Sunday brought exceptional sunshine. Walking into Fairmont Park with my art supplies, even the air felt sweet.
About a dozen easels were already set up on the grass, people in various casual clothes gathered in small groups discussing composition and lighting, filled with pure love for art.
"Hey! Are you new?" A cheerful female voice called from behind.
I turned to see a girl in paint-splattered denim overalls waving at me. She had fluffy golden curls and blue paint smudges on her cheeks, her smile radiant.
"I'm Zoe Harper." She approached, extending her hand without hesitation—fingers also covered in colorful paint. "And you?"
"Noelle." I shook her hand, feeling the warmth and roughness of palms clearly marked by years of holding brushes.
"Noelle who?" She tilted her head.
I hesitated. "Noelle Morozov."
"Cool! You're the legendary Mrs. Morozov?"
"Hardly that dramatic." I laughed.
She shrugged, clearly unconcerned about family backgrounds. "Come on, let's paint those cherry trees. The light's amazing—I want to try impressionist brushwork today."
Just like that, she pulled me toward a grove of cherry blossoms. We painted quietly for a while. Spring breeze stirred the petals, sending them floating like pink snow. Sunlight filtered through leaves, casting dappled shadows on the grass. We chatted while painting.
"Oh," Zoe pulled out her phone, "let's exchange contacts? When the association has more events, I'll invite you. Or you could visit my gallery—I'll treat you to coffee."
I hesitated, then gave her my number. Zoe quickly typed on her phone, then mine chimed.
"Done!" she said with satisfaction. "I'll call you whenever I discover interesting places. Philadelphia has so many fascinating corners that high society people never explore—those places hold the city's real soul."
"I'm looking forward to it."
As the sun began setting, the gathering wound down.
"See you later, Noelle." Zoe gave me a warm hug. "Remember to smile, okay?"
"I will." I hugged her back. "See you later, Zoe."
On the ride home, I sat in the car watching Philadelphia's streetscape. Dmitri's car followed like a silent shadow. But right now, I didn't mind. I touched the necklace, then checked Zoe's message. "Had such a great time today! Looking forward to seeing you again! [heart emoji]"
The next evening, a deep blue velvet gown was delivered to my room. Elegantly cut with a perfectly designed neckline, paired with silver heels and a simple diamond bracelet.
Another dinner party, but this one was different—this was a gambling night.
When I came downstairs with my hair arranged, Kholod was already waiting in the hall. He wore his signature black three-piece suit, diamond cufflinks glinting under the lights.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Yes."
He extended his hand, palm up—a gentleman's invitation. I placed my hand in his warm, firm grip.
As our car pulled away from the manor, I spotted a familiar figure at the gate—Isabella.
She wore a flowing lavender chiffon dress, clutching a delicate handbag. Seeing our car, she immediately looked panicked and waved at us.
Kholod frowned, signaling the driver to stop.
As the window lowered, Isabella bent down, eyes slightly red. "Kholod, sorry to bother you... I wanted to return that bracelet, but you seem to be heading out..."
