Chapter

47

"I didn't know you could paint," Alexander said casually. He glanced at the easel, curiosity sparked as he wondered what Clara had been working on so Late at

cara noticed his gaze and instinctively shitted to the side, blocking his view. For some reason, the thought of anyone seeing her unfinished, messy work filled her with discounted. It was a harsh reminder of how much she had lost, low she could langer paint the way she once did. Alexander caught the subtle movement and paused for a moment before redirecting his attention "As long as you're okay," he said, his usual stoic expression slipping back into place.

Though his face gave nothing away, Clara couldn't help but sense a slight change in his demeant. Remembering how he'd stepped in to help her multiple times now, she telta flicker of warmth.. She smiled at him, a genuine smile that seemed to chase away the lingering shadows in her heart. "Thank you, Alexander."

"No worries" Alexander looked away quickly, a faint redness creeping up the back of his ears. He pulled out his phone, tapped the screen a few times, and then held it up toward her. "Add me." Cara blinked, caught off guard.

Alexander raised an eyebrow when she didn't move. "You're not going to backout now, are you? You said I could come by for meals. Don't tell me you've already changed your mind

His attempt at finding an excuse made her laugh softly. For the first time since coming to this small town, she felt like the weight on her shoulders had lifted just a

"Of course not. Let me grab my phone,"

Clata relotted a moment later and added him to her contacts. As she looked up, she noticed his hair and clothes were still dripping wet from the rain.

"You Ir soaked," she said, frowning slightly. "Holdnoveldrama

I'll grab y

you an umbrella. You should get home, take a hot shower, and change before you catch a cold." Mexander started to brush heruff, ady to argue that he'd already gotten drenched, so an umbrella wouldn't make much of a difference. He could just climb back over the balcony, but before he could say a word, she had already found an umbells and passed it into his hand.

Reading his thoughts, she added, "Use the front door, Climbing balconies isn't exactly sate."

"Got it." Alexander muttered, gripping the umbrella a little tighter. He turned his head slightly, his eats timing an even deeper shade of red.

"EU head out, then," he said, Mepping toward the stairs. He paused mid-step, glancing back at her putty eyes. "Don't stay up painting, det some sleep." Alexander hat always been good at knowing when to draw the line. It wasn't hand to guess that Clara wouldn't have been painting or spilling paint in the middle of

orvet, fur wasn't the type to pry. They were neighbors, not close Iris

(quiet little town, fer wouldn't dig into her private matters.

mud he wasn't about to overstep fast like how Clasa had never asked him why he was

clara queridy understood what he meant. Her gaze softened, and the modded. "Thank you. You should get some rest, too. Goodnight,*

fime, Alexander düdar't linger. With a quick stride, he disappeared down the stairs, umbrella in hand.

Over tar dooi shut behind ham, Clasa locked it securely. She went back upstatis, carefully cleaning the spilled paint off the floor. As she stared at the ruined

appointment, and without a second glaner, she draped the canvas with a clean white cloth and left the room. Outside, the tait poured hander, but the steady rlişti seemed to match her ensations, washing away some of the tensio

Later that night, Clata slept peacefully for the first time in a while