---- Chapter 12 The opening of my next solo exhibition was a month away. As Alexander and I were finalizing the pieces, my assistant, Chloe, rushed over. "Miss Rossi, something... strange has happened." "What is it?" "We received an anonymous donation offer," she said, handing me a file. "The donor wants to anonymously purchase every single piece in this exhibition." I took the file, my eyes widening at the amount. Twenty million dollars. "Did you trace the IP address?" Alexander asked, his tone sharp. Chloe hesitated. "We did. It's from Chicago again. Same source as the ---- buyer from the MoMA auction." My hands started to tremble. It wasn't a coincidence. On the day of the opening, the museum was packed. Politicians, collectors, journalists-the air buzzed with excitement. I stood in the center of the gallery, wearing a white gown Alexander had designed for me. It felt like armor and a costume all at once. As the museum director began his opening speech, my attention was drawn to a dark figure standing by the exit. Aman ina black hat, his frame obscured by the crowd. His silhouette... it was horribly familiar. My heart began to pound a frantic rhythm against my ribs. It couldn't be. ---- The man seemed to sense my stare and quickly slipped out of the gallery. "Isabella?" Alexander noticed my distraction. " What's wrong?" "Nothing," I said, forcing a smile. "I must have been seeing things." After the opening ceremony, we went to the backstage lounge. "Tonight was a monumental success," Alexander said, pouring me a glass of champagne. "The Washington Post is calling it the exhibition of the year. " "Thank you," I said, but my hands were still trembling. I couldn't shake the image of that man. "Isabella, you've been on edge all evening," Alexander said, his brow furrowed with concern. " What is it?" "What if it's not a coincidence?" I whispered, more to myself than to him. "What if he found me?" ---- Alexander's expression hardened. "Who found you?" Before I could answer, the lounge door was thrown. open. Asecurity guard's voice cut through the air. "Sir, you can't go in there! This is a private area!" And then I heard the voice that had haunted my nightmares for a lifetime. "Isabella..."