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“Yes. The human mind is an interesting thing.” And it’s true even though my interests lean more toward criminal psychology and understanding why various serial killers do what they do.
I’ve done research over the years. How could I not, considering the dark four killed people left and right, but…still, it wasn’t enough. Besides, when one has no passion in life, you might as well pick a major that stirs some curiosity in your brain. Otherwise, these studies would be a boring chore.
“What about you? Do you love your art?”
Her cheeks heat, and she nods, playing with the napkin on her lap. “Yeah. In my art, I find an odd sense of peace. As if I belong, you know?”
I have no idea what it’s like to belong anywhere, least of all on a professional level, but I still manage to push. “Yeah. Mom can’t live without it either.”
She wouldn’t have any exhibitions during Santiago’s absent years, but she’d still lock herself up in her studio, where she’d paint and paint until she had no strength left.
Only to tear up all the paintings and start anew.
“Here is your order.” Emma places a strawberry cake, milkshake, and ice cream on the table. “If you’d like anything else, just let me know, Miss Cortez.”
“Thank you.” Grabbing the fork, I dip it into the cake and lift it to my mouth, groaning in pleasure when the sweet taste hits me. “Delicious.”
“That looks really good. I’ll have one as well, please.”
“Coming right away, Mrs. Cortez.”
Briseis flinches at the name, and I laugh again, which earns me another glare. “You’d have to get used to it, and besides, our name has a lot of perks. You’ll find out.”
“I doubt it. Your brother will get bored once he achieves whatever he wants, and then will divorce me.”
“Hate to break it to you, but the Cortezes have never had a divorce in their history.”
“What?”
“Yes. We are known for long-lasting love marriages, so I wouldn’t hold your breath for the divorce if I were you.”
Before she can reply, her eyes widen, and she gets up. “Lenora is here!” She rushes to the entrance, where I see a gorgeous redhead, her best friend. We invited her earlier, and she seemed really nice on the phone.
Watching them hug each other makes me miss my own best friend, and snatching the phone from my purse, I’m about to text her but freeze when a message flashes on the display.
Jimena Cortez, I know your secret.
This is Maxwell Price, by the way.
My brow furrows at this rather cryptic message coming from Florian’s second cousin, and an uneasiness rushes through me that I quickly temper.
While the Price family has complicated internal dynamics and relationships when it comes to Uncle Jacob’s cousin, who also happens to be Maxwell's father, Bellamy, their conflict never affected us in any way.
I met him once when Bellamy came to our house with some business idea and asked Dad for funding to save his crumbling company. Dad refused, and even though Bellamy cursed him all the way, he remained nice toward Mom and me.
According to everyone, he married some rich heiress desperately in love with him, accepting his son from his previous marriage and raising him as her own.
She also dealt with his constant infidelities and forgave him every single time, even the sex video scandal a few years back.
Since she was her father’s only child and couldn’t have her own children, Maxwell became their dynasty’s heir by default, and right now, he’s on the ‘most sought-after bachelors in the world’ list.
Compared to his philandering alcohol-loving father, though, he has a brilliant mind and expanded the empire and the family’s influence.
Powerful, charming, handsome, and smart are just a few adjectives describing the man who earned the respect of his peers.
Although he still fucked his way through Chicago in true Price fashion.
We’ve never crossed paths. He tried relentlessly to mend his father’s relationship with Uncle Jacob and Florian, but both still dogged all his attempts without wanting to explain why.
