Olivia was bent over her canvas, adding the final strokes of cerulean blue onto the wings of a painted butterfly, when the soft chi of the studio door echoed through the room.
The gentle bell, usually comforting, made her hand pause mid-air. Her eyes widened slightly, a flicker of unease crossing her calm expression.
After all, she hadn’t told anyone that she owns the studio.
She slowly turned toward the entrance.
A beautiful woman with chestnut-colored hair stood frad by the doorway.
Her complexion was pale, almost porcelain-like, and her eyes held a delicate sparkle that reminded Olivia faintly of soone... but she couldn’t place who.
The mont their eyes t, sothing like anticipation flashed across the woman’s gaze before it quickly disappeared under a mask of practiced indifference.
Olivia blinked, uncertain. Still, she set her brush down, wiped her hands, and offered a polite smile. "Hello... may I ask who you are?"
The woman stepped forward with graceful steps, extending her hand. "My na is Ruby," she said softly. "I ca because I heard soone purchased the store that used to belong to ."
Olivia’s brows lifted slightly. ’So she’s the previous owner.’
She accepted the handshake and nodded. "I’m Olivia. The studio was... gifted to by my sister."
Ruby’s eyes flickered again... this ti with sothing almost wistful. "You have a very good sister," she murmured under her breath.
Olivia blinked, not having caught the full aning. "Sorry? What do you an by that?"
Ruby only gave a vague smile and let the question drift away as she looked around the studio.
"Your work is beautiful," she comnted lightly, strolling past various canvases. "You have a very distinct style."
Olivia nodded politely, still trying to figure out who Ruby reminded her of. ’Her eyes... that shade... where have I seen them before?’
Ruby, however, continued speaking without pause. She shifted from one topic to another, art, interior design, paint quality, the neighborhood, almost as if she wanted to avoid anything genuinely personal. Still, she lingered, chatting with Olivia for far longer than a stranger normally would.
Finally, after nearly twenty minutes of casual conversation, Ruby tilted her head and asked, "Could we exchange numbers? You know... so we can keep in touch."
Olivia’s smile faded. She blinked. "Ah... I’m not comfortable sharing my personal number like that."
Ruby’s face stiffened with disappointnt. "Oh... I see."
A small silence settled between them.
Olivia didn’t bother trying to comfort her. Ruby was still a stranger.
It was already impolite enough for Ruby to show up unannounced, talk to her as if they were acquaintances, then ask for her number without even the slightest form of introduction, gift, or courtesy.
’If she wanted to get close, she should have co prepared. At least with a welco snack or card... sothing.’ Olivia thought, slightly puzzled by Ruby’s approach. ’And why does she feel so oddly familiar?’
Ruby lingered a mont longer, as if expecting Olivia to change her mind. But Olivia simply turned back to her canvas, her entire deanor clearly indicating the conversation was over.
Ruby’s smile faltered. Her eyes dimd with visible displeasure. After a while, seeing she wouldn’t get anything else from Olivia, she finally turned around and stepped out of the studio.
But the mont Ruby walked out, her expression changed entirely.
She walked toward the alley beside the building where a man stood leaning against the wall, dressed in activewear and a cap pulled low over his face. Ruby frowned deeply as she approached him.
"Miller," she called sharply.
The man lifted his head. Under the cap, his eyes were dark and intense.
He clenched his fists. "If I had known Olivia’s family would beco rich and successful... I would’ve never rejected her back then."
His voice trembled with frustration and regret.
Ruby’s lips curled with irritation. "You’re pathetic. Why are you still hung up on her?"
If Olivia had been present, she would have recognized him imdiately. Miller... her first crush. A man she once admired for his confidence and charm... only to later learn how shallow he truly was.
His downfall was legendary. He had constantly helped Rose and her friends when they needed him... loaning money, running errands, even taking bla for them. In the end, he offended the wrong person and landed himself in jail.
When he ca out?
No one was waiting. Not his family. Not Rose. Not any of her friends.
He was abandoned by everyone he once tried to please.
Now, standing in the shadow of Olivia’s new studio, regret ate at him like acid.
He stared at the storefront with burning eyes. "This ti... I’ll chase her properly. And I hope she’ll agree to be with ."
Ruby scoffed. "Give up already. Olivia is surrounded by actual decent n. Why would she look at you? You literally helped Rose beat her up once."
Miller smirked darkly. "So won are like that. They forgive n who hurt them. They like redemption stories. As long as I redeem myself, she’ll definitely take back."
Ruby stared at him with disgust. ’This idiot...’
The more she looked at him, the more she wondered where he got such delusional confidence.
Yet she couldn’t openly reject him. Miller had dirt on her... a secret she didn’t want exposed. So even though she hated being associated with him, she forced herself to help when necessary.
Taking a slow breath, she suggested, "Since I couldn’t get her contact number, maybe we should let it go."
Miller shot her an angry glare. "No. I’m going to end up with Olivia."
Ruby frowned. "She will never look at you."
He didn’t like that answer. His posture stiffened until he forced a smile, softening his tone unnaturally.
"It’ll work out. Once I get together with her, I’ll ask her for ten thousand dollars. Then I’ll milk her for more later. Of course, I’ll give you so too. Didn’t you want that five-thousand-dollar bag?"
Ruby froze.
For a brief mont... just a mont... her eyes flickered with greed. The bag she wanted had been haunting her dreams for months. But she quickly regained her composure.
’He thinks this is that easy? As if Olivia is desperate for anyone’s attention...’
She shook her head. "This is all your wishful thinking. She’s so hard to talk to. You’re dreaming way too... "
"Just wait," Miller interrupted smugly. "During my year in jail, I didn’t waste my ti. I studied. A lot."
Ruby blinked, startled.
He straightened proudly. "I knew the world abandoned . So the only way to survive was to increase my value. I read business textbooks, prepared for university exams... I’m confident I’ll get accepted sowhere good."
Ruby hesitated. As much as she disliked him, she couldn’t deny he was intelligent. His mory was sharp, and he learned fast. That was the only reason she didn’t dismiss him on the spot.
Sure enough, the next day, Miller passed the entrance exam of a well-known university with ease. To be closer to Olivia, he transferred into the sa university she attended.
He even borrowed a thousand dollars to update his wardrobe, haircut, new clothes, clean sneakers, everything to appear respectable.
During his ti in prison, he had t several individuals who taught him various skills. From them, he learned the fundantals of product design, business pitching, and problem-solving.
And so, he began building a business concept. He drafted a detailed problem statent, then developed a product idea as a solution. It was ambitious and complex, but surprisingly well-structured.
The only thing he lacked was investnt.
But no matter how many investors he approached, he was turned down repeatedly. His background, his lack of reputation, and his record made people wary.
Not to ntion... the business plan he had made was sothing that couldn’t be executed; he just was faking it in the hopes of milking so rich people.
Eventually, in desperation, he sent his pitch to Ms. Dawn.
Aurora read the email while handling her investnt submissions. The concept had genuine potential. Intrigued, she arranged a eting.
anwhile...
Olivia, unaware she had been tracked, followed, and discussed like prey, continued painting peacefully inside her studio.
She spent hours blending colors, shaping shadows, and refining details. Her vision for the future was clear: once she graduated, she would open her own art gallery.
Every painting she created now would soday hang on those walls.
She had practiced for nearly eighteen years. The first seven were childish doodles, but after turning twelve, her skills blood. Now, at her current level, she estimated her work rivaled many professionals.
As she stepped back from the canvas, observing the finished painting, a quiet hope filled her chest.
’Soday... soone will recognize the value here. Soone will understand what I’m trying to say through these colors.’
Little did she know that outside her studio, two very different people were plotting two very different fates for her.
But inside, in her small world of colors, Olivia painted on, calm, quiet, and blissfully unaware.
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