He Buried Me But I Painted My Own Resurrection novel Chapter 58

Sienna remained silent, but her fingertips curled slightly against her palm.

She had painted that piece when she was seventeen, and her mind had been consumed entirely by the trauma of living with the Sawyers.

No one knew.

She thought no one had ever seen through it.

"You give me too much credit, Professor."

Sebastian waved off her modesty. "We'll see if it's too much credit when you take the stage at 'Emerging Voices'."

Before long, two more people arrived.

The group of four sat together, the conversation quickly finding its rhythm.

Sitting among them, Sienna listened as they discussed the latest art market trends, upcoming fall auctions, and which galleries were signing new talent.

These topics felt so distant to her.

It felt like a century had passed since she last sat in a room having conversations like this.

Once everyone had left, Hadley downed the last of her espresso and set the cup down with a sharp clink against the bar top.

"Well? Do you think they carry enough weight?"

Sienna looked at her. "Hadley, when did you start planning all this?"

"The night you sent me the drafts." Hadley leaned against the bar, crossing her arms.

"I knew the second I saw them that you couldn't hide anymore. You need allies. You need people with influence speaking up for you."

"Just having an agent isn't enough. You need the critics, the collectors, and the academics to validate you."

Sienna didn't say thank you.

She knew Hadley didn't need to hear it.

This woman had never made a bad investment since the day they met eight years ago. Every move she made was calculated. She was helping Sienna because Sienna was worth it.

It wasn't pity. It wasn't charity. It was an investment.

Just like Lucas.

In the painfully short time she had left, she had miraculously found two people who actually treated her like a human being.

Sienna was just about to say something when the phone in her pocket buzzed.

Sienna gripped her phone, her voice completely flat. "Your debts have absolutely nothing to do with me."

"You little—!"

Samuel sounded ready to unleash a string of violent curses, but he caught himself, forcing a sickeningly desperate tone.

"You're my flesh and blood, Sienna! You wouldn't just leave us to die, would you?"

"The Gauthiers have more money than God! Go ask Grant for it right now!"

Sienna's voice was devoid of emotion. "Listen to me closely. I am not giving you a single cent. And I cut ties with the Gauthiers. Give up."

Samuel exploded again. "You heartless, ungrateful bitch! If you don't give me that money, I'll kill you myself!"

In the background, Fiona's shrill, weeping voice pierced through.

"Make her beg Grant!"

"Isn't she his wife? She's been sleeping with him for eight years and can't even get a few million dollars out of it? We should have just made her sell herself from the start!"

Samuel immediately piled on.

"Did you hear that? The money needs to be in my account by tomorrow. If you don't pay up, I'm dragging your brother down to the Gauthier Tower and making a scene!"