Chapter 3
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The next morning, Zoey knocked on her bedroom door.
As soon as Lena opened it, she was greeted by Zoey leaning against the doorframe in a stunning red mermaid dress, flashing a radiant smile. “Lena, there’s an art auction today. Come with me.”
Lena
froze for a second, then said coldly, “Not going.”
She started to close the door, but Zoey quickly grabbed her hand with an overly familiar grip and said with a pitying expression, “You’re still mad about the gallery thing, aren’t you?”
The moment she mentioned the gallery, that wave of humiliation came crashing back.
“Yes,” Lena said bluntly, pulling her hand away and staring her down.
“So what now? Are you here to apologize? Or are you offering to let me turn your nudes into art this time?”
や
The second she said it, Zoey’s smile dropped, her lips trembling. And somehow, Kevin had arrived–he was standing behind them, and his eyes were ice cold.
He stepped forward, pulled Zoey behind him, and snapped, “That’s way out of line. How could you even say something like that? If Zoey actually took you seriously and agreed, how would she ever show her face again?”
Those words hit Lena like a punch to the gut.
So he did know. And yet he still handed her private photos over like they meant nothing.
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“What about me?” She let out a low laugh, bitter and hollow. “When you gave those photos to her, did it even cross your mind how I was supposed to show my face after that?”
Kevin looked at her, not even a flicker of guilt in his eyes. Instead, he spoke like it was the most normal thing in the world. “It’s not like it’s the first time. Why are you being so dramatic? Enough. The auction’s important. Don’t waste any more time.”
Dramatic?
That one word cut deeper than anything else.
It was like someone drove a knife straight into her chest–twisting it until the pain was raw and unbearable.
She lowered her eyes and scoffed silently.
There was no point saying anything else. Just four more days, and she’d be gone. She wasn’t about to start another fight now.
The auction was primarily for charity–whatever was sold would be donated to help children in underdeveloped areas. It was the art community’s way of polishing their public image.
As expected, Kevin made several bids back–to–back, spending millions- and just like always, he donated everything in Lena’s name.
The crowd applauded his generosity and praised him for being such a devoted husband. Lena kept smiling, saying nothing. To her, it all just felt like theater now. But off to the side, Zoey clearly wasn’t enjoying the show. Her eyes flashed with something sharp and bitter.
Just as Lena was about to excuse herself, something caught her attention.
A new sculpture was wheeled out onto the stage, standing about three meters tall. The red cloth was lifted, and a wave of gasps swept through
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the room.
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A young woman crouched low, legs slightly apart, dressed in sheer fabric that barely covered anything. Her head was lowered, one hand pulling at the see–through cloth–her posture laced with shame and seduction.
And that face–looked exactly like Zoey’s.
The crowd–especially the men–were clearly stunned. Their eyes burned with hunger, Adam’s apples bobbing as they scrambled to raise their paddles.
“Eight hundred thousand!”
“I’ll pay 1.5 million!”
The bids skyrocketed, doubling with each call, and the room buzzed with gossip
“Who donated this? It’s borderline obscene!”
“Has to be Mrs. Halden. Didn’t you see the gallery scandal trending? She’s totally clapping back.”
“She’s the real deal—talk about queen energy!”
Lena frowned!
She hadn’t done this. But before she could say a word, Zoey stood up, eyes teary, and said, “Well? Happy now?”
Then she turned to Kevin, lips trembling. “Kevin, I’m not mad at Lena, but please let me leave. I really can’t take this anymore.”
And with that, she turned to go.
But Kevin caught her hand and pulled her into his arms. “Don’t worry.
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I’ve got you,” he said softly.
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Then, with a deadly glare, he raised his hand and signaled to the staff–he bought the sculpture on the spot.
The second it was done, he turned around and shot a look at Lena like he was about to rip her apart.
She flinched, trying to explain. “It wasn’t me-”
Smack!
Before she could finish, a sharp slap landed right across her cheek.
