The aftermath of the bidding war was far more chaotic than I had anticipated.
The organizers, completely out of their depth, scrambled frantically to restore order before announcing an abrupt end to the event due to "unforeseen circumstances."
Broderick, shielding a hysterical, sobbing Amanda, made a humiliating exit through a path cleared by security guards.
As he passed me, he paused for a brief second. The face I had once known better than my own was now twisted with nothing but resentment.
"You really outdid yourself, Melissa," he hissed through clenched teeth, every word dragged out from the deep recesses of his throat. "You're going to regret this."
I didn't utter a word. I just stood there, watching him in dead silence.
Regret?
From the exact moment he packaged my design to h
