His Donna Was Never Legally His Chapter 14

His Donna Was Never Legally His Chapter 14

Meanwhile, Ava had already found a job in Melbourne.

She worked as an assistant curator at an art gallery.

The gallery regularly exhibited works by her favorite painter, Rafael Hale.

Of Italian and Australian descent, Rafael was known for his austere style and his talent for plein air oil

painting.

He was best known for his Dusk Harbor series, which blended abstraction with realism.

The gallery Matteo had given Ava owned one of Rafael’s paintings, and she had always loved it.

Rafael was extremely famous, but he never made public appearances at galleries.

The job helped Ava throw herself back into life.

When she first arrived in Melbourne, her body had been covered in injuries.

Her parents had been so heartbroken that they immediately wanted to fly back to New York and confront Matteo, but Ava stopped them.

It wasn’t because she still cared about Matteo.

She simply knew her parents were no match for him.

With her parents by her side, Ava gradually adjusted to life in Melbourne.

Even Matteo’s name slowly faded from her mind.

After work, Ava often took her sketchbook and walked through the streets of Melbourne, drawing whatever

scenery caught her eye.

She also made a friend there.

The sunset shimmered across the Yarra River, while the evening breeze carried a cool, damp chill.

A blond young man stood by the river.

Tall and lean, he looked like a model from a painting.

Ava waved and called out with a smile, “What a coincidence. We meet again.”

The young man turned around.

His clear, lake-green eyes were bright, and his finely sculpted features carried the elegance of his Southern European heritage.

He smiled.

Us.

Ava had met him while sketching on the street.

After that, they kept running into each other and gradually became familiar.

He was of Italian and Australian descent and spoke fluent English.

Although they had never exchanged names, Ava already considered him a friend.

She opened her sketchbook, looked at the city beneath the sunset, and took a deep breath.

Her entire body relaxed.

The outline of the riverbank was already taking shape in the young man’s sketchbook.

But he spent most of his time gazing at the water, only adding the occasional stroke.

Ava had told him more than once, “Your style really reminds me of Rafael.”

The young man smiled.

“You like his work?”

Ava gripped her pencil and nodded firmly.

“Absolutely. He’s my favorite contemporary artist.”

Once Ava started talking about Rafael, she couldn’t stop.

The young man listened patiently the entire time.

It wasn’t until the sun sank below the horizon and the streetlights came on that Ava realized it was already

dark.

“I’m sorry. Did I keep you too long?”

The young man shook his head.

“No. I like listening to you.”

Ava froze for a moment, then looked away.

He glanced at the darkening sky and suggested, “How about I walk you home?”

Ava didn’t refuse.

They walked back slowly.

A 10-minute walk took them 20.

When they reached her building, Ava looked up at him.

“My name is Ava Collins.”,

The young man paused, and his smile deepened.

“I’m…”

Before he could finish, a hoarse voice suddenly interrupted him.

“Ava?”

At the sound of that familiar voice, Ava went rigid and turned around.