Shattered Glass Unbroken Soul Chapter 09
On the opening day of the exhibition, the first wave of visitors stopped dead in their tracks in front of the main piece.
The canvas Piper had defaced with that eye-rolling frog had been completely reborn.
In the painting, a girl was ripping off a grotesque sticker. She had her head thrown back, embracing the vibrant green lights of the aurora.
Professor Alder stood beside me. She spoke softly.
“You painted the pain beautifully.”
I shook my head.
“It’s not beautiful. It’s just finally mine.”
Elias took a glass of champagne on my behalf. He lowered his voice.
“You don’t drink alcohol, do you?”
I smiled.
“I don’t.”
He handed the champagne back to the waiter and swapped it for a cup of hot tea.
The tea had just warmed my palms when a sudden commotion broke out near the entrance.
I looked up and saw two familiar figures.
Drew had lost so much weight he was nearly unrecognizable. His black coat hung off his frame like a ghost.
Piper had lost all her bright, bubbly energy. Her hair was tied back in a messy knot. Dark, bruised circles bruised the skin under her eyes.
They had clearly rushed all the way here.
Drew pushed his way through the crowd and walked straight up to me.
His eyes were bloodshot. His voice was so raspy I could barely hear him.
“Avery.”
I didn’t answer.
He pulled a ring box from his pocket and dropped to one knee.
The guests around us fell completely silent.
“I didn’t make a bet with anyone. This isn’t a joke.” He looked up at me, his voice shaking. “I’m begging you. Marry me. Let me spend the rest of my life making it up to you, please?”
Piper stepped closer, sobbing quietly. She reached out to grab my sleeve.
“Avery, I finally know what boundaries are. I got fired from my job because I messed with a coworker. I have nothing left. Can we just go back to the way things were?”
I took a step back. Dodged her hand.
Drew remained kneeling on the floor. His arm was still raised, holding the velvet box.
“I sold the apartment. You can have all the money. Your laptop, your competition, everything you lost. I’ll pay for it all. I’ll do whatever you want.”
I looked down at him.
“Drew. All I ever wanted was for you guys to keep your hands off my life in the first place.”Â