, read through it, page by
page.
Every page was like a knife twisting in his
heart.
“I’m so sorry.” Blake curled up on the couch,
tears streaming down his face.
His assistant knocked, walked in. “Sir, we’ve
located Ms. Bennett. Needs to spend
everything to find her in Dark Web.”
Blake snapped his head up.
“I don’t care what it costs! Now!”
Blake didn’t disappoint.
His assistant got me information to the old
man.
“Florence, Italy. A small art town. She’s
started painting again, using the name
‘Summer.“”
“Book a flight. I’m leaving tomorrow.”
L
1
“But sir, the board meeting…”
“Cancel it! Cancel everything!”
Fourteen hours later, the plane soared
through the clouds. Blake stared out the window, numb.
He gripped the ruined painting in his hand.
A couple in love, embracing in the rain.
He’d never really looked at it before.
Now, he realized that the woman wasn’t some
stranger. It was me, wearing a mask.
The plane lurched, started to descend. But
nothing was as terrifying as the way he felt.
“Fasten your seatbelts. We are preparing for
landing.”
Florence’s sunlight was blinding. Blake, with
the address his assistant had given him,
walked to “Summer’s Dream” through the
narrow stone roads.
He stopped for a breath, pushing the door
open.
<
In the gallery, a familiar figure stood at an
easel, sunlight on her hair.
“Summer? Someone is here to see you.” The
gallery owner said in English.
She slowly turned.
A few stray strands of hair lifted in the
breeze. Sunlight streamed through the
windows, outlining her.
“Summer? Someone is here to see you.” The
gallery owner said in English.
She slowly turned, her eyes calm.
Blake stood in the doorway, frozen.
The woman in front of him was not like I he
remembers. A loose cotton dress. No makeup.
But more beautiful than ever. But the most
was that her eyes were calm.
“Olivia…” His voice trembled.
I nodded at him, my expression distant, like
he was just another customer. “Mr. Harrison. I
didn’t expect to see you here.”
“I’ve been looking for you.” Blake took a step
closer. “I know the truth. Ashley, she…”
“Stop.” I held up my hand, my voice flat.
“That’s all in the past. We’re even.”
Blake panicked, trying to explain. “No, you don’t understand! It was a mistake! Ashley
made everything up! The accidents…”
“I don’t need to know.” I put down my brush,
wiped my hands. “That’s all in the past.”
Blake tried to grab my hand. I easily stepped
back.
“Don’t do this, Olivia. Please, give me a
chance.”
“Mr. Harrison, I’m doing well now. I don’t want
to have anything to do with you.” I turned
away, arranged my painting tools. “Please
leave. This is where I work.”
Blake stood there, watching me, his heart
breaking.
The next day, a bouquet of flowers was
delivered to the gallery.
passed it to the front desk. “Send these to
the hospital.”
The day after that, Blake bought all my
paintings. He payed more than the markey
price.
I returned the check. “I don’t accept charity or
compensation.”
Every day after that, Blake stood across the
street, in the coffee shop, just to see me.
He awkwardly learned to drink coffee, tried to
talk to people, like a stalker.
The gallery owner asked, “Who is that Asian
man?”
“Nobody.” I replied.
A week later, Ashley found me.
“Olivia Bennett, don’t think you can run
away.” Her eyes flashed with anger, waved a
manila envelope in my face. “I have proof you
stole designs from the studio. The second I
<
stole designs from the studio. The second I make this public, your career will be ruined.”
I leaned against the doorframe, watching her. “And then what?”
Ashley’s patience snapped. “I want you to leave Blake alone, just get out!”
Blake flew up the stairs. “Ashley Carter, don’t you dare bother Olivia again!”
Ashley’s face changed, her voice going soft.
“Baby, listen, I just love you so much, she not
worth it-”
“Not now, Ashley.” Blake frowned, started.
“Let’s just talk about this.”
I watched, a smile playing on my lips.
I went inside, called the police, grabbed a
USB drive.
“The police are on their way, Miss Carter. I
have the recordings of you faking evidence
for years, and all of your lies.” I said. “Want to
wait to listen to those with the police.”
<
Ashley’s face turned white. “You’re lying!”
Five minutes later, the police arrived, and
Ashley was taken in for questioning. Blake seemed relieved. “Olivia, it’s lucky you
were ready. I can have my lawyer-”
“I don’t need your help. Especialically if you
just assume I’m the one who needs it.” I cut
him off. “if it was just me and you, would you
have told her to to ‘let it go‘?”
Blake looked shocked, unable to speak.
“I’m not that woman anymore.” I looked him in
the eyes.
The next day, Blake came to the gallery, with
a business proposal. “I want to invest in your
gallery, not as compensation, but commercial
operations.”
I didn’t even look. “I don’t need it.”
“What can I do?” Blake said.
“Nothing. I have an art show next month, then
I’m going to South America.”
“Have a nice life, Mr. Harrison.”
The first night of my art show, people filled the floor, with the spotlight on my paintings. My mother’s unfinished painting had a new life, and many people bought it.
“the greatest painter of all time.” Said the
reviews.
Blake watched from the corner.
I hated the camera flashes.
“What is the story of your life behind your
work?”
“Letting go and being born again.”
My thoughts ran to all the times.
The people I met at the moment.
Blake’s eyes were watching me.
A person had bought the painting, with five
times the price from the museum.
“He wants it more than the price.”
I rejected. “I can’t.”
Blake was there.
<
“I’m not gonna give in.”
Then, at last the after party.
The servant handed me a card. “It’s from a
chinese man.”
“I can’t have the chance to go to the past.
I can’t feel the memory coming.
The man who was going to propose to me
hugged me. “I love you.”
Blake wasn’t there.
Mark and I were on the red carpet.
7 years later
I was gone and back.
Mark whispered “You are very beautiful this
night.”
I took the ring and put it on.
“I do.”
Blake had disappeared from my world.
My story began a new chapter.
