Chapter 25: The First Time Maria Didn't Paint Sarkon

Maria looked at the charming man standing before her with an artist's eyes. As her pencil sketched perfect large ovals on the life-size canvas, Claude couldn't stop admiring the contours of her face and the shapes of her exquisite features. He was staring at his Daisy. His one and only beloved. How can two people be so alike in so many ways? "Are you alright?" Maria's delicate voice snapped at his thoughts. He was back in the art room. Maria repeated her question. "You've been standing for a while. I thought you might be tired." "Strong as an ox." Claude beamed back. The melodious chuckle came through those rose petals of her lips. It tickled the hair on his arms like Daisy's light gasps of pleasure when he drove into her. Maria knitted her brows at her new acquaintance as her pencil swirled and twirled over the white canvas. He certainly didn't look well. Maybe he should sit. Maria paused her sketching and peeked from the