wn, replaced by the soft hum of the string q
a lion. He truly believed that partnering with Damien was his greatest achievement. He had no idea that in my past life
t for Damien to do it. Tonight, I
y veins. My eyes found Sophia across the room. She was fluttering around the auction display t
ld smile touching my lips. In exactly ten minute
usted watch. It was almost time for
a, da
approaching me. She was a woman who thrived on gossip, her e
ng said, though her eyes were filled with envy. "Th
my voice sweet and perfectly pitched. "And ton
re information, a loud chime
ow commence! Please make your way to the west wing. We have some truly magnificent pieces t
d diamonds. I followed at a leisurely pace, blending into the bac
center, illuminated by a spotlight, sat the Ming vase. Or at least, the replica of it. I had carefu
s as I approached. "I was just admiring your vase. It's so brave of you to
I thought bitterly. In my past life, the auction had been a fake-Victor had arranged for on
, smiling warmly. "
head of security, a burly man named Marc
ho had been loyal to my father, and I had quietly offered him a
flickered and dimmed. A sharp, panicke
p! T
ce of the west wing. Marcus was standing there,
ce flushing red with anger as he pushed through the cr
e room. "But I just caught this man trying to slip out the back door. The vault
of the Ocean was a legendary diamond, worth millions,
sible! No one has been near the vault except-"
rd, my voice trembling with perfectly faked i
Only myself, the head of
s standing by the display table,
, her eyes wide. "Victor
rupted, my voice dripping with false sympathy. "
iter, who was shaking like a leaf. He pulled
s announced. "They were reported missing
take them! Someone paid me to leave the back do
or demanded, steppin
e me the keys and told me to leave
g. "Search everyone! Search the entire house
for the guests to hear. "You can't search our guests.
right. If he insulted his wealthy i
ctor snapped. "And anyone else
rect access," I suggested sweetly. "Just to clear th
in pure terror. "Elena
smile never wavering. "Marcus, please check th
The room was dead silent, three hundred people
e held a velvet pouch. He walked over to Victor
necklace fell onto the black
rowd
a's coat, Mr. Montague," Marcus sai
am. "That's a lie! I didn't put
face a mask of shock and horr
ace. She looked around the room at the judging faces of the e
phia. I... I don't know what to say. If you needed money, you cou
phone, ready to spread the gossip. "I always knew that girl was
ely suppressed rage. He was humiliated. His perfect anniversary p
She fought against them, kicking and screaming.
He was staring at the shatter
ntic struggle, she kicked the leg of the table. The table wobbled, and the "priceless" Mi
orcelain echoed through
a cry of despai
h my hands. "Oh, Victor. That vase was an heirloom
filled with a mixture of fear and confusion. He had lost the diamond necklace (which was fake, though he
night was
man who had murdered me. A cold, sati
he nearby guests to hear. "We can always buy another vase. But we can't buy b
f, flickering second, I saw a hint of suspicion in his eyes. But then he dis
ed, his voice hollow. "Sh
ng my smile behind
bout the scandal, I felt a heavy, p
ned m
d, watching me. He hadn't moved a single muscle during the chaos. He hadn't rushe
nch, a slow, calculating smile playing on his lips. It
hispered in my head
g moment, my chin raised in silent defiance.
et him watch. I
had jus
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