The letter arrived on a Thursday morning, delivered by a courier who required Emma's signature and identification before handing over the thick envelope. Inside was an invitation that made Emma's hands shake as she read it.

Arthur Whitmore, the collector who had purchased her painting at the charity gala all those months ago, wanted to meet. He had been following her story, he wrote, and he was deeply moved by her courage and resilience. More importantly, he believed that her ...