“Erving, did you see it? My painting finally went viral!”
Erving stroked her hair affectionately. “That’s because you’re a talented painter.”
He didn’t even mention that she’d used my body as her subject. When he noticed me, he barely looked up. “What are you doing here? It’s cold outside. Wear something warm.”
“That painting,” I said, my voice shaking, each word forced out through clenched teeth. “Did you tell her to paint it?”
He frowned, stubbed out his cigarette, and rose as if to pull me into his arms. But I shoved him away with all my strength.
Annoyance flickered across his face before he masked it with his usual soothing tone. “Mandy, don’t make a scene. Anya’s dream has always been to become a great artist, but no one paid attention to her work. I just helped her a little.”
“Helped her?” I laughed, but my tears spilled over before I could stop them. “You call that help? Using my body? Erving, what do you think I am—a prop for you to flaunt whenever you guys want?”
“You’re overreacting.” He frowned even more. “Your face isn’t in the painting. No one can prove it’s you. The hype will die down in a few days. Anya stayed up nights working on that painting. Can’t you just show a little understanding?”
That sentence was like a knife, piercing my heart violently.
I looked at the man in front of me and remembered how he had chased me five years ago.
Back then, his eyes were full of me. But now, his indifference and cruelty were just as real.
I wiped my tears and made my decision. “Erving, we’re getting a divorce.”
His face darkened instantly. The air around him seemed to thicken. He stepped forward and gripped my wrist so hard I thought he might break my bones.
“Divorce? Mandy, don’t forget—your mom is still staying in the hospital under my name. The doctors, the equipment, everything there—you owe that to me. If you leave, her treatment—”
“Erving!”
I widened my eyes in terror, unable to believe he would threaten me with my mom!
Her heart condition had always been my weakness. For years, I had relied entirely on his resources for her treatment. I never imagined that dependence would become the very chain he would use to control me.
His grip tightened. His gaze was dark and obsessive. “Behave, Mandy. Don’t push me.”
A cold dread washed over me. I felt myself falling into a bottomless pit, realizing that no matter how I struggled, I was already trapped in his web.