Ashley's POV
The gallery finally quieted down as the guests slowly trickled away. The mixed scent of perfume, champagne, and the lingering tension from earlier conflicts was starting to dissipate.
Everything had gone just as planned—actually, even better than I had imagined. Silvia was thoroughly disgraced, and I had crushed Brian's pride with my own hands. I should have felt exhilarated, like popping open the most expensive bottle of champagne to celebrate.
But my chest felt hollow, like something had been ripped out of me.
I was the one who had been plagiarized, the one who was wronged. Yet now, here I was, forced to play the role of the conniving, cold-hearted villain. Justice didn't come gently; I had to claw it back in the ugliest, most self-destructive way possible.
