Time of the Avenger

the upscale hotel. The venerable Paris landmark exuded timeless class, from its golden ceilings to its magnificent ch

ing over contemporary artworks on walls and the unfettered panorama of the Eiffel To

ter and rumpled trousers. The unpretentious clothes were more fa

miling warmly. "Righ

e portfolio. "I brought the painting y

a sleek mahogany table

s and silvers appeared beneath the wrapping paper, glowing softly in the l

s face expressionless. Then he nodded. "I

ough she maintained her professional sm

contemplating doing a series. But

Under t

"Come join us for dinner," he said, his tone casual but assertive. "The terrace

me warmth she had not expected to see in Ethan's deme

, and a panoramic view of the City of Light. As the sun dipped below the horizon, Paris

his movements unhurried. "You've been quiet,

between them build. "I'm just...not used to this."

hing. "You mean expensive

ak smile. "Some

le I usually encounter, Sophie. Most are looking for something-s

I'm not that easily

"Good. Nei

's St

g glimpses of his life-tells that stripp

irled the wine in his glass. "She taught me to notice beauty everywhere. But my

tion, surprised by his candor.

ith my dad, hoping that I could get him to be proud of me. But no matter what I did, it wasn't enough. I thi

to be an inaccessible force, a man who walked over peopl

y," she w

I find it difficult to trust people. Most of the relations

ter, here pretending to be something she wasn't. But for a moment,

's Gua

in ways she hadn't expected. She told him about her passion for art and how it had helped her su

ving hers. "You're remarkable, Sophie," he said, his voice filled with

moment, she felt exposed. She quickly changed

she asked, gesturing with her arm acr

t it's the life I chose. Or

, her eyes examining h

it would be like to just disappear. To leave it all behind an

in search of answers, to uncover the man who had ruined her

rowing Fa

in a way he hadn't expected. She was unlike anyone he'd ev

easing but earnestly spoken. "And I don't know if I want to

little uneasy. "Perhaps it is sa

was fixed. "Maybe. But I thi

as balancing precariously, and Ethan was making i

, Ethan escorted her to the elevator, hi

said, his tone warm. "Tonight

faintly. "Good

l, her emotions in turmoil. She had set out to destroy him, but Ethan Haye

wasn't certain if she wanted