Chapter 3

Derek welcomed me in without missing a beat, joking, "Felicia, your husband really cares about you. He showed up personally to pick you up. He must really worry about you."

Felicia subtly frowned when she saw me. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to check on how your lessons have been going these past two months. I've been too busy lately to spend time with you," I answered.

Derek chimed in, "Felicia has made a lot of progress. She's the most talented student I've ever had."

Felicia blushed and said playfully, "Oh, come on, Mr. Hoole. You're exaggerating."

Derek turned to me. "It's true. Would you like to see some of Felicia's work?"

I agreed immediately. I had spent over 1.5 grand on these lessons, and I wanted to see what Felicia had managed to accomplish.

Derek's smile faltered for a split second, clearly not expecting me to actually agree. He turned and headed into his studio, saying, "Give me a moment. There's a lot of stuff in there, and I need to find the right piece."

After he left, Felicia's demeanor changed completely. She glared at me. "Why are you here causing trouble?"

"I'm here to take you home," I replied.

She scowled. "I know how to get home on my own. Don't tell me you're really worried about me like Mr. Hoole said.

"Marcus, you're embarrassing me. Mr. Hoole is just my teacher. Showing up here is like a slap in my face."

I watched Felicia, noting the sharp tone that didn't match her usual appearance. She was the one cheating, yet she was acting all high and mighty. It was because I'd spoiled her too much, always giving in to her.

Fine, I'd put up with her for two more days. I wanted to see how long she could keep this up.

There was a noise coming from the studio next door—something falling. Felicia immediately ran over to check.

With both Derek and Felicia in the studio, I started searching for the painting they were working on earlier. The living room was full of empty frames piled in one corner. I glanced over at them. Most were just landscape oil paintings. Finally, I found a painting that had been turned around in the bedroom.

I flipped it over, revealing a painting of a woman's body. She was partially covered by a bedsheet, lounging on a sofa. Her eyes were seductive as she extended her arm, beckoning forward.

It wasn't Felicia, but another woman. It was someone I recognized from when I enrolled Felicia in these classes. Had all of Derek's students posed for him?

I pulled back other covered canvases. Derek had 20 or 30 canvases in his bedroom, all depicting women's bodies. Some were of Felicia, starting as simple sketches and gradually becoming more explicit.

I touched the canvas of the painting I'd stumbled upon earlier. The paint was still wet. There was a small black mole on the chest of the subject. The same one Felicia had. She wore a coy smile in the painting.

I took a step back and accidentally bumped into the desk, causing the computer screen to light up. I looked at the screen which was opened to a website. The page was filled with the same types of drawings I had just seen.

A message notification popped up in the corner: [How much for the third one in the first row?]

Derek was selling these paintings? He was posting these compromising paintings online and profiting off them. Absolutely disgusting. He was no better than scum.

Everyone might come across such websites at some point, but those were just faceless strangers. However, this…this was my wife, someone I knew.

Fighting the wave of nausea, I took pictures and recorded videos of the computer screen, Derek's account details, and transaction information. I gathered all the evidence I could.

I quietly closed the door and went back to my apartment.