Chapter 654

Time slipped away as they spent the day at Leona's side. After half a day, Alana began ushering people out, insisting Leona needed rest. The rain had also let up, so everyone returned home.

Logan visibly exhaled in relief, taking Kiera's hand and walking briskly ahead. He then realized his impoliteness and quickly stepped aside to let Helen and Rafael pass.

Helen watched her son-in-law and sighed inwardly. Logan was so clueless. When he and Kiera married, he had looked clean and fair, but now he was tanned and grimy. Even Kiera's skin tone had darkened. Strangers might have thought Kiera married a farmer.

Fortunately, Kiera liked Logan well enough, and his membership in the Quinton family gave him some redeeming qualities in Helen's eyes.

Carissa trailed behind, observing the couple's happy, hand-in-hand stroll. Their affection was undeniable. But when Kiera and Logan stopped, Carissa realized she was also holding Rafael's hand. It felt different.

Logan and Kiera's bond felt natural, energetic, and playful. It was a sweet, comfortable intimacy. But with Rafael, their hands hung motionless, stiff, like pieces of wood glued together.

Carissa sighed inwardly. Her guild junior truly lacked romance.

Returning to Hell Monarch Estate, they escorted Helen to her room. Carissa and Rafael then went to the study to check on the painting's progress.

Kyle had already completed several paintings, which were displayed nearby. Jacob stood beside one, his eyes reddened.

Rafael and Carissa stepped closer. One painting depicted a girl with twin ponytails, a round face, large eyes, a small nose, and slightly fuller lips, adorned with a red mole above her lip. Next to it hung another portraying a couple resembling Jacob—likely his parents.

Kyle was still working, painting an adult woman, apparently using the girl's and her parents' portraits to infer her adult appearance.

Another painting sat on a nearby chair. Carissa examined it. The girl's face was still round, though less plump. Her features were more defined. While the features hadn't changed drastically, the contrast between childhood and adulthood was striking.

Kyle's current work depicted a slightly gaunt version of the girl. Her experiences might account for any changes to her face, but the painting was unfinished.

Rafael turned to Jacob. "Does it look like her? Is this how you remember her?"

Jacob opened his mouth, but no sound came out. After a long pause, he choked out, "It does. It looks just like her. Mr. Spencer is truly remarkable."

"How many paintings are you doing, Kyle?" Carissa asked.

"The more, the better," Kyle replied without looking up, his brush dancing across the canvas. "Fat, generally fat, very fat… neither fat nor thin, thin, generally thin, extremely thin… The more I paint, the better."

Carissa watched Kyle expertly paint the eyebrows and eyes in a few strokes, noting how they were less dark than in the childhood portrait. Growing up often involved grooming, and a child's eyebrows could be quite bold.

"Jacob, what's your sister's name?"

"Jaina," Jacob replied softly. After a moment, he continued, "My name is Jacob, and my sister's name is Jaina. Our grandfather named us both. When she was born, she was chubby and fair, so he hoped she would lead a pure life. He chose between Jaina and Joanna, ultimately settling on Jaina."

Carissa looked at the portrait of young Jaina. She was adorable. Under Kyle's brushstrokes, Jaina's eyes sparkled like gems.

Carissa then looked at the painting Kyle was working on, feeling a strange sense of familiarity. But when she looked back at the other painting, the feeling vanished, leaving her puzzled.