Chapter 191: Hand-made Homework

Chapter 191: Hand-made Homework
After Theodore’s funeral, Eleanor withdrew from the world. She locked herself in her studio and began a period of intense, solitary creation. She didn't want to see anyone or talk to anyone. The only person she allowed near her was Alexander. Every day, he would quietly bring her meals and leave them at the door. He didn't push her to talk. He knew she was processing a decade of guilt and grief through her brushes.

Eva also understood that her mother was hurting. The little girl was remarkably quiet, staying away from the studio so she wouldn't disturb the process.

A week passed before the door finally opened. Eleanor stepped out into the hallway, squinting against the bright morning light. She looked exhausted, and her apron was covered in smears of oil paint, but her eyes were clear. Before she could even take a breath of fresh air, a small weight slammed into her legs.

"Mama! I missed you so much! I was so sad I couldn't even eat!" Eva cried, looking up with her big, soulful eyes. She pouted her lips for extra effect.

Alexander walked down the hall, a soft smile playing on his lips. "Is that so? You missed her so much that you only managed to eat three full meals a day?"

Eva’s chubby cheeks turned bright red. She let go of Eleanor’s legs and put her hands on her hips, stomping her foot at her father. "Daddy! You’re mean! You’re not supposed to tell!"

Eleanor couldn't help but laugh. It was the first time she had laughed in a week. She reached down and wiped a stray smudge of paint off Eva’s nose. "Only three meals? If you didn't miss me, would you be eating six?"

"No! Don't listen to him, Mama!" Eva huffed, her cheeks puffing out like a little hamster. Then, she leaned in close and whispered, "Mama, I had the nannies help me make you a cake this morning. I’ll sneak you a piece later, but you have to give me half. Don't tell Daddy."

Alexander cleared his throat loudly. "I have very good hearing, little one. You’re making a cake for your mother, but you’ve already eaten half of it, haven't you? And now you want her to share the rest with you?"

Eleanor raised an eyebrow, looking at her daughter with an amused expression. Eva gave her a sheepish grin. "I just wanted to make sure it tasted good for you. It was so delicious I couldn't stop myself."

"It’s okay," Eleanor said, kissing the top of Eva’s head. "You can eat as much as you want today. But tomorrow, it’s back to healthy food. We don't want you getting any cavities."

"Mama is the best!" Eva cheered, grabbing Eleanor’s hand and dragging her toward the stairs. Alexander followed behind them, shaking his head in mock disapproval.

The painting Eleanor created during her week of isolation became a global sensation. It was titled "The Boy in the Dark."

The painting showed a young boy with a lonely, tragic expression. He was surrounded by a world of shadows and chaos, looking as if he were trapped in a version of hell. But the clothes the boy wore were glowing with a brilliant, golden light. The fabric was made of tiny, fractured scenes of a happy past with his mother. These memories were what held him together in the darkness.

The piece resonated with millions of people. Collectors offered millions of dollars to own it, but Eleanor refused them all. She hung the original in the heart of the Heart’s Core Gallery. Soon, the International Arts Council reached out. They wanted to include the painting in their permanent collection. Eleanor agreed, but on one condition: it had to be displayed right next to her other masterpiece, "Rising Toward the Sun."

Eleanor became the first modern artist to have two pieces simultaneously accepted by the world’s most prestigious gallery.

One afternoon, after finishing her business at the gallery, Eleanor returned home to a quiet house. She went upstairs to find Eva. When she opened the door to the girl’s room, she stopped and leaned against the frame, smiling.

The room was a mess of glitter, construction paper, and markers. Alexander, the man who controlled a multi-billion dollar empire, was sitting on the carpet in a casual grey sweatshirt. His usually perfect hair was tied into two tiny, messy ponytails. Eva was currently busy sticking sparkly princess stickers all over his face.

Alexander didn't move. He sat with a level of focus he usually reserved for high-stakes board meetings. He was carefully cutting out shapes for Eva’s school craft project.

Eleanor walked over and sat beside him. She took a wet wipe from the nightstand and gently cleaned a streak of blue marker off his cheek. "Does the great Mr. Prescott finally have a rival he can't beat? I thought you were invincible."

Alexander looked up, finally putting the scissors down. He wrapped an arm around Eleanor’s waist and pulled her close, resting his head on her shoulder. He took a deep breath, smelling her perfume. "This is harder than a board meeting," he complained, though his eyes were full of peace.

"Daddy is a slow-poke!" Eva giggled, crawling into the space between them. She hugged Alexander’s neck and grabbed Eleanor’s hand.

"But Daddy’s drawing of Mama is the best," Eva added. She took a pink heart sticker and pressed it firmly onto the back of Alexander’s hand. "That’s your reward."

Alexander looked at the pink heart and then at his daughter. "Thank you, sweetheart."

The sun moved across the floor, casting their long, intertwined shadows against the wall. They looked like a single unit, perfectly whole.

"Harrison is coming back soon," Alexander said after a moment. "He’s finished his travels. We should all have dinner together."

Eleanor looked surprised. "Harrison? I thought he was going to Egypt for a few months. He just sent me a painting from Greece last week."

Alexander felt a familiar spark of jealousy. He reached out and pinched Eleanor’s waist, right in the spot where she was most ticklish. She let out a small yelp of surprise.

"Mama, what happened?" Eva asked, looking curious.

Eleanor glared at Alexander, her face flushing. "Nothing, sweetie. Mama is just a little tired. Why don't you finish your project with Daddy? I’m going to go lie down for a bit."

She stood up and hurried to their bedroom. A few seconds after she closed the door, it opened again. Alexander’s tall frame blocked the light. He looked dominant and dangerous, a far cry from the man with ponytails in the other room.

He closed the door and locked it. He walked over, picked Eleanor up by the hips, and sat her on the dresser.

"It’s the middle of the day," Eleanor whispered, trying to sound stern. "Stop being a brat."

She could feel his hands sliding under her shirt. She tried to stop him, but her heart wasn't in it. She looked at his face and realized the pink heart sticker was still on his hand. She started laughing and began peeling the remaining stickers off his forehead.

Alexander chuckled, buried his face in her neck, and breathed against her skin. "Harrison found a girlfriend two years ago. She looked a lot like you. They broke up recently, and now he’s coming back. I don't trust him around you."

"You’re being ridiculous. He’s been gone for four years," Eleanor teased, playfully pinching his cheek. "It’s good that he’s coming home. And so what if his girlfriend looked like me? Do you think I’m that special? That people just can't forget me?"

"I couldn't," Alexander murmured. "I spent ten years thinking about you."

He leaned in and kissed her, his hands moving with more intent. Eleanor felt herself melting into him. But just as things were heating up, there was a loud knock on the door.

"Daddy! My homework isn't finished!" Eva’s high-pitched voice came through the wood. The romantic atmosphere vanished instantly.

Alexander rested his forehead against Eleanor’s, let out a long, frustrated sigh. He called out to the door, "I’ll have the assistant find a tutor to help you, Go play."

"No! I want you to do it! You’re the best at drawing! Mama said she was sleeping, so don't bother her!"

Eleanor patted his shoulder, grinning. "Go on. Don't bother me while I’m resting."

Alexander shook his head, gave her one last deep kiss, and walked out. Eva saw that his stickers were gone and pouted. "Daddy! You took off my rewards! Now you have to do the homework by yourself as a punishment, and I’m going to sleep with Mama."

She tried to slip past him, but Alexander caught her by the back of her shirt and lifted her up. "Nice try. If you’re calling me out, you’re staying with me until this project is done."