Swapping a Broken Heart for a New Start novel Chapter 640

Little Camila’s eyes went wide as dinner plates. She couldn’t help but blurt out, “Wow, Grandma was so talented!”

Camila Davis glanced over, just as surprised. On the wall hung an oil painting of sunflowers, each golden petal practically radiating life and warmth. Even someone who didn’t know the first thing about art could feel the passionate energy behind the brushstrokes. After all those years around Dennis Williams and Lillian, even Camila had picked up enough to recognize real skill when she saw it.

She could tell: Dennis’s mom was truly gifted. The painting wasn’t new, either—it had that subtle, nostalgic glow that only comes with time, like something you’d find in a cozy English cottage or an old family farmhouse. Honestly, if someone told her it was a famous piece, she’d believe it.

Camila grinned, teasing, “So that’s where you get it from! Turns out artistic talent runs deep in the family, huh?”

Dennis didn’t deny it. He looked at the painting with a soft smile, then told her, “Yeah, Mom taught me everything I know. Let me show you the collection room.”

Camila couldn’t have been more eager. This was her first real peek into Dennis’s private world—his past, his family, the memories he usually kept close to his chest. She’d never imagined she’d get to hear these stories from him himself.

The house was big, with paintings lining the walls as they walked. After a few minutes, they reached a special room. The moment Camila stepped inside, she could tell: everything here was about his mother.

Pressed between glass frames were delicate collections of maple leaves—each one preserved like an autumn day, a little more familiar than the original ginkgo leaves, but just as beautiful. Further in, she saw more of Mrs. Williams’s paintings—landscapes, still lifes, vibrant scenes that looked as if you could step right in.

Dennis hadn’t exaggerated: his mother really was extraordinary.

On the desk, there were stacks of architectural sketches—blueprints for houses that looked like they belonged in storybooks, maybe even a few designs for charming bed and breakfasts. Even though Dennis had told her about his mom’s work, seeing her sketches in person took Camila’s breath away.

If she’d lived longer, Camila thought, surely Mrs. Williams would’ve been famous all over the city, maybe even the world.

Thinking about that, Camila’s heart ached a little for Dennis—for everything he’d lost. Dennis must’ve noticed, because he reached out, ruffling her hair with a gentle smile. “Hey, it’s okay. That’s all in the past now.”

Camila looped her arm through his, offering comfort of her own. “Well, you’ve got Lillian and me now. We’re not going anywhere.”

Satisfied, Dennis led them to his own studio. Camila had been curious, but nothing prepared her for what she saw. The studio took up nearly an entire floor, with paintings covering every wall and easel. It looked more like a gallery than a workspace. Next to it, his mother’s collection room seemed almost modest.

But one corner, facing the garden, was clearly where the magic happened: canvases, brushes, paints, and palettes all lined up, ready for inspiration to strike.

What caught Camila’s eye, though, was a finished painting on the easel.

Wait—is that… me?

She turned, a little stunned. “When did you paint this?”

Dennis stood beside her, his gaze soft and steady. “Right after I got back to Cabinda. I kept thinking about you and just… couldn’t help myself. Finishing this painting made me realize—I had to bring you here, too.”