Chapter 8 Family Drama

• Lexi stood in her bedroom, staring at the portrait Julian had painted of her. She couldn’t believe how perfectly he had captured her essence—the sparkle in her eyes, the soft curve of her smile, the quiet strength she didn’t always see in herself. It was as if he had painted not just her face but her very soul. The sight of it left her breathless.
• Lost in thought, she barely noticed when her mother, Regina, stormed into the room, her heels clicking against the hardwood floor.
• "Lexi, we need to talk," Regina announced, her voice sharp yet laced with an undercurrent of urgency.