The day of the showcase arrived, and the gallery buzzed with anticipation. The room was filled with art enthusiasts, critics, and potential buyers, all eager to see the latest works on display. As the showcase began, I found myself in the spotlight, with media attention focused on my work. Cameras flashed as I posed for pictures, and I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness.
Among the crowd, I spotted familiar faces—my friends who had supported me through thick and thin, and my cold family, who had always been skeptical of my artistic pursuits. She approached me in her elegant dress, her expressions stern.
"Evelyn, this is nonsense. You need to stop this and come back home," my mother, Miranda, said, her voice icy as her exterior.
I shook my head, standing my ground. "No, this is my passion, and I'm not giving up on it just because you disapprove it."
Miranda's eyes narrowed as she inspected my blazer and formal dress underneath. They might not have cost a fortune, but they were authentic enough for an occasion like this. Her tone grew harsher. "You're wasting your time. This so-called art won't get you anywhere. You need to focus on something practical."
She then glanced at the paintings, her expression turning even more severe. "And creating artwork on such a sensitive topic related to the murders happening in Ravenwood? It's dangerous and irresponsible. You're inviting trouble."
I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice steady. "I'm not inviting trouble, Miranda. I'm shedding light on a serious issue. These paintings are meant to draw attention to what's happening in Ravenwood, to raise awareness so that the government or higher police authorities will take action and capture the murderer."
Miranda's face flushed with anger on hearing her name from my mouth instead of mother. "You think this will help? You're just putting yourself in danger. What if the murderer sees this and decides to target you next?"
I think I had already caught his attention, but I couldn't tell her that. It wasn't because of the paintings, anyway. The night Margaret and I encountered that masked man and how he haunted our eyes lingered in my mind, and I couldn't hold back my frustration any longer. "Why do you even care, Miranda? Why bother coming here if you think it's all nonsense?"
Miranda's eyes flashed with indignation. "Because, Evelyn, we have a reputation to uphold. You tattered it long ago with your rebellious ways. We belong to a rich, upper-class family, and your actions reflect on all of us."
"Did you seriously come here just to check if I'm sleeping with some aristocrat in the middle of my showcase? Unbelievable!" I shook my head at my mother's thoughts about me.
Miranda's eyes twinkled as she smirked. "You said it yourself, Evelyn. Who's to blame? Old habits die hard."
Just as the tension reached its peak, Alec stepped in. He placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder and addressed Miranda with a calm but assertive tone. "With all due respect, Miranda, Evelyn's work is incredible, and she has every right to pursue her dreams. This showcase is a testament to her talent and dedication."
Miranda's eyes flashed with anger, but smirk never left her lips as she turned her attention to Alec. "Oh, Alec, how noble of you to defend her. But tell me, how many times have you knocked her up? Maybe less than Kai, and that's why he really got tired and left her."
Alec's face tightened as he saw my burning eyes, but he didn't back down. "This isn't about me or Kai, Miranda. This is about Evelyn and her right to express herself through her art. She deserves to be here, and she deserves your support."
Miranda scoffed, her voice dripping with disdain. "Support? For what? For dragging our family's name through the mud with these grotesque paintings, you?"
I felt a surge of anger and frustration. "This isn't about the family name, Miranda. This is about bringing attention to the horrors happening in Ravenwood. If my paintings can make people aware and push the authorities to take action, then it's worth it."
But Miranda has something else in her wicked mind, she never wavered her eyes from Alec. "Oh, please. I wouldn't mind if you and Kai asked for her hand in marriage. At least you two have some reputation to uphold with us Parkers. Unless, of course, she's got some third, bigger fish to trap in her claws tonight."
Alec stepped in again, his voice firm with a warning. "That's enough, Miranda. Evelyn's work is important, and it has a purpose. Let's focus on that."
Miranda's eyes narrowed at me, her voice dropping to a venomous whisper. "How is it, Evelyn, being shared between two men? Maybe you should be in an inappropriate place rather than showcasing your work." i stood there speechless as...
Alec stepped in again, his voice firm. "I said That's enough...