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Where there is smoke...

As Rochelle's exhibition drew closer, Adam's parents spent more time away from home, often at the gallery, lending a helping hand. They arranged for one of Rochelle's assistants to teach him the basics of art and painting.

For two days, Adam enjoyed the lessons. On the first day, Rochelle's assistant, Paul, took him outside to sketch different sights, animals, and objects. Paul explained the perspective and balance of objects in a picture and made the boy sketch the different types. On the second day, Adam learned about different paints and used them to paint some of the sketches he had made the day before.

When his parents returned home, the boy excitedly showed them the pieces he had painted. After they complimented his work, his mother suggested they let Paul continue tutoring him, and once he improved, he could start an apprenticeship with Rochelle. Adam blushed hard as his mother made more plans for his future with them.

"The next couple of days are going to be very busy and boring for you, micino." Aurora said as she hugged him. "Let us know if you're tired or uncomfortable."

Adam hugged his mother and smiled up at her. "I will."

On the first day, the exhibition opened with a cocktail party in the afternoon. The event was bigger than any Adam had attended. There were celebrities and other wealthy people from across the country. Photographers swarmed outside the gallery, clamouring over each other to take pictures of everyone entering.

From Rochelle's office, Adam had a good view of the exhibit floor and watched as the guests mingled and the wait staff moved between them with trays of drinks and snacks. His mother said they weren't snacks but owl doves or something that sounded like owl doves. He wasn't interested in the name, only in trying them. There were so many different shapes and sizes, and they were all colourful. Now that he could eat again, he was going to try them all.

"Nikolaev isn't coming today." Rochelle said, reading from her computer. "He will be attending tomorrow, though."

Adam turned back to watch the adults as they adjusted their plans for the rest of the exhibition. His parents were very busy all day, and sometimes it felt like they had forgotten him. But he knew that after losing the Kaufmanns' support, Logan would need new contacts. Today, more than ever, he needed to be their son. He went over his greetings and ran simulations of his possible actions and interactions as he stared at his mother.

On the exhibition floor, Adam walked with his parents as they walked among the guests. Logan and Aurora greeted several familiar couples, happily introducing Adam as their son. There were several clusters of journalists interviewing some of the guests. Adam already didn't like some of the guests; they laughed loudly, like they were trying to win a who could laugh the loudest competition. Some of the women wore dresses with so many revealing parts that they reminded him of that woman, so he turned away in disgust.

As they walked past one of the journalist clusters, a woman's gruff whisper caught their attention over the din.

"—leave me alone!"

The agitated voice belonged to Samantha's mother. She was arguing with a man with a sly smirk on his face. Adam remembered her from that night two weeks ago; now, however, she looked tired and on edge.

"I'll be right back." Aurora said.

Adam watched as his mother walked towards the pair. The man had a device in his hand, and he kept pushing towards Clarisse's mouth as he bombarded her with questions.

"Rumour is that you force your daughter onto wealthy men; can you confirm that?"

Clarisse shook frantically as she tried to defend herself. "I already told you—"

Aurora pushed the man's hand away from Clarisse and stepped between the two. She glared at the man.

"Who are you?"

The man beamed brightly at Aurora. "Nathan Ross, from Wow Sports."

Aurora grabbed his pass and inspected it. "You weren't invited; how did you get in?"

The man snatched the pass from Aurora's hand and bid the ladies goodnight as he hurriedly made his way to the exit. Aurora waved at one of the security guards and pointed to the man before turning to face Clarisse.

"Are you—"

"Thank you, Aurora. I don't know what to do anymore. They keep coming at us." Clarisse slumped to the floor, holding her head and sobbing desperately.

Adam rushed to help his mother assist the woman, and Clarisse continued crying as she detailed the harassment of her family.

"They keep calling the phones and ringing the doorbell nonstop. They've even shown up at Carl's office."

Aurora gently rubbed the other woman's back as she tried to soothe her. "It'll be okay. What about Samantha?"

"Carl sent her to his mother. He's worried about all this affecting her."

Aurora raised her hand and signalled someone. A few seconds later, Paul approached the trio, and Aurora asked him to have Clarisse sent home safely.

"This will be over soon." Aurora said reassuringly as she said goodbye.

Adam watched his mother intently. Her words and actions didn't align with the way her eyes looked at Samantha's mother. Aurora glanced at her watch, then straightened her back. As Adam tried to make sense of his mother, he remembered she had threatened Clarisse before.

The boy frantically looked around; they were standing between two clusters of journalists. He could already hear people whispering about what had happened. He looked back at his mother as she stared coldly at Clarisse and Paul as they left the gallery. Suddenly, a hand grabbed her arm; it was Logan. He pulled Aurora closer to him.

"What did you do?"

"I didn't do anything." She said, turning to him slowly.

"I know you're behind this." He whispered.

"My hands are clean," Aurora said through gritted teeth.

Adam stood by his parents, dumbfounded. Shelly. Was this how Aurora wanted her to blow things up?