[WARNING! Unedited! Don't Buy!]
As the gala wound down and guests began to filter out, Lina remained seated, her posture poised and composed. The whispers around the room grew louder, the echoes of her million-dollar bid still reverberating. Though she appeared relaxed, her mind was sharp, calculating every move.
She could feel the eyes on her—some curious, some judgmental, and some admiring. A few murmurs reached her ears.
"Who is she?"
"She just bid 1.2 million like it was pocket change."
"She's using Christian's card, I heard."
Lina heard them all and welcomed every word. Let them talk. Let them wonder. After all these years of being hidden, erased, and quietly tolerated, she finally had power—even if it was borrowed, even if it came at a cost. And tonight, she was going to wield it like a queen.
