Swapping a Broken Heart for a New Start novel Chapter 41

What’s the point of dragging this out?

Camila Davis was frustrated. She’d barely slept a wink all night and woke up feeling groggy, her head buzzing as if she’d spent the whole night tossing and turning.

She splashed her face with cold water, trying to shake herself awake. The morning sunlight streamed through the window, promising a beautiful day.

After breakfast—pancakes and orange juice—Camila noticed her daughter, Lillian, tugging at her hand, her little eyes sparkling with excitement as she glanced toward the door.

Camila crouched down to her level and asked gently, “Hey, Lillian, do you want to go outside and play?”

Lillian nodded, her gaze never leaving the sunlit world beyond the window.

This was rare. Usually, her daughter was quiet and reserved, so Camila wasn’t about to say no. “Alright, let’s get you changed, and then we’ll head out. Sound good?”

“Okay!” Lillian finally replied, grinning with her whole face.

Camila took her back to the bedroom, helped her into a cute pink dress, and filled up her little unicorn water bottle—always prepared, just in case.

Then they set off for the city square, a bag of breadcrumbs in tow, ready to feed the pigeons.

Lillian loved animals—she had this natural, innocent affection for them. She played and giggled, tossing breadcrumbs to the birds without a hint of fear.

Camila watched from the side, her heart melting at the sight. Lillian, in her princess dress and sparkly sneakers, looked like a tiny angel surrounded by cooing pigeons. She snapped a picture on her phone, wanting to hold on to this perfect moment forever.

When they’d scattered all their breadcrumbs, Camila took Lillian to the little bakery nearby and bought her a slice of strawberry shortcake—her favorite. They sat outside at a little bistro table, the city bustling around them, and Camila told her, “You were so brave today. This is your reward!”

Lillian beamed, cheeks smudged with whipped cream, both hands cupping her face in sheer delight. Camila thought her heart might just burst with love.

Halfway through the cake, Lillian’s gaze wandered across the street—to a guy selling balloons. Bright, helium-filled balloons bobbed above his cart, and sure enough, there was one shaped like a pink fox—Lillian’s absolute favorite.

Camila leaned in and whispered, “You like that one? Want Mommy to get it for you?”

He knew Mr. Williams was studying the people outside, trying to capture their inner worlds in art. But today, nothing seemed to be coming together. Every page was dark, almost brooding, and the trash bin was already overflowing with discarded sketches.

Aaron was used to it—bad days happened—but just then he noticed Mr. Williams’s gaze sharpen, locking on something outside.

Following his boss’s eyes, Aaron spotted a tiny figure across the street, sitting outside the bakery.

Wait, wasn’t that the same kid from the amusement park last week? What were the odds?

Before he could say anything, Mr. Williams’s hand started to move—this time, his strokes were quick, confident. In just ten minutes, a new drawing took shape, not abstract at all, but a beautiful, lifelike portrait.

Aaron stared, transfixed. The little girl’s eyes glimmered with innocence, her smile pure and radiant—she looked like an angel, captured perfectly in pencil.

He could hardly look away, but Mr. Williams didn’t give him the chance. The artist pulled the portrait from the easel, stood up, and strode toward the door, long legs eating up the distance with purpose.

Aaron blinked, scrambling to follow, his mind racing. Something had definitely shifted—and it all started with that little girl and her strawberry cake.