Chapter 10
Camellia’s public reputation collapsed.
Not entirely.
She had genuinely curated well.
Understood composition.
Selected frames.
Designed rooms.
Those were real skills.
Not painting.
Important distinction.
She had confused proximity to art with authorship.
Worse, then defended the confusion by controlling the person who actually created it.
Months later she wrote Mavis a letter.
No excuses.
No claims that she “discovered” her.
No language about opportunity.
Just:
I stole your name because I wanted admiration I had not earned.
Good.
Then:
I threatened your mother’s archive because I knew your love for her was stronger than your willingness to protect yourself.
Better.
Mavis read it.
Folded it.
Nothing else.
No reply.
Fine.
Camellia eventually began working as a curator under her own name.
Appropriate.
No stolen paintings.
May you like
No false signature.
Growth without restoration.
