As Nica approached the half-open hospital room door, she was about to step inside when she suddenly froze.

What she saw made her stomach turn.

Ella was kissing Chris shamelessly.

Chris held her tightly, pressing her against the wall as they continued kissing without care. Ella's fingers ran through his hair while she laughed softly, completely comfortable in his arms.

Nica's chest tightened painfully.

She could not believe they would behave like that in a hospital room, especially after everything that had happened.

Unable to bear the sight, she quietly stepped back, intending to leave before they noticed her.

Then Chris spoke.

"You know I love you so much," he said smoothly. "Especially because of that portrait you drew during the contest. It was valuable, meaningful, and full of life. I admire talented women."

Nica's eyes widened.

That portrait?

She was the one who had painted it.

Ella had only stood beside her during the competition, yet somehow she had stolen all the credit.

And the truth was worse.

Ella could barely draw a straight line.

Chris kissed Ella's forehead lovingly.

"I'll be right back," he murmured before walking toward the bathroom.

The moment he disappeared, Nica pushed the door open and entered the room.

Ella jumped in shock.

For a second, fear flashed across her face.

Had Nica heard everything?

But Ella quickly recovered and folded her arms.

"You really are pathetic," Ella said mockingly. "Chris has never loved you. He only kept you around because you were useful."

She stepped closer with a cruel smile.

"He can barely stand to look at you. All he wants is me."

Nica's pain slowly turned into anger.

"What if I tell Chris the truth?" she said calmly. "That you never painted the portrait. That you don't even know how to properly hold a pencil."

Ella's face went pale.

So she had heard everything.

Panic rose inside her.

If Chris found out the truth, he would never forgive her.

Just then, Chris walked back into the room.

In an instant, Ella threw herself backward and pretended to faint.

"Ella!" Chris rushed forward and caught her.

Then he turned sharply toward Nica.

"What did you do to her?" he shouted. "What have you done?"

Nica stared at him in disbelief.

He had not asked a single question.

He had not even given her a chance to speak.

He simply chose Ella.

Again.

Chris stormed over and grabbed Nica's wrist roughly.

"I'm talking to you!"

Before he could say another word, the door opened.

Jordan Avila walked in.

His expression darkened the moment he saw Chris holding Nica.

Without hesitation, Jordan grabbed Chris's arm and forced him to release her.

Then he delivered a hard punch across Chris's face.

Chris stumbled backward in shock.

Jordan stood tall between them, his voice cold and dangerous.

"Touch her again, and you will regret it."

The room fell silent.

Even Ella, still pretending to be weak, looked terrified.

Jordan turned to Nica.

"Come with me."

Still shaken, Nica followed him out of the room.

Once they were alone in the hallway, she exhaled deeply.

"Thank you," she said softly. "For helping me."

Jordan looked at her for a moment.

Then she remembered something.

"You said earlier that you had an offer for me," she said. "What did you mean?"

Jordan's gaze sharpened.

"I want you to become my contract wife for six months."

Nica's breath caught.

"In return," he continued, "I will give you status, power, and protection."

The hallway suddenly felt too small.

Her heart was already broken.

Her trust was shattered.

And now the ruthless uncle of the man who betrayed her was asking her to marry him.

Nica could not answer immediately.

Jordan held her hands and said whatever you decide just let me know.

Should she accept the offer...

Or walk away from every thing?

Nica arrived home, thinking about that offer and questioning why he would make such an offer. Was he pulling my leg? she wondered. What could I possibly offer him, and what would he gain from that contract?

She eventually let go of the thought and began listening to music through her headphones while drawing the natural beauty that surrounded her. After she was done, she got bored and decided to go to the mall to get a few things for herself.

While shopping, Chris and Ella spotted her and approached her. Chris said, "You just got lucky," then grabbed the pencil she was holding and mocked her.

"It's not like you even know how to draw a straight line or understand what this is used for. Just give it to your friend Ella, the real artist who actually knows her craft."

Ella, though nervous inside, pretended to act tough. "Nica, I know how much you admire my portraits and wish you could draw like me..."

Before she could finish, Nica cut her off with laughter. "So you mean the opposite?"

Chris immediately defended Ella. "Ella is the real artist, so stop saying nonsense."

Nica laughed again. "You really think she is the artist?"

Ella grew uneasy and quickly thought of a way to distract them so she could leave with Chris. She held her stomach and said, "Chris, please take me to the hospital. I'm not feeling too well."

Chris immediately carried her out of the mall. As they left, Ella turned back and gave Nica a smug smirk.

Nica shook her head. Just as I thought. Pretending again. She's always pretending.

She continued shopping peacefully until she bent down to pick up the pencil that had fallen. A man rushed forward and picked it up for her.

"Jordan? What are you doing here?" she asked in surprise.

Instead of answering directly, he asked, "Are you an artist?"

"Yes," she replied.

Jordan smiled. He loved purchasing portraits from a particular artist known as Color Muse-not realizing that the artist was standing right in front of him.

He began speaking excitedly. "I love portraits. I own collections like Divine Faces, Silent Strokes, Dream Frame, and Grace in..."

They both said at the same time, "Color."

They looked at each other and smiled. Those were some of the collections he had at home, and Nica was speechless because they were all her works.

Then Jordan asked, "How do you know about those portraits?"

Nica quickly replied, "I love portraits too, and I draw, remember?" she said, raising her pencil to make her point. "I also do my research."

Nica felt truly happy hearing someone speak of her work with such admiration-especially someone like Jordan, the same man who had offered her a contract. She found herself helplessly drawn to him as he spoke, yet she could not bring herself to reveal that she was Color Muse.

The more they talked, the more they realized they had so much in common.

Suddenly, Jordan's phone rang. He excused himself to answer the call.

While he was away, Nica quietly left without saying goodbye.

When she got home, she was shocked to see her bags outside and her door locked. A note was attached to the handle:

I have given you enough time to pay your rent. Someone has already paid for it.

With nowhere to go, she whispered, "I have to find Jordan."

Having no contact information or address for him, she hurried back to the mall. She was devastated to discover he had already left.

Then a hand tapped her shoulder.

"Are you okay?" a voice asked.

"Not at all," she replied as she turned around.

The moment she saw him, she screamed, "Jordan! I've been looking everywhere for you. I've accepted your offer... if it's still available."

Jordan looked at her calmly and said,

"No... the offer is no longer available."

Nica looked disappointed, but Jordan suddenly started smiling.

"I was just kidding," he said. "That contract is only for you, and you alone."

Nica was stunned and did not know what to say.

Jordan asked her to follow him, and soon they arrived at his office. Nica stared in amazement.

"Wow..." she whispered. The exterior of the building was breathtaking.

As they entered, she was even more shocked. The inside looked like heaven itself...elegant, luxurious, and beautifully designed.

Jordan offered her a seat and told her to wait, explaining that he had an urgent meeting to attend.

While sitting alone in his office, Nica carefully observed the setting and arrangement of the room. Her eyes landed on the portraits hanging on the walls, and she stood up to admire them.

Suddenly, thoughts of betrayal from her ex-boyfriend and former best friend flooded her mind. Her expression hardened with determination. She would expose her so-called best friend's lies and make her boyfriend beg for forgiveness but by then, it would already be too late.

Lost in thought, she barely noticed when Jordan's guard walked in.

"Do you need anything while waiting for Mr. Jordan?" he asked respectfully.

"Just a bottle of water will do," she replied.

Meanwhile, during the meeting, Jordan listened as reports of Chris's mismanagement were presented.

Chris quickly interrupted. "Uncle, please... such conduct will never happen again."

Jordan's face remained cold.

"I do not give second chances."

With those words, he fired Chris on the spot.

Chris refused to accept it and continued begging desperately, but Jordan ended the meeting and announced that a replacement would be found immediately.

As Jordan walked back toward his office, Chris followed closely behind, pleading nonstop. Jordan ignored him completely.

When Jordan opened the office door and stepped inside, Chris caught sight of Nica sitting there. His eyes widened in disbelief.

"No... no, no. Nica can't be here," he muttered. "Maybe I'm imagining things."

To clear his doubts, he remained outside the office.

Back inside, Jordan asked gently, "Are you okay?"

He then ordered his guard to bring the contract documents for Nica to review and sign.

While waiting, Nica pointed at a portrait titled Golden Muse.

"How did you get this?" she asked softly. "That portrait belonged to my mother." Nica said in her thought.

Jordan looked at it thoughtfully.

"I once helped a woman who was in danger," he explained. "She insisted I accept it so she could feel at peace."

Nica wanted to ask more questions, but the guard returned with the documents and handed them to Jordan.

Jordan opened them, pointed to the pages, and showed Nica where to sign after reading through them carefully.

Nica signed.

Jordan felt deeply satisfied. I must win her over, he thought.

For a long time, Jordan had admired Nica from a distance. The only thing that stopped him was the fact that she had been dating his nephew, a complete disgrace in his eyes.

He gently took Nica's hand.

"I will never force you to do anything that hurts you," he said. "And always remember this... you are mine now. I will never let anyone harm you."

For the first time in a long while, Nica felt safe... protected... valued... like someone's priority. It was everything Chris had never made her feel.

Lost in those emotions, she barely heard Jordan ask, "Are you okay?"

"Yes... I... am... fine," she stammered.

Jordan smiled faintly and told her to wait outside while he went to get the car.

As Nica stood outside, Chris suddenly attacked from behind with his words.

"Well, well, well... look who is here. What are you doing in a place like this? This place is far above your class."

Nica smirked coldly.

"That's rich coming from a nobody who survives by hiding behind family connections."

Chris glared angrily.

"At least it's better than where you come from."

He tried to grab her, but Nica swiftly stepped aside, causing him to stumble face-first onto the ground.

She looked down at him without emotion.

"We are done. It's over between us."

Without another word, she walked toward Jordan's car.

Jordan had already opened the door for her. She entered gracefully, and then he turned to Chris.

"This is my final warning," Jordan said darkly. "Never lay your hands on her again. Next time, you may not be so lucky."

Jordan then drove Nica to her house and helped carry her bags to the car.

As they both reached for the same bag, their hands touched.

They froze.

Their eyes locked intensely, neither willing to look away.

Slowly, Jordan leaned closer, about to kiss her......

But suddenly, a cat meowed loudly from behind them.

Nica jumped back in embarrassment.

"Sorry!" she blurted out.

Jordan raised an eyebrow. "Sorry for what?"

Flustered and speechless, Nica quickly turned and walked away.

Jordan simply stood there, smiling at her adorable reaction as he made his way back to his car.