Chapter 185

Third-Person POV

The studio was quiet except for the soft hum of a radio in the corner, playing a gentle melody. Max stood in front of his easel, lost in thought. His brush hovered over the canvas, but his mind was elsewhere. Megan had become a muse of sorts, but there was something deeper he couldn’t quite grasp.

“Hey, Max,” a voice called, breaking his concentration.

Max turned to see Megan standing at the entrance, her eyes bright with curiosity. “Hey, Megan. Come on in.”

Megan stepped into the studio, her gaze sweeping over the various paintings and sketches. “You’ve been busy.”

Max smiled. “Yeah, inspiration struck hard. What brings you here?”

Megan walked over to his easel, looking at the unfinished painting. “I wanted to see how you’re doing. You seem different lately, more... driven.”

Max chuckled. “I guess you could say that. I’ve been trying to push myself, to capture something real.”

Megan tilted her head, s