Don't Poke the Luna (Xena and Ryder)

Chapter 322

"Of course. That's a beautiful way to honor your mom." Ryder kissed my forehead. "Ready to see what's inside?

"I'm ready." I set the letter down and opened the car door, stepping into the humid Florida air. By the time I walked around the car, Ryder already had the key and was working on the lock. After years of weathering, the lock was a bit rusty, but he managed to open it.

Click. The lock opened, and Ryder pulled the door up. Everything was covered with sheets. Ryder grabbed the first sheet and pulled it off. It was hand-painted artwork in gold frames. They were of different people or landscapes. Ryder and I looked through the paintings until he stopped.

"Look at this signature." He pointed to the bottom. In the bottom right corner, Greer Harris was signed.

"Mom painted these?"

I had never known Mom could paint. These paintings... they were beautiful, with smooth lines and perfect use of color. Did I inherit her talent?

"I think this is where your artistic talent comes from." Ryder smiled. He let me continue looking through the paintings while he continued pulling sheets off other items.

• Behind the paintings were more art supplies, easels, and many different art books. It looked like Mom had studied art in college.

She had so many secrets... I knew so little about her. If she were still here, we could paint together, and she could teach me techniques. Now I could only learn about this other side of her through these remaining items.

"Xena, look at this." Ryder called from the back.

Walking to the back, there was a huge mirror. When Ryder opened it, it was filled with jewelry. "What's that envelope?" I asked, seeing an envelope taped to the top.

for each piece of jewelry." Ryder flipped through them. "That ring is worth a million dollars." Ryder

serious?"

it was worth a million. Today it would be

manila envelopes in a box

looked at the one in my hand.

"Now it's all ours."

vases. There were fur coats and collectibles. "Basically, everything valuable from her family is here." Ryder

different paintings Mom had done, and some that were definitely done by her mother or aunt. "What are we going

up some of them. Give Logan some. Keep the jewelry safe. We don't need the money. I put away the five million that went into the bank after your father died. We can

secret so

could buy a bank to store them in

Chapter 322

not a bad

could

was my mom's last wish, and I want to

to go. Maybe there, in the sound of the waves, I could feel her presence and better understand the meaning

and carried me toward our car. Watching Ryder lock up the storage

wealth, but because of Ryder, because of our upcoming child, because Mom had

the engine, he put his hand on my belly, and we drove toward the

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