Silently, he took the medicine and gently dabbed it onto my wound, his movements uncharacteristically careful.
A low murmur followed, laced with an unfamiliar softness.
"Irene, I’m sorry. I wasn’t paying attention… I’ll make it up to you."
I didn’t know how to respond.
Then, a hushed murmur swept through the auction hall as a rare treasure was unveiled on stage, a breathtaking emerald necklace, gleaming under the lights.
And under the watchful eyes of the audience, Mathias made a high-profile bid, his actions as extravagant as they were deliberate.
When the auctioneer presented it, Mathias took the necklace himself, stepping behind me to fasten it around my neck. His fingers brushed against my skin, his voice carrying both arrogance and something far crueler.
"I’ve always said I would give the best to the woman I love."
"It was true then… and it will always be true."
Yet, as those words left his lips, his gaze never once landed on me.
After the auction ended, I excused myself and stepped into the restroom, letting out the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
But when I emerged, I came to a halt.
Nathalia stood before Mathias; her eyes rimmed with unshed tears.
Her voice trembled.