The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

You know how my brother is he'd rather have nothing than settle for less. If he's not truly interested, there's no way he'd compromise. Back then, Summer was probably just starting out, so her paintings weren't too expensive. At least the prices were within my brother's range, allowing him to indulge in his hobby without much strain.

Later, when he started paying a fortune for Summer's work, it was his way of showing gratitude for what her art had meant to him.

But..."

Simone smiled at Aurora. "You really are his weakness, the one who can wound him deeply without even trying. For you, he'd give up a passion he's held for years."

Aurora glanced at the painting hanging on the wall. "I wanted to buy this one because the figure from behind reminded me of myself. But it's just a silhouette. From the right angle, with similar clothes, anyone could look alike. It's entirely possible the person in the painting isn't me at all."

Simone shrugged. "Even if it isn't, does it matter? My brother didn't buy this painting because of that supposed resemblance."

worried Aurora might misunderstand, so she quickly added, "Aurora, my brother started collecting Summer's paintings long before this one even existed. He's always loved Summer's

this painting were just a landscape, Leonard would

to his collection. Besides, Leonard never thought the figure in the painting was Aurora. Frankly, she might be the last person he'd guess-it probably never even

the atmosphere in Summer's latest work, the mood it conveyed. And as Aurora said, maybe the person really isn't her. But so what? Whether it's her, someone else,

silhouette. Mistaken identity or not, it makes no difference as long as Aurora likes it, that's all that matters. It's not about the painting, and it's not about who's in

"My brother has only ever loved one person-

Aurora that night in the garden, when he realized she'd lived through the same hardships as he had, yet remained strong and unbowed. They

even if it was just for a single evening. That was all it took for Leonard to make up

she

some idealized memory

Э.