A shadow crossed Anne's face as old wounds resurfaced. Denis's condescending smirk, his cold eyes, the way he had treated her like a pet rather than a person.
"He may be a good businessman," she continued, "but in his heart, he'll only know one thing—transaction."
The word left a bitter taste on her tongue. It was the same word Denis had thrown at her like a dagger, cutting deep. He once told her that Love didn't exist and that it wouldn't wake her father up from his coma. It was all about transaction—give and take.
Anne grabbed her glass and downed the remaining wine in one swift gulp.
Just then, thunderous applause erupted across the auction hall. The special guest in the private booth had won the bid, securing the coveted heart-shaped blue diamond necklace for himself.
Anne clapped along with the others, a wry smile curling on her lips. "Seventy million for a necklace!" she mused, shaking her head. "Quite the show-off."
