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The piece of art itself surpassed the description breathtaking But that wasn’t the main reason Wallace wanted it

The little girl as the centerpiece of the painting was the spitting ie of Sophie

It wasn’t just a strong resemblance It wasn’t only similar features, facial expressions, or body movements It was as close a rendition of Sophie as any actual portrait of her could convey—froolden brown hair to the sparkle in her wide, velvety dark eyes, to the irin and the dimple she always flashed that had Wallace wrapped around her little finger The little girl in the painting had Sophie’s stubborn chin, upturned nose, and soft peaches-and-cream complexion In all ways but in reality, she was Sophie

Wallace had saved that final central spot on his gallery wall for this painting A painting that he’d originally been pro That transaction sure as hell wasn’t going to happen now—not since Wallace was fully aware that it was really Liu who’d been selling his out of some sick desire to torture him

Once again, rage knotted his gut What an idiot he’d been Missing all the signs Mistaking Liu’s support of his galleries for co services for a minority stake in that Italian company, only to learn that the Mafia was involved with the business Missing Liu’s reasons for introducing Cindy into his life, even after seeing her strong rese, that low-class thug, was fronting all along for Johnny Liu

Liu blaence that was, in fact, his own

Wallace had loved Meili He’d never intentionally hurt or abandon her If he’d had even the slightest inkling that she was desperate and, of all things, pregnant with his child, he would have been by her side, taken care of her and the baby

To Liu, it would still have been a disgrace he couldn’t abide He still would have cast Meili aside And he still would have hated and resented Wallace But Meili would have been alive today

None of that could be undone But Liu’s retaliation—to maliciously, deliberately rob a five-year-old child of her life? No one short of a monster could do that

And the bastard wasn’t finished

Wallace ht have been blind before, but his eyes ide open now He knew Liu’s plans for hi he held dear The only thing left to bring Wallace to his knees was criminal prosecution Liu would find a way to alert the authorities to the stolen paintings in Wallace’s private collection Then, he’d e to keep his own na all those works of art

Johnny Liu wasn’t a patient man Time was of the essence

Wallace’s entire collection would have to immediately be disassee in the Catskills that he’d purchased soe was set on twenty acres on top of a rolling hill He’d originally bought it for investment and recreational purposes But after 9/11, he’d carved a hidden underground bunker into the beautiful hillside At the tie of his most precious possessions

Noas fighting for his freedom

He’d clear out his collection later tonight, pack up his car, and leave at dawn for the drive to upstate New York