She stopped and picked up a drink from a waiter and turned around.
This was her life. These were here people. She glanced around the room. She’d painted half of these people already in one way or the other as dark creatures longing for something more.
Not that anyone would ever see her paintings.
Not that she wanted them too.
She sipped her drink and remembered holding Cristian. Her arms ached though she sipped the wine that tasted sour to her lips. Good was supposed to be in this world too and not just these mindless games and people where nothing mattered.
Her heart pounded that she was in the wrong place. She put her glass down on a table and decided she didn’t need to be here.
Tonight was her last night before she transformed herself into whatever this Duc Astorre Manfredi wanted her to be. She’d figure that out once she actually met him. She could play any part.
But for now, it was best to go. She kept her shoulders high, smiled and made her way out the door.
The valet hadn’t even moved her car yet. Perfect. She slipped him her last five euros and took her keys back.
No one noticed her as she drove off, and headed home.
Her parents would be at her sister’s for hours. There was time and for the last time Chelsea needed to do something for herself. She needed to never forget Cristian’s coo or the emptiness her friends made her feel. Tonight she’d find a way to express that in a painting no one would ever see.
Perhaps then she’d find a way to let whatever bothered her go. Life wasn’t supposed to be boring. At least not hers.
As she found her way to her hidden studio in the wrecked part of the house no one fixed up, she prayed that the emptiness wasn’t part of her soul forever. She wasn’t sure how to survive if she was truly one of the lost that she was about to paint.
Princes of Avce
Forbidden Crown
Forbidden Prince
Forbidden Royal
Forbidden Duke
Forbidden Earl
Forbidden Monsieur
Also by Victoria Pinder
Returning for Valentine’s (FREE if you go to my website)
Secret Crush
Secret Baby
Secret Bet
Secret Wish
Secret Dad
Secret Heir
Secret Tryst
Secret Date
Princes of Avce
Forbidden Crown
Forbidden Prince
Forbidden Royal
Forbidden Duke
Forbidden Earl
Forbidden Monsieur
The Hawke Fortune
Tempting Gabe
Tempting James
Tempting Conner
Tempting Harry
Tempting Navid
Brothers in Revenge
Irresistibly Charming
Irresistibly Tough (Coming Soon)
Irresistibly Played (Coming Soon)
A Frosted Game of Hearts
Winter Peril
Stormy Peril
Icy Peril
The Marshall Family Saga
Favorite Coffee, Favorite Crush
Favorite Coffee, Favorite Mistake
Favorite Coffee, Favorite Sin
Favorite Coffee, Favorite Scandal
The Collins Brothers
Chaperoning Paris
Borrowing the Doctor
Electing Love
Keeping the Spy
Keeping the Captain
Then if you also like Science Fiction/Fantasy Romance
Hidden Dragon Series
Dawn of the Dragon (Coming Soon)
The Queen Gene
Whispers of a Throne
Storm of the Throne (coming soon)
Earthseekers Mission
Makeup May Change Your Life
The Zoastra Affair
Ancient Greek Heroes
Mything You
Mything the Throne
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling Author, Victoria Pinder grew up in Irish Catholic Boston then moved to Miami. Eventually, found that writing is her passion. She always wrote stories to entertain herself. Her parents are practical minded people demanding a job, but when she sat down to see what she enjoyed doing, writing became obvious.
Visit my website and download a free novel
www.victoriapinder.com
victoria@victoriapinder.com