Then, with even more embarrassment, he added softly, “I’d like to paint a picture of you too, Grace…”

I smirked and began undressing him.

Though confused, Asher didn’t resist. “Grace, what’s this?”

I leaned in close to his ear and whispered, “You’ll like this.”

He stood before me, naked, as I held my palette and brush, my eyes scanning every inch of his body.

I dipped my brush into the perfect shade of blue, stood behind him, and at the very first touch of the brush on his skin, he shuddered.

“Don’t move,” I instructed.

“But Grace, it tickles…”

“It’ll be over soon,” I replied as I continued painting.

With the final stroke, I set the brush aside and stepped back to admire my work.

It was a perfect masterpiece.

“What did you paint, Grace?” Asher asked.

“That’s a secret,” I said as I moved around to face him. “You’ll see it when you get home. You’ll love it.”

“Is it beautiful?” He tilted his face up to look at me, his eyes sparkling like stars.

I nodded, reaching out to caress his flawless face. “Beautiful. You are my most perfect creation.”

And the most perfect creations are meant to be destroyed.

I could already imagine the despair and tragic beauty in his ruin.

After a wild night, I didn’t return home until dawn.

As soon as I opened the door, I saw Christopher sitting in the living room, still wearing last night’s suit. His tie was loosened and hung carelessly across his chest.

Hearing the door, he looked up at me.

Then he stood and quickly walked toward me.

“Did you sleep with him last night?” he demanded, closing in on me.

I slowly placed my bag and keys on the cabinet.

“Grace Bennett, answer me!” He grabbed my hand, cornering me against the wall.

I tilted my head up and looked at him, smiling recklessly. “Yes. You already have a child with Jasmine, I just slept with him once.”

Christopher glared at me, his grip on my hand painfully tight.