Down in the audience, Aria’s lips curled in the faintest smile,
Collin’s face drained of color. He looked to Hannals, incredulous, “Didn’t she say Mono agreed to take me?”
In the audience, Hannah’s grip lightened on her painting, finestration twisting her features. “What is Mann doing? Collin is sited–how could ha
Liam shot her an odd look. “It’s normal for Mond to refuse. Just because someone’s talented doesn’t mean Mono should take them all.”
So Collin had burned down Johan for Mono- and now was being turned away.
Smirking nces from the crowd burned at Collin’s pride, his face turning crimson. “Mono, didn’t… didn’t you say you’d ept me as a studentr
“Il Hannah hadn’t told me you would, I never would’ve turned down Johan, Collin insisted.
Mono frowned. “I’m seeing you for the first time today. When did I ever promise to take you?”
Johan interpected, “Hannah came to the Fine Art Society and told me that if Collin <b>asked </b>you in public, <b>you’d </b>agree to take him.”
“Nonsense!” Mono’s temper snapped. “When did I ever say that? Where is Hannah? Tell her toe out here right now!”
Collin <b>finally </b>understood. He’d been duped by Hannah. Mono had never agreed.
He’d rejected Johan for nothing
His cheeks burned with shame as he stared daggers at Hannah. “Hannah, what the hell is going on<b>?</b>”
Everyone followed his gaze–there <b>she </b>was<b>, </b>clutching her painting
Mono met his own apprentice’s eyes and looked away
with <b>a </b>
a cold snort
Aria thought, Impossible to please. Not without sympathy.
Mono’s gaze sharpened on Hannah. “So it was you telling everyone I’d ept Collin?”
Hannah hadn’t expected things to spiral like this. Her face flushed, but she straightened. “Collin, I knew how much you admired Mono. I <b>just </b>wanted to give you the courage to ask–I never said Mono had agreed to anything”
Her words said one thing, but her intent had been clear push Collin to ask and hope Mono would relent. “I figured Johan would pressure <b>you </b>in public, <b>so </b>you’d have no choice but to agree…”
Mono looked sideways at Johan “Was that your n?”
“Utter nonsensel” Johan barked, his face <b>dark </b>with anger. “He’s not nearly good enough for me to coerce him into apprenticeship<b>.” </b>
Collin couldn’t believe what he <b>was </b>hearing
Hannah had said <b>things </b>that butrageous.
He turned to Johan, desperate. “Johan, I’ve always been grateful for your <b>guidance</b><b>. </b><b>I </b><b>never </b>said anything like that.”
Johan waved a dismissive hand. “No point dwelling<b>. </b>Seems we’re not meant to be master and student.”
No Mono. No Johan. All because of this <b>mess</b>. <b>Collin’s </b>heart was in his throat, but he could only swallow the pain. “Sorry, Mano. I’m just not worthy
Contestants were called offstage, Collin, seething, stormed to the backstage area. Katrina skipped off to find Johan, only to be waved off by him.
<b>1/2 </b>
Tak05=÷Tue, <b>10 </b>Jun.
“See me in the judges‘ loungeter.”
“Okay!” she chirped, floating away.
Aria stood, ready to follow the crowd when she heard Liam call, “Aria, your paintings.”
She turned, about to collect them, as Liam approached with Hannah right behind him, still clutching her painting
But disaster struck in an instant
Someone bumped into Hannah. She stumbled, tripped over a <b>chair</b><b>, </b>and fell forward.
The painting mmed into the edge of a chair, the sharp sound of ss breaking ringing out.
Hannah shrieked, eyes wide with horror as she tore back the canvas covering, only to find a jagged crack shing right across
cross the prized painting.
HE