Chapter 1

Nine years.

For nine years, Ava had been a ghost. A silent shadow tethered to one man: Ethan Blackwood.

The art world knew her as "A.N.," the mute artist. They whispered about her talent, but they spoke louder about her obsession. "A.N." was madly in love with the city's most renowned and arrogant art critic, Ethan Blackwood. It was a story everyone enjoyed, a tale of unrequited, almost pathetic devotion.

They didn't know the truth. They didn't know about the Muse System.

They didn't know that nine years ago, her younger sister Lily had been dying. The doctors had given up. Ava, a brilliant artist in her own right, had been desperate.

That desperation led her to the System, a mysterious entity that offered a deal. Lily' s life in exchange for Ava' s voice and identity. The price was to become a dedicated muse for Ethan Blackwood, to inspire him, to serve him, until the mission was complete.

Tonight was a gallery opening, a grand affair glittering with champagne and false smiles. Ethan stood at the center of it all, a king in his court. He barely glanced at Ava as she stood by his side, her designated spot.

Finally, after an hour of ignoring her, he turned. His voice was low, laced with the usual condescension. "If you can sculpt like Vivienne, I' ll let you stay by my side."

Vivienne. His former mentor. His artistic idol. His "white moonlight," the one he truly admired. The standard Ava could never meet.

Ava simply nodded. She had heard it all before. She had borrowed heavily, sinking into debt to buy the specific clay and tools needed to mimic Vivienne' s signature style. She had studied Vivienne' s work until her eyes burned, learning to sculpt not with her own soul, but with the ghost of another woman's.

She learned his desires before he spoke them. She anticipated his needs, from the temperature of his coffee to the brand of his cigarettes. She was his perfect, silent muse, and also his personal assistant. He humiliated her daily, treated her like furniture, but she didn't care.

She only had to endure a little longer. Her mission was almost over. Soon, she would have her life back.

Tonight was their seventh anniversary. It was also her 28th birthday.

She had spent the entire afternoon preparing a special meal, his favorite dishes. But he never came home. The clock ticked past midnight. The food grew cold on the table. With a heart that felt hollow and calm, Ava scraped the entire meal into the trash can.

The sound of a car in the driveway finally came at two in the morning.

Ethan stormed in, his face a mask of fury when he saw the empty dining room and her absence. He found her in bed, already asleep.

He didn't hesitate. He ripped the blankets off her. "Get up."

Ava's eyes fluttered open, startled.

"My bath," he ordered, his voice sharp. "Draw my bath."

She got out of bed without a word, her body moving on autopilot. Her bare feet were unsteady with sleep, and she stumbled, catching herself on the doorframe.

Ethan scoffed, a cruel, ugly sound. "If you don't want to do it, there are plenty of others who would. You were the one who begged to be here, remember?"

She said nothing. She went to the bathroom and turned on the taps, the sound of rushing water filling the silence. As she bent over to check the temperature, her foot slipped on a stray drop of water. She fell hard, her knee cracking against the marble floor. A sharp, searing pain shot up her leg.

She bit her lip to keep from making a sound, her eyes watering.

Ethan stood in the doorway, watching. He didn't move to help her. He just looked down at her, his expression one of pure indifference.

She silently pulled herself up and limped over to the medical kit, tending to her own scraped and bruised knee.

As she worked, Ethan's phone chimed. He answered it, his voice instantly softening, changing completely from the harsh tone he used with her. He started to hum a little tune, a happy, careless sound.

"Vivienne," he said, his voice warm. "You're back? Of course, I have time. A private dinner? I'd love that."

Ava's hands stilled. She could hear every word.

"Yes, I saw it. The 'Starlight' sculpture. It was incredible," Ethan continued, his voice full of admiration. "I bought it for you, of course. A welcome-home gift."

He was buying Vivienne a sculpture that cost a fortune, while Ava was in debt trying to mimic that same artist's style for his approval.

Ava felt nothing. Her heart was a dead, calm sea. She looked down at the old silver locket she always wore. It was a gift from the System. She opened it. Inside, a digital display glowed faintly in the dark.

Mission Countdown: 30 days, 3 hours, 58 minutes.

The end was near.

Just then, her own phone, a cheap, old model, began to ring. It was Lily.

Ava answered, unable to speak, only to listen.

Lily's voice was shrill, filled with accusation. "Ava, what did you do now? Vivienne is so upset! First, you drove her abroad, and now that she' s finally back after her divorce, you' re making her unhappy again! Ethan belongs with her! I'm telling you, you need to divorce him and disappear! Just get out of their lives!"