Chapter 12

From that day on, Cedric and Elizabeth met at the same time every day without fail. After class, Elizabeth would head straight to the studio, where she would begin working on clothes based on the design drafts she had created in her classes. Then, when the familiar sound of piano music drifted through the air, she would make her way to the auditorium and take her usual seat in the front row. They spent nearly every day together. Sometimes, Cedric would sit beside Elizabeth and teach her a piano piece. As the days passed, she gradually let go of the pain she had carried from back home. The hurt tied to Spencer began to fade, replaced by the warmth of Cedric's companionship. After saying goodbye to Cedric that day, Elizabeth returned home feeling uneasy. She sensed something amiss. The potted plant by her front door had been moved. She tried to shake the feeling, convincing herself she was just being paranoid. But when she took out her key and turned the knob, she realized that the d