Chapter 17
17
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Meanwhile , at Cole Manor , Liam strode up to the fourth floor , his sharp eyes landing on a heavy door , locked tight . “ Why’s this sealed shut ? ” he asked , his
voice clipped .
Lucy , the housekeeper , glanced nervously at the door . “ That’s Madam’s training room . No one’s allowed in except for cleaning . ”
Liam’s jaw tightened , his tone turning icy . “ Open it . Now . ”
Lucy scrambled with the keys , and the door swung open , a cool breeze slipping in from the towering windows .
Liam smoothed his hair back and stepped inside , his boots clicking tap – tap – tap against the polished floor .
The room was a fitness junkie’s wet dream : Roman chair , treadmill , butterfly machine , barbells – every piece top – tier and clearly broken in .
Liam’s gaze swept over the setup , a flicker of approval sparking in his
est . He had no patience for women who squandered money on pointless toys .
A heavy punching bag angle in th center , fed boing gloves to
Aria’s a boxer ? ‘ he thought , his brow arching .
d nearby .
To the side , a wooden board leaned against the wall . Curious , Liam stepped closer – and froze .
The thing was peppered with needle marks , so dense it made his skin crawl . ‘ What the hell was she
up to ? ‘ he wond
He waved Lucy over . “ Rip this board out . It’s creepy as hell . And chuck everything else in here . Replace it all , same models , same specs . ”
He’d scoped out the gym gear already – everything was high – end , the best the best .
Hannah lived for boxing , and he thought this place was like it was built just for her .
Lucy’s face twisted with worry . “ Sir , Madam’s gear is custom – made . 1 don’t know the models . ”
“ No paperwork ? ” Liam snapped , his patience fraying .
Lucy’s eyes lit up . “ Actually , there’s a list ! Hang on . ”
Five minutes later , she handed him a folder . Liam’s eyes nearly popped out of his skull . “ Thirty million ? She blew 30 million on this stuff ? What a freaking money pit ! ”
Lucy shrank back , biting her lip . She wanted to mention Aria had paid for it herself , but Liam’s scowl shut her up fast .
Liam’s chest burned , but he forced a deep breath . “ Fine . Just ditch the board . Keep the rest , but get it cleaned up . I want it looking like it just rolled off the factory line . ”
“ Yes , sir ,” Lucy mumbled , darting off .
Liam kept wandering , pausing when he spotted a few paintings in the guest bedroom . “ These hers too ? ” he asked , his voice low and taut .
“ Yes , sir . She brought them here ,” Lucy said softly./
Liam’s eyes narrowed , a scoff slipping out . “ She / hauls home every piece of trash she finds , doesn’t she ? ”
He reached for one of the paintings , ready to have it tossed , when his gaze caught a bold , swirling signature in the corner : [ Mono . ]
His breath hitched . He eased the painting back onto the wall , leaning in close .
Three pieces an old man’s weathered face , a flock of birds in flight , a misty mountain ridge all signed Mono .
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Mon , 26 May MT .
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Mono , the reclusive genius painter , was a legend , his stark realist works coveted across the globe . His pieces were worth a fortune , fought over by collectors with bottomless wallets .
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Twenty years ago , at just fifty , he’d dropped off the map . A decade later , he resurfaced with Caged Girl , a dark , soul – shaking masterpiece that turned the art world upside down .
Someone threw 1.3 billion at it ; Mono didn’t even blink . After that , he went quiet again .
Whispers spread that he’d taken a secret apprentice , passing Caged Girl to them .
Mono didn’t take students , only offered guidance to a select few . People had been obsessed with unmasking his disciple for years , but no one got close .
‘ Aria with three Mono paintings ? No freaking way . Those have gotta be knockoffs , ‘ Liam thought , his mind racing .
Framed and flawless , the paintings stared back at him . Liam’s pulse raced .
He’d seen Mono’s work before , and these – the brushwork , the raw energy , the signatures – felt too real .
“ Are these copies by his apprentice ? Does Aria know them ? ‘ His mind churned , questions stacking up like storm clouds as he stood in the hushed room .
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