As Ayana carefully made her way down the bustling street, a sense of purpose filled her stride. She clutched the bundle of paintings she had poured her heart into, eager to deliver them to Mrs. Jones, a local art enthusiast who had commissioned her work. She was the same client from the exhibit, and true to her words, she had called a few days later and explained what she wanted to Ayana. And that day, even if the steam of what had happened at the exhibit was still on, Ayana had an obligation to fulfill, and that was delivering her masterpieces.Adam would have come with her, but there was a meeting at Lyana’s school, and he had gladly and voluntarily offered to go. However, his agreement with Ayana was that she would patiently wait for him until the meeting was over so that he could drive her to Mr. and Mrs. Jones house. But she was enthusiastic to wait. Every second felt like a failure of her professionalism, until her ass could no longer settle on the couch.She had set off and hai

Ayana's heart pounded in her chest as she turned around to face Robert, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. The audacity of his question sent a surge of anger coursing through her veins, threatening to overwhelm her fragile calm.Her mind raced as she grappled with the whirlwind of emotions churning within her. How dare he? How dare he walk back into her life after all these years and demand to know about their child? What child was he referring to, to start with? The child he had denied—the child he had abandoned before they even had a chance to take their first breath?‘I have way too many things ahead of me. I cannot lose focus much because of the baby. You should have been careful and used protection to avoid all this. See what you can do about this mess. As for me, I am done here.’He had coldly said to her six years ago that day she had relished the news of her pregnancy. She was so hopeful. She already envisions their future together, with the first fruit of their love

But as Robert glared at Adam, his vision clouded with anger, he realized that Adam wasn't backing down. His gaze was steady, his expression unyielding, as he stood his ground, ready to defend Ayana at all costs.Faced with Adam's unwavering determination, Robert's resolve faltered. He knew he was no match for Adam in a physical altercation, and he could feel the eyes of the onlookers burning into him, their silent judgment weighing heavily on his pride.With a frustrated growl, Robert swallowed his pride and took a step back, his fists unclenching as he raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. He knew when he was beaten, and he could see that Adam wasn't going to back down."You son of a..." Robert began, his voice trembling with anger."Say one more word, and I won't hesitate to break your other jaw!" Adam warned, his gaze icy and unyielding.Robert glared at Adam, his jaw clenched in frustration and humiliation. He seemed to realize that he had met his match in Adam, someone who

As they arrived home, Ayana's mind was still reeling from the encounter with Robert. She couldn't shake off the feeling of anger and frustration that lingered within her. The images of his arrogant face and his venomous words kept playing in her mind like a broken record, haunting her thoughts and stealing her peace.Adam could sense her distress as they entered the house. He gently guided her to the couch, urging her to sit down and take a moment to collect herself. He knew that the encounter had deeply affected her, and he wanted to be there for her in any way he could.Ayana sank into the couch, her mind swirling with a whirlwind of emotions. She felt drained, both physically and emotionally, as if the encounter had sapped all her energy and left her feeling hollow inside. The urge to paint, which usually served as her solace in times of distress, seemed distant and unattainable in that moment.Adam sat beside her, his presence a comforting anchor amidst the storm of her emotions.

As she painted, Ayana found herself embracing the present moment, letting go of the past and the future, and simply allowing herself to be fully immersed in the act of creation. There was a certain freedom in surrendering to the canvas, a liberation that allowed her to express herself without inhibition or restraint.And as the painting began to take shape before her eyes, Ayana realized that she was not just creating art—she was also reclaiming her power, reaffirming her identity, and rediscovering her inner strength. In that moment, she knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, she would face them with courage and resilience, fueled by the creative fire that burned within her.With each stroke of color, Ayana painted her way towards healing, transforming her fears into beauty and her uncertainties into possibility. And as she stood back to admire her work, she couldn't help but smile, knowing that she had found a source of strength and inspiration in the most unexpected of plac