The atmosphere inside the Nagano-ya had shifted from celebratory to suffocating. Sienna Flynn felt a cold knot of anxiety tightening in her stomach. She knew exactly how much money was in the bank account linked to the card she had given Dominic. It was barely three thousand dollars—hardly enough for a lavish shopping spree, let alone a masterpiece worth five figures. In her mind, the only explanation was that Dominic was posturing, trying to shield his pride from the relentless mockery of their peers.
She reached out, her fingers trembling as she caught the sleeve of his jacket, and pulled him toward her. " Dominic," she hissed, her voice a jagged whisper intended only for his ears. "Please, just stop. Admit you made a mistake. Tell them you were exaggerating, and let’s just get out of h
