Chapter 3
Lina came home by herself.
The moment she walked in, she dug through the living room cabinet for the first aid kit and quietly cleaned, medicated, and wrapped her own wounds. Each touch stung, sharp and prickly, like a swarm of tiny bugs biting her skin.-
As she headed upstairs, her gaze landed on the grand piano in the corner. Bruno had bought it after his memory came back, promising to teach her how to play. However, the lid was now coated in dust–thick, untouched. Just like their relationship: neglected, faded, covered
in silence.
Her eyes burned. She hurried to her room and began packing. Clothes, ID, credit cards–she sorted each one neatly and slowly, as if she were saying a careful goodbye to the girl she used to be.
Halfway through, her door burst open.
Bruno stood there, suit jacket over his arm, tie undone. He caught sight of the open suitcase and frowned. “What are you doing?“%
“Packing,” Lina replied, voice steady, folding another shirt without looking up.
He stepped closer, the faint scent of Kylie’s cologne clinging to him. He grabbed her wrist, tight enough to make her flinch.
“So you’re leaving just because I had dinner with Kylie? You hurt her, and she didn’t even hold it against you. But you’re the one throwing a tantrum?”
Lina looked up. Annoyance was clear in his eyes.”
“Kylie’s family and mine go way back. She just got back to town, and her parents asked me to look after her. Can’t you just be a little more mature?”
Mature.
The word cut right through her. Lina clenched the shirt in her hands, knuckles white. She was already being mature–she was ready to walk away. What more did he want?!
“Say something!” Bruno snapped.}]
Lina stayed silent, turning away, continuing to pack.
Her silence finally pushed him over the edge. “Fine. Let’s see how long you want to keep this up.“>
He slammed the door behind him. The bang rattled her chest.
The next morning, Lina came downstairs and found Kylie sitting in the living room, laughing with Bruno. Kylie wore a white dress and perfect makeup, looking sweet and delicate.
As soon as Lina appeared, Kylie jumped up, smiling innocently. “Ms. Knotts, you’re awake! My parents insisted Bruno take me to the auction today. Please don’t get the wrong idea.”
Lina glanced at Bruno, who was busy fiddling with his cufflinks, not even looking her way.”
“I’m not getting any ideas,” Lina said softly. “Whatever you two do has nothing to do with me.”}
Bruno’s hands paused, brow furrowing deeper. He started to say something, but Kylie cut in, “Why don’t you come with us? You don’t have plans, right?”
Before Lina could refuse, Kylie had already linked arms with her, all friendly smiles.
Just like that, Lina was swept into the car.
The auction hall glittered, packed with the city’s elite. Bruno sat up front, casually lifting his paddle, bidding on one piece of jewelry and luxury watches after another, then handing them to Kylie without a second thought.
Kylie beamed, leaning in to whisper in his ear, their closeness stabbing at Lina’s heart.”
“Bruno, shouldn’t you get something for Ms. Knotts too?” Kylie suggested, voice syrupy sweet.
Bruno replied coolly, “No need. She’s not really into this kind of thing.”
Kylie’s lips curled in a little victorious smile, just for Lina to see.
Lina dropped her gaze, fingers brushing the edge of her auction booklet, feeling cold all over.”
Was she not into them, or just not good enough?
To him, she’d always be the girl who clawed her way out of the slums. She never really belonged in this world, no matter how close she stood by his side.
But it didn’t matter. Soon, there’d be nothing left to worry about between them anyway.§
Lina sat quietly in the corner, watching Bruno spend freely on Kylie, watching their easy affection, feeling like she was just some ,invisible extra in their story.
לנד
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Chapter 3
Then the final auction item was brought out.
It’s an emerald bracelet.
Lina’s breath caught. Her hand clenched tight. It was her grandmother’s.
Three years ago, Bruno had worked construction to buy her a birthday present. He’d fallen from the scaffolding and nearly died. To pay for his surgery, Lina had sold the only thing her grandmother left her–this bracelet.
She’d tried to buy it back once she had the money, but it was already gone. She’d searched every antique shop in the city, but it had disappeared.}
And now, out of nowhere, it was here.}
Hope surged in her chest. She raised her paddle before she could stop herself.
“One million.”
Kylie looked at her in surprise, then laughed softly and raised her own paddle. “Three million.”
“Four million!”
“Five million!”
They went back and forth, higher and higher. Bruno’s frown deepened as he glanced between the two of them.
Finally, he lifted his hand, signaling the auctioneer. He bid the highest price in the room.
The gavel struck. “Congratulations, Mr. Morris!“}
The crowd buzzed. Bruno turned to Kylie. “Since you like it, it’s yours.”
The number paddle slipped from Lina’s hand and clattered to the floor.
