I Hate To Love You

e." Lisa took a deep breath. "Jayden, this ruthless businessman, walked into Jacobs Art Studio and offered to buy it." Tabitha's eyes widened. "Wow! What did you say?" Lisa shook her head.

you're in f

said, his voice low. Rachel looked up from her notes. "And?" Jayden's gaze narrowed. "She's stubborn, refuses to see r

HOURS

tha huddled i

beeps,worried expressions etched

ned to

ice laced with concern. "The Smithson'

widened. "How d

The courier said it wa

olled in, a charmin

ies! What

d, unsure how

tolen art piece," Tabit

ed sympathetic. "That'

s phone buzzed with a text

for a moment before

, see if I can help t

palpable. "Thanks, Al

........*

evening's class when the phone rang. Lisa an

hson. I understa

's expression and mo

red for he

ything possible to locate the s

ry voice echoed th

e ruined my exhibition! Tha

empat

portance, sir. We're

nacing. "If I don't see results, I'll storm your st

on the pho

ustration, but please

ponse sent a chill

er that, I'll take matt

ne wen

led as she tur

hreatening to st

's eyes

can

k a deep

find that

ed in, a concerned e

what's

im in on the

face da

increase my effor

ha no

have

ouldn't shake the feeling th

ngered, casting a shadow

s eyes locked onto

package rem

or ho

**

e of the stolen Mr. Smithson'

ontinuously, thinking of what she coul

Alex crosse

here's any lead wit

er phone and di

p... But no response. She decided t

udio for kids to which she usually

was told that he had

wait inside his

scattered across his de

mithson Art Piece

heart

as the

more files, finding i

ll the paintings she donated to his studio

elt be

icked at

y, Alex

at are yo

d, her vo

he Smithson'

on changed from

understand,"

nger boi

use

shr

Lisa

money, of

world c

eamed dow

ave, but Alex's

because you're lo

t, tears bl

down as she

umbrella appe

voice asked,

, tears mixing

d her under

yden's voice could

a fool," Jayd

d, releasi

but I can say.... you deserv

Lisa's head as she remember

nced betrayal by her b

LASHBACK*

ears

r classroom to meet several pierc

ocked but

eat lunch, that was when s

e is" Mel

st friend with a group of unfamili

going on"

ught a sound sl

" Jina one of

t?" Lisa said with a sha

ite a love letter

ng one among th

ted but that fell on deaf ears

e ordeal to her father,

hael ( Shima's boyfriend) but after she was confron

laining t

s ( Lisa

a

You deserve

OF FLASHBA

h, and immediately she ran off