“I’ll have everything ready in two weeks. Paris will welcome you like a second home.”

The man in the gray suit spoke with calm assurance. He was an international agent from a major European creative company, now seated across from Haruki in the lounge of a luxury hotel—a place where only the most recognized names in the art world gathered. Before them lay a preliminary contract, with several neatly arranged legal documents spread over the marble table.

Haruki leaned back in his chair, his fingers tracing the rim of a half-empty espresso cup. His face remained composed, but his mind spun in circles.

“I haven’t told anyone yet,” he finally...