From Canvas to Chaos, The Artist Who Painted Lies

It all started because I moved slightly while posing as a model for my boyfriend’s painting.

Without hesitation, he used tape to bind and restrain me.

After seven years together, my boyfriend had been devoted to creating a sense of ceremony for me, carefully working to complete a thousand little things with me as a couple.

On our seventh anniversary, we only had one final thing left to do. But instead of focusing on that, my boyfriend asked me to help his first love instead.

Because of this, the two-month-old child in my womb lost its life.

“Laura, we’ll have more children. Jessica’s competition success or failure hinges on this one time. You need to be more magnanimous.”

I said nothing as I tore up the last unfinished item on our list.

We had promised that once we completed those thousand little things, we would get married.

That promise would never be fulfilled now.

I picked up my phone and canceled the wedding dress that was still being custom-made.

——

“Laura, you need to understand the bigger picture. I know it wasn’t easy for you to conceive this child, but if you take care of yourself, we still have a chance to have a child, right? But think about it—Jessica has been waiting for this competition for so long. It hasn’t been easy for her either.”

Ethan Hawke stood beside the hospital bed, trying to persuade me with soft words.

I placed my hands over my stomach, my heart as bleak as death.

I had suffered complications from donating bone marrow to Ethan, which made it hard for me to conceive.

Now, after this miscarriage, it might be nearly impossible to have a child again.

Seeing that I remained silent, Ethan’s brows furrowed.

“Laura, what do you mean by not speaking? Are you still blaming Jessica? Why are you so stubborn? I helped her because she saved my life. You should understand my good intentions. Can’t you be reasonable?”

In my other hand, I clutched a few pieces of paper tightly.

They were the promises Ethan had made to me before we started dating: once we completed a thousand tasks together, we would get married.

And the final task... was the proposal.

It was meant to happen on our seventh anniversary.

But instead, he killed our child and destroyed my love.

“Ethan, what if I can’t get pregnant anymore?”

He clearly paused.

“It won’t happen. After seven years, you still got pregnant. Who knows when it might happen again? And if it doesn’t, we can try IVF, medication, or surgery.”

I smiled.

He didn’t care at all about my pain.

He wanted Jessica Pierce to succeed. And he wanted me to bear his children.

“What about me?”

Ethan let out a deep sigh, his expression filled with frustration.

“Can’t you stop being so selfish? What’s wrong with making some sacrifices for me and the children? Even if it’s for Jessica’s sake, it’s only right. Without her, I wouldn’t be here today. You should be grateful to her. Besides, she’s not even competing with you. She’s doing it for the greater good. What else are you dissatisfied with?”

I slowly closed my eyes.

I couldn’t believe these words were coming from this man.

When had he become so despicable?

Seeing that I didn’t respond, Ethan nodded in satisfaction.

“As long as you understand, Laura. Don’t worry, I’ll make up for the seventh anniversary and that last thing. Just trust me.”

He reached out and ruffled my hair. But I felt no trace of affection in his touch.

As silence fell between us, a message notification chimed from Ethan’s phone. He stared at me for a long moment.

Then, with a hint of guilt in his voice, he said, “Laura, I have some work to attend to at the company. I won’t be able to stay with you tonight. You need someone by your side. If anything happens, make sure to call the nurse.”

I nodded silently.

Ethan gave a faint smile before striding out of the ward.

That night, I received a message from Jessica.

It was a photo of Ethan, leaning over a table—his face very close to the camera.