Chapter 89: The Aftermath

Olivia stood between her two most recent paintings. One was the chaotic, emotion-filled piece held together by the turmoil inside her, and the other was a serene self-portrait with which clarity had finally come. Nathan and Mark sat on the opposite ends of a sleek leather couch, the tension between them palpable. Olivia sucked in a deep breath, bracing herself. "Thanks for coming, both of you," she started off, her voice surprisingly strong. "I know this hasn't been easy for any of us, but I have come to my decision." She felt the way they both stiffened, their eyes fixed on her—equal parts of hope and fear. Her gaze shifted from one to the other, from Nathan's intense, passionate energy to Mark's steady, sympathetic presence. For a moment, she felt a pang of regret for the pain she was about to cause. And then she remembered the clarity she'd found and the strength she'd rediscovered in herself, and she plunged on again. "I love you both," she said gently. "In different ways, for d