Page 91 of His to Possess
I nodded slowly, trying to wrap my head around it all. "So, what are you saying?"
"I'm saying," Luka leaned in, his voice low, "that if you're thinking about going back to him, you need to understand what you're getting into. Rex will always be Rex. The good and the bad."
"I wasn't thinking about…" I started to protest, but Luka held up a hand.
"I'm not encouraging you to go back to him. In fact, if anything, I'd advise against it. You've got your freedom now, Laurel. Use it."
I bit my lip, conflicted. "But if he cares so much…"
"Caring doesn't always mean it's right. Sometimes, the best thing you can do for someone is to let them go. That's what Rex did for you."
"And now?"
Luka shrugged. "Now, you decide. But whatever you choose, go into it with your eyes wide open. Don't expect Rex to be someone he's not."
I watched as Luka took a few steps away, his words still echoing in my mind. The weight of everything that had happened today left me feeling overwhelmed, yet strangely liberated. Just as I thought he was about to disappear into the bustling Parisian street, Luka turned back.
"Oh, and congrats," he said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "I learned that the watercolor was indeed a Turner."
I felt a surge of confidence, something I hadn't experienced in far too long. It wasn't just about being right; it was about trusting myself again, believing in my knowledge and expertise. After everything that happened in Paris, after all the doubt and fear, this felt like a validation. A sign that I hadn't lost my touch, that my passion for art was still as strong as ever.
"Oh, and you'll be able to admire your success on your wall every day," he said casually, as if he wasn't completely upending my world. "Rex has decided to gift you the Turner."
I blinked, certain I'd misheard. "What? That… that can't be right."
Luka chuckled. "Oh, it's right alright. You should be contacted by some lawyer soon enough to sort out the details."
"But why?"
"Well, I'll let you in on a little secret. I tried to get my hands on it myself. Offered Rex a lot for it."
"And?" I prompted, hanging on his every word.
"And he flat out refused." Luka shook his head in amusement. "Said that since you were the one who believed it was an exceptional painting from the start, you were the only one worthy of owning it."
I felt my knees go weak. "I can't… I can't believe it."
"Believe it, Laurel," Luka said, his voice softening. "It's yours."
"But it must be worth…" I trailed off, not even able to fathom the value.
"A small fortune?" Luka finished for me. "Yeah, it is. But Rex doesn't care about that. He cares about you."
I shook my head, overwhelmed. "This is too much. I can't accept it."
"You can, and you will," Luka said firmly. "That's why Rex wants you to have it. Because he knows what it means to you."
Luka stepped closer, taking my hand in his. He brought it to his lips, placing a gentle kiss on my knuckles. The gesture was oddly formal, yet strangely comforting.
"Well, Ms. Bowers," he said, his voice warm. "On that final note, I wish you well. Whatever path you choose from here, I have a feeling it's going to be an interesting one."
Chapter 29
Rex
Six months later
I stepped into the ballroom of the Palmer House Hilton, the weight of the world pressing down on my shoulders. The cool spring air clung to my skin, a reminder that warmth, like so many other things, was elusive, perhaps even illusory. I grew skeptical of such promises lately.
