une could hear the frantic beat of her own heart, a wild d

k of pity and helplessness. He was a busin

do this. He was going to use his fortune to crush her, right here, in front of this woman a

is feels wrong. It's so... aggressive." But her eyes, fixed on June

d and unyielding. He was watching her, waiting for her t

t price was five hundred thousand. I'll

doubled it, a casual display of power des

illustration work before the marriage, the small inheritance from her grandmother-it was al

render. Not without

aw, lifted her chi

ly a whisper, but it carried across the

laugh, half-scoff, es

He looked amused, like a cat watching

he words rolling off his

th sweat. This wasn't a competition. It was a slaughter. He wasn't just outbidding her; he was demonstrati

he proof of her

ice filled with feigned awe. "That's so incre

were still on June, a cold, expectant

brand, a reminder of who she bel

ts bark peeling away to reveal not wood, but a galaxy of stars. It was about shedding a painful skin to reveal

had

at the canvas, a silent goo

r back was ramrod straight. Her steps were even. If she was going to

dramatic scene. He had not expected this quiet, dignified retreat. Her silence was

flicker of irritatio

d, her voice breaking the spell

s fixed on the glass door, on June's slend

ep line forming

said to Herlinda

nda standing alone in the middle of the gallery. Herlinda's triumphant smile froze, her fingers tightening on her