"I'm going to go paint," I announced, pushing my chair back and standing up. As I moved away from the table, I felt the tension building inside me slowly dissipating.

Robert protested, "You should eat something first." But I didn't look back at him; I couldn't. Instead, I rushed to my room and put aside the canvas I had been working on the previous night. I grabbed a fresh one and placed it before me.

"Nicole, I'm sorry about this. I had planned to spend the day with you." Robert's hesitant voice pulled me out of my thoughts. I turned to see him holding a tray of food at my door with a sheepish expression. It was the first time I had seen him like this. His usual confidence was nowhere to be seen. My heart tightened, and I struggled to catch my breath. I turned my gaze back to the canvas, not wanting Robert to see the tears forming in my eyes.

"I understand, Robert. Some things are more important," I replied without looking up, my brush submerging smoothly into the black paint.

"You are the most important thing, Nicole," Robert said as he put the tray beside me.

"But you have to go," I said, trying to mask my bitterness.

Robert tentatively touched my shoulder, but I continued painting without acknowledging him. He sighed and removed his hand, saying, "We need to leave by three to get to my father's house on time. I'll be back before then."

"Okay," I whispered almost to myself, my attention entirely absorbed by the work in front of me. My mind was racing with thoughts and emotions, but I didn't let any of them show on my face. Instead, I channeled everything into the canvas, allowing the colors and shapes to express what words could not.

By the time he returned that afternoon, my stomach had insisted I eat something, so the tray he had brought was empty. I turned the canvas away from the door and stepped into the hallway when I heard him enter the apartment. Although my mind knew that Robert had to leave for a valid reason, my heart was still resentful.

When he noticed me standing there, his smile was almost enough to melt my heart again. He strode over to me, wrapped his arms around me, and pulled me into a gentle kiss. I reciprocated, wanting everything to be okay but not trusting anything.

"I'm so sorry," Robert apologized as he released me, searching for my eyes with his. "If it hadn't been important, I wouldn't have left you alone today." He stroked my hair and silently begged for my forgiveness. "I'll make it up to you."

Robert's vague promise weighed heavily on my chest. It sounded eerily similar to Tim's words whenever he let me down.

I responded to Robert's words with a silent nod, not trusting my voice to convey the emotions swirling inside me. Before I knew it, he pulled me into his broad chest, enfolding me in a warm embrace that almost took my breath away.

"I will make it up to you," he said, repeating his words as he held me close and nuzzled his face into my hair.

"I have to get ready. I'm covered in paint," I replied, reluctantly pulling away from him. I couldn't quite read Robert's expression when I looked up at him. He gave me a tentative smile and reached to wipe some dried paint off my cheek.

"That you are," he agreed. "Will you be ready in an hour?"

"No problem," I assured him.

"Okay, I'll meet you out here when you are ready."

***

The Lamb mansion was located in the hills across the bridge from the city. Had Robert not driven us through the private gate at the beginning, I would have mistaken the area for a national forest. The windy road was surrounded by towering trees, which allowed only a tiny amount of the mid-afternoon sun to seep through. Although it had frightened me when I first drove up here with Tim in my previous life, with Robert, it felt more like an adventure.

"I used to wander around my property when I was younger. I often ventured so deep into the woods that I had to camp overnight before returning home. It wasn't until I went to college that I realized how weird it was to hike on my own land. Most of my boarding school friends had similar experiences, but it was different when I got to college." A slight frown started at the edge of his lips as he fell into a memory.

"Yeah, me too, actually. Well, I never hiked on my parent's estate but lived pretty comfortably my whole life. I didn't go to college that far from here, but I wanted the full experience, so I stayed in the dorms, and it was a great decision. Beth was my roommate in the first year." My friends that year had been so different than those I had been raised around. People from all walks of life come together because of their thirst for knowledge. It had been invigorating and humbling. I wondered if Robert had a similar experience.

"You really are fortunate, Nicole. Your parents' love for you is so apparent in every interaction." Robert glanced at me briefly before navigating the next gate that let us into the central part of the estate.

"I'm a disappointment to my mom," I answered rotely.

"Maybe, but we all are disappointments somehow," Robert responded. His honesty surprised me. I couldn't understand how he continued to differ from his nephew in big and small ways.

"How could you be a disappointment?" I half-teased.

"Well, hopefully, I will be less of one when my father meets you," he answered obliquely.

"What is that supposed to mean?" I asked with suspicion, my stomach clenching with anxiety at the words.

"Well, I'm over thirty and unmarried, so my father only has one grandchild. This disappoints him greatly." Robert smiled at me, then turned back to the road as the grand house appeared. My rebuttal died in my mouth as I saw the Lamb house again for the first time since my reawakening.

Robert's father, Xavier Lamb, designed the manor to resemble an Italian villa he had stayed at during his teenage Europe trip. He built it into a hill on the same land where his great-grandfather's smaller house had stood. The old house was converted into a guest house, and I always appreciated that Mr. Lamb chose not to demolish his childhood home in his pursuit of perfection. It was impressive to see that the new house fit perfectly with the surrounding environment, and it was definitely designed specifically for the landscape. The curves of the house mirrored the curves of the land; even the pool wound around a back wall and followed the hill of the forest it was built into.

Robert's father died not long after Tim and I married, and I had only met him a handful of times before that. In that life, Robert had died, and after this, Xavier Lamb busied himself in all aspects of his work. Tiffany had once mentioned that Xavier's love of Robert had been intermingled with his all-consuming passion for his second wife, Robert's mother, who had also passed away very young. My then father-in-law had died on a cross-Pacific flight returning from yet another Asian business trip. By the time the plane had made an emergency landing on the closest island with a hospital, Xavier Lamb had gone past the point of rescue.

Tim's mother had already lived in the manor, so she stayed on there. Tiffany had been the mistress of the house since Xavier's second wife had died, which had been most of her adult life. Tim didn't like visiting the property, and he had never told me why, so Tiffany would usually come to visit us in the city.

"He's going to love you," Robert reassured me as he leaned over and kissed me quickly. He must have thought my silence was nerves, and my heart warmed at his gentle gesture.

"Wait, did you say 'grandchild'?" My brain finally processed his other words as he exited the car. I was sure he had heard me, but he didn't respond. His suppressed laughter gave him away when he helped me out, but Tiffany Lamb's arrival wiped away any levity.

"Bobby, it took Dad coming home to get you out here again. I'm so mad!" Tiffany hugged her brother warmly before letting her lip out a pout.

"Tiff, it's been a busy couple of months." Robert released her, placed his arm around my back, and pulled me closer.

"Oh, I bet they were," Tiffany teased, flashing a broad smile and winking at me. "Dad's in the study. Tim and his new girlfriend will be here soon."

Tim's name made me stiffen with dread, sending icicle shards up and down my spine. I felt tense and anxious, but Robert tried to comfort me by rubbing my back. Tiffany, oblivious to my response, launched into a monologue about the most recent household topics concerning her. Robert responded at the appropriate times, leaving me to gather all my strength for the inevitable meeting.

When I first woke up in my new life, I naively believed that I could exact revenge on the man who had killed me in my previous life. However, I was too afraid even to get close to him. I didn't know where to start, and the best I managed to do was to foil his plans whenever possible.

As I entered the Lamb Mansion through the front door, the grand foyer immediately caught my attention with its immaculate and modern design. Although the entrance required climbing steps, the foyer was below the main level. The centerpiece of the room was a sweeping and ornate iron and marble staircase, which guided the eye toward the first-floor living space.

As Robert led me through the foyer, up the stairs, and down a long hallway, I couldn't help but marvel at the intricate details and tasteful decor that adorned every inch of the mansion. We eventually arrived at the study, a space I had never been asked to visit. However, Robert seemed eager to show me it, so I followed him into the beautifully decorated library.

The library was a true masterpiece of design, with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lined with rare editions and antique volumes. The room was bathed in warm, golden light that filtered through the large windows, casting a cozy glow over the plush furniture and intricate woodwork. As I took in the stunning surroundings, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the opportunity to experience such a magnificent space.

Strategically hidden into each wall between the shelves sat beautiful and varied works of art. I felt like Belle walking into the Beast's library and was awestruck and saddened at the same time. It made me wonder about the person who could own all of these books and art. I wished I had known him better, but Tim had never given me the opportunity in our life together. He had resented his grandfather and rarely spent any time with him.

The library owner glanced up from a book he had been reading, lounging in one of the wing-back chairs near an artificial fireplace. His deceptive, youthful appearance startled me, as it had done in my previous life. I knew he had a daughter in her forties, so Xavier Lamb must be in his sixties, yet he looked much younger than his actual age. His hair was salt and pepper, with more pepper on top and salt on the sides, and he had a mustache and beard that reflected the duality. His piercing blue eyes were the same as Robert's, surrounded by the finest of laugh lines, suggesting that Xavier Lamb had smiled a lot in his life, even though he wasn't smiling at that moment.

"So, this is the artist you want to marry." Xavier Lamb's first words astonished me. I wasn't sure if I should be more surprised by his calling me an artist or engaging me with his son.

"This is Nicole Mason," Robert said while holding me tightly around the waist. Although his voice sounded calm, his body language indicated otherwise. I instinctively rubbed his back to help ease his tension. Xavier Lamb raised one eyebrow in response to his son's words, and a slight smile formed on his face, tilting his mustache to one side.

"Yes, heir to Mason Industries and accomplished artist. I know who she is." Xavier offered me his hand, so I removed mine from Robert's back to accept his. "Marcus wouldn't stop talking about Nicole Mason once he heard my son was dating her."

"Marcus?" I stammered, unable to believe he could be talking about Uncle George's gallery owner friend.

"Marcus Durand sold me most of these paintings and sculptures," Xavier Lamb floated his hand across the room. My eye followed it to each painting, and I realized why some seemed so familiar. "Though he hasn't been able to keep one of yours long enough for me to purchase."

"Oh, I could give you one," I answered thoughtlessly, not thinking about what this icon had just said. I knew Xavier had been an art connoisseur, but Tim had never mentioned his connection to Marcus.

"I'll take you up on that. I have a few empty places I've been waiting to fill." His hand indicated areas on the wall with lighting but no paintings.

With genuine sentiment, I replied, "I would be honored." Xavier Lamb's charm and refinement immediately affected me, and my heart filled with warmth.

"Good, that's settled." Mr. Lamb returned to his book and brought it to a shelf where an open spot awaited. I watched his smooth movements with interest. He was very different from Robert. Tim probably shared more features with his grandfather, but for some reason, I didn't recoil at the similarities. It was like seeing an original painting that outshined the cheap print you were accustomed to. "So," the subject of my thoughts interrupted them, "when are you going to marry my son?"

I coughed at the sudden inquiry, and Robert chuckled nervously.

"Dad!" Robert chided.

Xavier shrugged and then trained a hard stare on Robert and me.

I took a deep breath and observed the father and son, who appeared engaged in a silent mental battle. It was a scene unlike any interaction I had ever had with my parents, but I could sense their affection. I was unsure how to respond to the father's question. Robert and I had never discussed marriage, and I wasn't sure of his feelings toward me. Despite being head over heels for him, I was also frightened by the intensity of my emotions.

"I'll decide after he asks me," I said with a wave.

Xavier chuckled and replied, "You better hurry up, son, or your nephew will beat you to the altar." He playfully slapped Robert on the back. He then climbed up the stairs towards the main landing. Having delivered his message, Xavier seemed not to need to continue talking with us.

Robert helped me up the winding staircase, his hand firm and steady on my arm. As we climbed, he spoke softly, his voice low and thoughtful. "Tim and Lisa must have become engaged," he said, almost to himself.

I felt my heart skip a beat. "Why do you say that?" I asked, afraid of what he might say next.

"My father's warning," Robert explained, his brow furrowed. "What warning?" My head spun at the possibility of Tim marrying another woman so quickly. We had dated for two years before he married me. But Robert had already died then, and Tim had been building his credentials to take over the Lamb Empire. Then I thought of Robert and Xavier Lamb's conversation and tried to see the warning Robert mentioned.

"He wants me to get married first," Robert explained, but his words triggered a familiar tightness in my chest.

"Why does your father want you to get married first?" I asked, trying to keep the panic out of my voice.

Robert shrugged. "I'm not sure."

My heart pounded. Would Robert marry me just to beat Tim? Did I want that? Were revenge and lust good enough reasons to get married?

Robert paused at the exit door as we reached the top of the stairs. His arm repositioned behind my back, and he pulled me closer to him.

"Are you ready?" he asked, turning to me with a small smile.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "No," I admitted, wanting to escape. I didn't want to see Tim and Lisa or feel the pressure of Robert's father's expectations, and I didn't want the ambiguity of my relationship with Robert weighing me down. My fingers itched for a brush. "But we have to go in," I said.

"I promise to stay by your side the whole time," Robert whispered, his voice soothing and reassuring. Despite his words, I couldn't shake the unease lingering deep within me. 

WC2830

RT29,134