I was reading over the contract this artist had
sent when a voice message popped up from
Chloe. She cooed, “I’m so sorry, Ashley. Liam
insisted on coming to my house to take care of
- me. I feel so bad that I’m messing up the
exhibition schedule. You can’t be mad at him,
okay?” It was clear as day what she was trying
to do. Tired of it, I zoomed in on Chloe’s new
profile pic. It showed her swollen, red face,
cupped by a pair of big hands with a smattering
of paint on them. Those hands were very
familiar, they were Liam’s. He really did care
about her.
I closed the picture and changed my own profile
pic from our wedding photo to a bird taking
flight. It was the last day of the city art exhibit,
and I was stuck in the back dealing with last-
minute things. By the time I went to get a group
<
photo, Liam already had his arm around Chloe
in the center spot. The reporters were gushing, “You two are so cute! Seven years of marriage
and you’re still so in love.”
“Mrs. Walker looks so young! And she manages
the studio and planned the exhibition. She’s a
beauty and a brains!”
They both heard the praise, but neither
bothered to correct them. It wasn’t until Chloe
saw me that her eyes teared up and she
dropped to her knees. “Ashley, I didn’t mean to!
I didn’t get a chance to explain. All of Liam’s
success is because of you. I’d never take credit
for that.”
The sudden move made things awkward. The
only sound was the clicking of cameras. Liam
moved in front of Chloe. “Ashley, do you have
to be so aggressive?” he said. “Chloe did a lot
for this exhibition. It’s normal for me to bring
her out and help her get her name out there.”
<
3:32
84)
ner out and neip ner get ner name out there. He lowered his voice. “It’s a public place, don’t
make a scene.”
“”
I wouldn’t cause a scene, not anymore. I smiled,
helped Chloe up, and introduced her to the
media. This whole charade eventually ended.
The interview was over, and I was on my phone,
booking my plane ticket. Liam snatched my
phone. “What are you doing? Booking an
overseas ticket? How come I don’t know about
this?” He asked three questions in a row, brow
furrowed, and voice shocked. “When did I
schedule a show in Paris? Why didn’t you tell
me?”
- 4.
I didn’t think he’d react this way. Maybe my
recent behavior finally got his attention. Liam
looked panicked. “What are you planning?” he
demanded, grabbing my hand.
Before I could explain a scream came from the
<
Before I could explain, a scream came from the
back. Liam dropped my phone and rushed off. I
calmly picked up my phone, hit ‘purchase,‘ then
followed him. The place was a mess, frames
were shattered everywhere, and Chloe was on
the floor, blood pouring from a gash on her
wrist. “Waaah, Liam, my hand is hurt. What if I
can’t draw anymore?”
“Ashley made me come back here to organize
these. I didn’t think these frames would fall. I
was so careful! Did I do something wrong?”
Liam cradled her hand, eyes red. Then he
whirled around at me. “Ashley, is it not enough?
You don’t have to do this!”
“Chloe is my assistant, she just handles my
things. What was she doing doing this hard
work? All those years of your crap at dinner
parties, I’ve tolerated it. Are you that low that
you’re trying to hurt people now?”
Ignoring all the looks, I tried to explain. “I didn’t
<
ask her to come here! I was up front just now…”
