Edith was still half–asleep, her mind foggy and clueless about what was going on. She mumbled, “Why all the fuss? I’m not starring in some TV show.”

Lauren shot back, forwarding her a video that had been racking up close to a million likes in just a few days. “Your mural at Riverbend Zoo is blowing up! The whole inte’s searching for the genius behind it—and that genius is you!”

Squinting at her phone, Edith unlocked the screen and watched the video Lauren had

sent.

It opened with a shot of her painting under the zing sun, pressed up against the zoo’s wall. Maybe it was the camera angle, or maybe her outfit, but with her ponytail and petite frame, she looked more like a teenager than she realized. No wonder everyone thought she was some prodigy kid.

She had to admit, whoever filmed it had real talent. The mural came alive on screen, every detail captured perfectly.

Edith was still bewildered. “How did this even go viral?”

Lauren was practically shouting in excitement. “Word is, Stein reposted your mural! After that, the whole thing just exploded!”

Stein?

Edith remembered him well–another Northcrest University alum, nicknamed “Northcrest’s Rembrandt.” Over the past few years, Stein’s name had be huge in the art scene. He was even making moves into showbiz, blending celebrity and artist status until everyone seemed to know him.

Lauren wrapped it up with a flourish. “Edith, you won’t need me to line up gigs for you anymore. Just wait–every kind of offer is about toe pouring in!”

Edith still felt like she’d missed a step somewhere.

It wasn’t until Lauren started chatting about something else that Edith finally came back to herself.

Lauren’s tone turned sly. “By the way, Edith, I got you a little something–something special. It should be delivered today, so keep an eye out and sign for it quietly, alright?”

On instinct, Edith pulled her phone further from her ear.

16:41

With that tone, there was no mistaking what Lauren had sent. Absolutely no way Justin could find out about this–how embarrassing would that be?

Sensing her subtle shift away, Justin reached out and pulled her back into his arms, humming contentedly in his deep, mellow voice.

Lauren picked up on it immediately and teased, “Well, aren’t you two cozy this morning!”

Edith’s cheeks flushed. “You’re ridiculous. Alright, I’m hanging up now!”

She ended the call in a sh.

As she leaned back, Justin’s gaze met hers.

Sunlight slipped through the crack in the curtains, fallingzily across his face. “Who was that?” he asked.

“My cousin. She said my mural at Riverbend Zoo is trending.”

Justin gently squeezed her cheek. “Isn’t that something to celebrate? If you’re trending, work offers will follow.”

But Edith’s brow was furrowed; she didn’t look thrilled.

Her voice was calm–almost too calm. “Fame is a double–edged sword, especially when ites out of nowhere. People love that mural, sure, but that doesn’t mean they’ll love everything I create. What if one day they realize I’m not the sweet, obedient prodigy painting exactly what they want? Will all this adoration turn into disappointment–or worse, resentment?”

Justin’s eyes softened with admiration.

She might look small and have a hint of youth still lingering in her features, but there was aposure about her that was hard to describe.

He traced her lips gently with his thumb. “Whatever you decide, I’ll support you. Your taste is your own, and no one else gets to dictate that. I’d never stand in the way of your choices–not when ites to your work.”

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