icon 0
icon TOP UP
rightIcon
icon Reading History
rightIcon
icon Log out
rightIcon
icon Get the APP
rightIcon
Painted Sins

Painted Sins

Author: Amaka Chi
icon

Chapter 1 The Gallery's New Client

Word Count: 1207    |    Released on: 29/08/2024

med through the tall windows, making shadows stretch across the polished concrete. I adjusted

right," I whispered, smoo

g tied to it. Now, I was Emma Collins, a respected gallery owner in Miami. I

xt from my assistant, Mia: "Client

gh strange channels-hints of connections that made me uneasy. But the opportu

ignaled the door opening. I put on my b

rted to say, but the words got stuc

pounded, each beat a painful remind

e day I left him at the altar. Lorenzo Caruso, heir to one of N

voice sending shivers down my s

e stay composed. "I'm sorry, sir. You must be mistaken. I'm

ser, each step slow and deliberate. I stood my g

hes from me. "Five years is a long time, but not long en

uely him, brought back memories I had fought to forget-stolen ki

throat dry. "Mr. Ca

nd of hair from my face. I flinched at his touch, and his expre

apart. I took a step back, putting sp

clever as you think, Aria. Did you really believe you co

" I whispered. "You have

e at the altar. You disappeared, leaving me to deal with the fal

pushed it away. He didn'

I said, trying to

ed, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "

g if I could escape. As if reading m

arned. "We have a lot to talk about, an

n so careful, covered my tracks so well. How had

desperation into my voice. "You have to lea

I getting into, Aria? What was so bad tha

utside the gallery's windows. A black SUV had pull

oo, his body tensing

creeping into my voic

s went out, leaving us in darkness. The securit

tered, reaching into his jac

ducked instinctively, pulling Lorenzo down with me as

rds the back of the gallery. Lorenz

my hands shaking as I tried to unlock the door. Lorenzo

ow, Aria,"

nd we stumbled into the room. I s

ointing to a hidden door in the wal

from the main gallery. The floor shook,

ne. "Until whoever's trying to kill us breaks in? Wh

, and hurt I had caused him years ago. I knew there

chaos outside. "There's something I need to tell y

ed on my arms. "

thing. But before I could, the storage room doo

appeared, their guns aimed at us. Lore

ng voice said through the smoke.

. It was a face I had hoped to never see aga

e recognized the man too. "It can't be," h

ld and heartless. "Oh, Lorenzo. In our wo

ecame clear, one thought filled my mind: The past I had run

Claim Your Bonus at the APP

Open
1 Chapter 1 The Gallery's New Client2 Chapter 2 Ghost of my Past3 Chapter 3 Shattered Illusion4 Chapter 4 Midnight Warnings5 Chapter 5 Reluctant Protector6 Chapter 6 Safe House Secrets7 Chapter 7 Trust No One8 Chapter 8 Uneasy Alliance9 Chapter 9 Art of Deception10 Chapter 10 Painted Clues11 Chapter 11 Shadows from the Past12 Chapter 12 Betrayal's Brush13 Chapter 13 Warehouse Showdown14 Chapter 14 Unmasked15 Chapter 15 Escape by Sea16 Chapter 16 Underwater Secrets17 Chapter 17 Cave of Revelations18 Chapter 18 Race Against Time19 Chapter 19 Leap of Faith20 Chapter 20 Gasping for Air21 Chapter 21 The Underground Labyrinth22 Chapter 22 Rooftop Rendezvous23 Chapter 23 Freefall24 Chapter 24 Masquerade of Lies25 Chapter 25 Dance with the Devil26 Chapter 26 Blood on the Ballroom Floor27 Chapter 27 Midnight Run28 Chapter 28 Leap of Faith29 Chapter 29 Safehouse Siege30 Chapter 30 The Mole31 Chapter 31 Divided We Fall32 Chapter 32 The Forger's Brush33 Chapter 33 Family Ties34 Chapter 34 The Lost Daughter35 Chapter 35 Poison Canvas36 Chapter 36 Antidote and Answers37 Chapter 37 The Missing Piece38 Chapter 38 Ashes of the Past39 Chapter 39 Vault of Secrets40 Chapter 40 Phoenix Rising41 Chapter 41 Hospital Hostages42 Chapter 42 Code Blue43 Chapter 43 Trojan Horse44 Chapter 44 The Boss's Daughter45 Chapter 45 Blood and Canvas46 Chapter 46 The Auction47 Chapter 47 Bidding War48 Chapter 48 The Winning Stroke49 Chapter 49 Lorenzo's Gambit50 Chapter 50 The Trade51 Chapter 51 Blood Ties52 Chapter 52 The Hidden Vault53 Chapter 53 Father's Shadow54 Chapter 54 Red Wedding55 Chapter 55 Double Agent56 Chapter 56 Gallery of Lies57 Chapter 57 Brother's Keeper58 Chapter 58 Painted Target59 Chapter 59 The Switch60 Chapter 60 Buried Truth