---- Chapter 9 Chloe' s POV: | used the money | had secretly saved over the years to open a small art studio in the town square. It was called "The Quiet Easel." | taught painting classes to children in the afternoons, their innocent laughter and bright, messy canvases filling the space with a simple, uncomplicated joy. There was a time when all | wanted was for my talent to be recognized, for the world to see what | could create. Now, all | wanted was this. The quiet hum of my small town, the smell of turpentine and oil paints, the freedom to create without expectation or agenda. A month into my new life, | received a call from a blocked number. It was the agency that had helped me orchestrate my "death." "He's still looking for you, Ms. Vance," the agent said, his voice professional and detached. A cold, humorless laugh escaped my lips. "Why would a man look for a ghost?" "He doesn' t believe you' re gone. He' s been to every gallery you ever showed at, talked to every old friend. Our protocols have held, of course. No one knows anything. But he' s... ---- persistent." The agent paused. "He' s not doing well. The scandal has ruined him. Your social media posts... they painted a very clear picture of a man who was emotionally absent. The public sees him as a monster." "He is a monster," | said, my voice flat as | looked out the window at the children playing in the park across the street. "He goes back to the marina every day. Just stands there for hours, looking out at the water. The press is calling it his 'penance' | listened to all of this as if he were talking about a character in a movie. The man he was describing had nothing to do with me anymore. Gabriel' s reputation, his career, his guilt-it was all his own burden to bear. He had treated our marriage, my love, like a game. Now he was paying the price. "What about her?" | asked, my voice devoid of emotion. "What about Aria?" "Your video proved everything. The competition organizers rescinded her award and banned her for life. The press is calling it one of the biggest art frauds in recent history. Gabriel filed for divorce. Her family has disowned her. She' s a pariah." n "Good," | said simply. | didn' t need to hear any more "He and Ms. Avila had a spectacular falling out," the agent ---- continued, as if reading from a script. "She claims she had nothing to do with your... decision. He blames her for everything. For distracting him, for turning his head, for making him forget what was important." A small, bitter smile touched my lips. He could blame her all he wanted. They deserved each other. "He regrets it," the agent concluded. "He regrets it all, very deeply." | looked at my reflection in the studio window. A woman with short-cropped hair and calm, clear eyes looked back at me. "| hope he regrets it for the rest of his life," | said, and hung up the phone. Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!