Elise Harper's heart pounded as she stood outside Brew & Brush, the morning sun glinting off Lumora's glass skyscrapers, casting sharp shadows on the sidewalk. Liam's latest text burned in her mind: Meet me tomorrow, Elise. The Loft isn't the only thing at stake. The words were a threat, a noose tightening around her dreams, and she was done letting him pull the strings. Vanessa Chen's email about "concerning feedback" had been a gut punch, but Julian's steady presence on the hill last night—his hand in hers, his promise to fight with her—had ignited something new. Defiance. She wasn't the broken girl Liam had left two years ago. She was an artist, and her future wasn't his to ruin.
She pushed open the café door, the familiar scent of coffee and fresh paint grounding her. Maya was behind the counter, her curly hair tied back, her eyes widening as Elise strode in. "You're early," Maya said, pausing mid-wipe of the counter. "And you look like you're about to set something on fire. What's up?"
"Liam," Elise said, her voice low but firm. "He wants to meet here, now. I'm ending this."
Maya's jaw dropped, but she recovered quickly, her expression turning fierce. "Hell yes. You want me to stick around? I can throw a muffin at him if he gets out of line."
Elise managed a small laugh, the tension in her chest easing slightly. "Tempting, but I need to do this alone. Just… keep an eye out, okay?"
Maya nodded, her eyes sharp. "You got it. But if he tries anything, I'm calling the cops. Or Julian."
The mention of Julian sent a flutter through Elise's chest, his words from last night echoing: You're stronger than he thinks. She clung to that as the bell above the door chimed, and Liam walked in, his blond hair catching the light, his leather jacket giving him that polished, dangerous charm. His smile was all teeth, but his eyes were cold, calculating.
"Elise," he said, sliding into a booth near her murals, his voice smooth as ever. "You came. Good. Let's make this quick."
She stood across from him, her arms crossed, her heart racing but her voice steady. "No games, Liam. What do you want? And don't lie about The Lumora Loft."
His smile didn't waver, but his eyes flickered with something darker. "Straight to the point. I like that." He leaned forward, lowering his voice. "I know people, Elise. Curators, critics. One word from me, and your little gallery dream goes up in smoke. I told you I've changed, but you're making this hard. All I want is a chance to talk, to fix things."
"Fix things?" Elise's voice rose, anger flaring. "You cheated on me, Liam. You walked away when I needed you. And now you're threatening my career? That's not love. That's control."
Liam's smile faltered, his fingers tapping the table. "You're overreacting. I'm offering to help. Those rumors about your… instability? I can stop them. But you need to meet me halfway."
Elise's hands clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palms. "I don't need your help," she said, her voice shaking with fury. "And I'm not your pawn. Stay away from me, the gallery, everything. Or I'll make sure everyone knows what you're doing."
For a moment, Liam's mask slipped, his eyes narrowing with a flash of rage. "You'll regret this," he said, his voice low, almost a growl. "You think you can just move on with that star nerd? You're nothing without me."
The words stung, echoing old insecurities, but Elise stood taller, Julian's faith in her art burning brighter than Liam's venom. "I'm everything without you," she said, her voice clear. "Get out."
Liam stood, his smile returning, cold and sharp. "We'll see," he said, brushing past her and out the door, the bell's chime a hollow echo.
Elise exhaled, her legs trembling as she sank into the booth. Maya rushed over, her eyes wide. "Holy crap, Elise. You just slayed him. Are you okay?"
"No," Elise admitted, her voice breaking. "But I will be."
That afternoon, Elise needed an escape from Lumora's concrete grip, from Liam's shadow. Julian had texted earlier, suggesting a trip to Lake Lumora, a quiet spot just outside the city where the stars reflected on the water like a mirror of the sky. She'd agreed, craving the clarity the night had given her on the hill. Now, as they sat on a blanket by the lakeside, the city's neon glow a distant hum, Elise felt the weight of the morning lifting.
The lake was still, its surface a canvas of stars, the air cool and scented with pine and water. Julian had brought his telescope, but it sat unused, the sky clear enough to see constellations without it. Elise's sketchbook lay open, her pencil tracing the reflection of Cassiopeia in the water, her strokes bold despite the day's turmoil.
"You were incredible today," Julian said, his voice soft, his eyes on her rather than the stars. "Telling Liam off like that? That took guts."
Elise's cheeks warmed, her pencil pausing. "I was terrified," she admitted. "But I'm tired of letting him win. The gallery, my art—it's mine. Not his."
Julian nodded, his expression a mix of pride and something deeper, something that made her heart race. "You're not just an artist, Elise. You're… unstoppable."
She laughed, the sound light in the quiet night. "You're biased," she said, but her eyes met his, and the air between them shifted, charged with unspoken feelings.
He reached into his satchel, pulling out his notebook. "I want to show you something," he said, his voice hesitant. He opened it to a new page—a sketch of the lake, drawn in his careful hand, with a small note in Anna's handwriting: Find someone who sees the stars in you. "She wrote this before she got sick," he said, his voice raw. "I never knew what it meant until… you."
Elise's throat tightened, tears pricking her eyes. The sketch, the note, the way he looked at her—it was too much, too real. She set her sketchbook down, her hand finding his, their fingers intertwining under the starlight. "Julian," she whispered, her voice trembling with hope. "I'm scared. Of Liam, of trusting this. But with you… I want to be brave."
He leaned closer, his forehead resting against hers, the lake's reflection shimmering in his eyes. "Then be brave with me," he said, his voice a promise. "We'll face it all—Liam, the gallery, everything."
For a moment, the world was just them, the stars, the lake. Elise closed her eyes, letting his warmth chase away the fear, her heart opening to the possibility of something real. But then her phone buzzed, a harsh intrusion. She pulled it out, her stomach dropping at an email from Vanessa Chen:
Ms. Harper, I'm sorry to inform you that we've withdrawn our interest in your submission. Recent concerns about your professional conduct have made it impossible to proceed. Best of luck elsewhere.
Elise's breath caught, the words blurring through tears. Liam had done it—he'd sabotaged her dream. She showed the email to Julian, whose face hardened, his hand tightening around hers.
"This isn't over," he said, his voice fierce. "We'll fight this, Elise. Together."
But as another text from Liam flashed on her screen—Told you I'd win—Elise's defiance wavered, the lake's starry reflection suddenly feeling cold. Could she and Julian overcome Liam's cruelty, or had he finally broken her dreams for good?
Will Elise and Julian find a way to save her gallery dreams, or has Liam's sabotage shattered their starlit hope?