By the time I'd composed myself and returned to the auction, bidding had already begun.

I'd thought that with my skill level, a few paintings together might fetch a few hundred thousand if I was lucky.

I sat in a corner of the back row, my heartbeat rising and falling with the hammer strikes.

Because my paintings were presented on the platform one after another, prices climbing at a breathtaking pace.

Far beyond my expectations.

Until "Embers" was wheeled onto the stage.

On the deep black canvas, only the burned marks intertwined with dark red paint, consuming all my unspeakable yearning.

The moment the auctioneer announced the starting price, the lights in Kieran's private box lit up.

Immediately after, the light panel in a VIP box diagonally across that had remained silent suddenly blazed to life.

A silent tug-of-war began.

Prices leaped upward at staggering increments. The entire venue's attention shifted between these two boxes, whispers rising like a tide.

I saw Kieran's expression growing darker, his fingertips tapping lightly on the armrest.

Whenever he was agitated, he'd unconsciously make this gesture.

Each time he raised his bid, the intervals grew longer, as if weighing his options or suppressing his anger.

Scarlett nestled against him, softly persuading him about something.

But he seemed not to hear, staring intently at the painting with deeply furrowed brows.

Scarlett's gaze swept toward me several times.

Finally, she seemed unable to resist leaning closer. I barely made out her words from her lip movements.

"Kieran, forget it. Aria treasures this painting most. Usually no one else can even touch it. How could she really bear to sell it? She's probably just being childish again, trying to get your attention."

Kieran's expression softened slightly, but he gave her a warning glance.

"It's not your business. Don't interfere."

Scarlett immediately fell silent, a flash of embarrassment and jealous hatred crossing her beautiful face.

Finally, when the price climbed to an unbelievable astronomical figure, Kieran fell silent for a moment and stopped bidding.

Three hammer strikes. Sold.

"Embers" went to the mysterious guest in that box.

I sat frozen in place, overwhelmed by shock.

Not until my phone buzzed and the bank notification showed a clear number did I hazily realize I'd actually sold a painting for an astronomical price.

Just then, a waiter silently approached and handed me a folded note.

"From the gentleman who just bought your artwork."

He spoke quietly then turned and left.

I took it in confusion and unfolded it. There was only one line of sharp, unfamiliar handwriting.

[Too beautiful to burn. I'll keep it safe for you.]

I felt strange and instinctively looked up.

I couldn't find the mysterious person, but met Kieran's deep, dark eyes instead.

His expression was terrible as he strode toward me.

He didn't even give me a chance to speak before his ice-cold rebuke crashed down.

"Aria, what do you think this place is? Is the auction hall your stage for games and jealous tantrums? Having someone plant fake bids to drive up prices - you'd actually stoop to such underhanded tactics!"

My whole body trembled as I looked up at him in disbelief.

His eyes were full of disgust and distrust toward me.

Scarlett immediately stepped forward, gently grasping Kieran's arm.

"Kieran, don't be angry. Aria's young, maybe she just want you to notice her more."

Every word she spoke implied I'd use any means necessary to get his attention.

Staff members and guests who hadn't yet left cast searching looks, whispers drilling into my ears.

"No wonder. I thought that painting was just so-so."

"So it was a planted bidder. I wondered how it got that price."

"The pack's reputation is going to be ruined."

Those stares and whispers were like countless fine needles, pricking me densely all over.

I opened my mouth, but my throat felt strangled, unable to make any sound.

Overwhelming grievance seized me, tears surging uncontrollably to my eyes.

I fought desperately to hold them back, but he still became blurred in my vision.

Once, just because someone had made a crude joke about me behind my back, he could bankrupt their pack business overnight, protecting me completely.

Now, he personally placed the hat of fraud on my head in front of everyone - a label that could destroy all my professional prospects - letting others trample my dignity with the most malicious speculation.

"No, Uncle, I didn't."

My voice carried a choking tremor as I tried to explain.

Just then, the cruise ship suddenly lurched violently.

Unsteady on my feet, I cried out as my whole body pitched forward uncontrollably.

Almost at the same instant, Kieran's arm shot out.

But he precisely caught Scarlett, who was farther from him and had only stumbled slightly, holding her steadily in his arms.

No one remembered to catch me.

My side crashed hard into the silver candelabra on the table behind me. The silver instantly cut through my skin, leaving wounds that wouldn't heal, explosive pain that made my vision go black and nearly suffocated me.

Tears finally burst forth, mixing heartbreak with physical agony, flooding down.

I lay awkwardly against the cold table edge, watching him hold someone else tightly in his arms, not sparing me even a glance.

I didn't get a chance to explain.

The sudden violent storm made the entire ship rock and sway.

The captain announced that all passengers should return to their rooms.

Watching Kieran disappear farther and farther away with the crowd, I closed my mouth weakly and smiled bitterly.

Forget it.

Back in my room, I curled up in the corner, listening to the chaos of the world outside, but feeling only deathly silence within.

My phone screen lit up abruptly in the darkness with a chime - a picture message from Scarlett.

My ice-cold fingertips tapped it open, and a new photo popped up.

The background seemed to be the luxury suite on the ship's top deck. Kieran was wearing a bathrobe, his figure lazily leaning against the floor-to-ceiling window, while she smiled sweetly at the camera.

I bit my lip hard, the taste of blood spreading in my mouth.

My chest felt like it had been struck by a blunt weapon, aching dully.

Like a masochistic fool, my fingers scrolled upward uncontrollably, the screen's light illuminating my pale face.

One after another, photo after photo - from the day they confirmed their relationship, these pictures hinting at their intimacy had never stopped coming.

Looking at the occasional gentle expressions on his face that I'd never seen before, tears still rolled down pathetically.

With trembling fingers, I typed out that question I'd asked countless times but never received an answer to.

"Why?"

We used to be so close. I told her all my girlish secrets. Why did she turn around and betray me?

This time, she replied lightning fast, with a tone of triumphant satisfaction.

"Why? Aria, do you still not understand? Because I'm jealous of you! I've been jealous of you since we were kids! Why do you get to take for granted all his attention and affection? Such a wonderful man - why should his eyes only see you, his thoughtless niece? Do you know how disgusting you look every time you throw tantrums relying on his indulgence? Coveting your own uncle - you're shameless beyond belief!"

"I'm clearly the one more suited to stand beside him! But his gaze always followed you! Even in the deepest drawer of his study, he keeps your baby fangs from when you first shifted and your childish cub drawings! What gives you the right?"

"But now it's good - he personally told me he finds you suffocating, that your feelings disgust him! He's mine now, completely and utterly mine! Aria, I'm warning you - give up that hopeless dream and stay away from my fiancé! Stop using that pitiful expression to get his attention - he'll only find it more annoying!"

Each word fell on me like snowflakes, light and airy, but piling up until they caused an avalanche, completely destroying my rationality.

Rage mixed with long-suppressed resentment, I furiously typed on my phone.

"No matter how shameless I am, I can't compare to you! Stealing the person your best friend has secretly loved for so long - Scarlett, you're the most shameless and disgusting one!"

After viciously hitting send, I blocked and deleted all her contact information.

The world was finally quiet. I collapsed into the sofa, completely drained.

A sleepless night. Just as I drowsily closed my eyes at dawn, violent knocking exploded like thunder.

I dragged my exhausted body to open the door. Kieran stood outside, his face dark enough to drip water, his eyes bloodshot from a sleepless night.

He didn't even let me say a word before his ice-cold interrogation crashed down on me.

"Aria, just how long are you going to keep acting out!"

I looked at him blankly.

He gave a cold laugh, shoving his phone screen almost into my face.

"I thought you'd finally grown up, but you're still this vicious! If you can't have something, you have to destroy it, right? Using such filthy language to insult someone who's about to become your aunt?"

On the screen were last night's text conversation records between Scarlett and me.

But they'd been carefully edited and altered.

My "why" had become vicious curses.

And my words calling her out for stealing her friend's man had been spliced together with extremely crude insults and provocations.

Her triumphant boasting and vicious slander had vanished without a trace.

The entire conversation made it look like I was a madwoman who, out of jealousy, was harassing and attacking her - the woman about to become my aunt.

Blood rushed to my head instantly, then drained away just as quickly.

I opened my mouth, wanting to explain that it had been edited.

I wanted to tell him those photos she sent were fake.

I wanted to ask if he really didn't trust my character at all.

But looking into those ice-cold eyes that held no trust whatsoever, all the words stuck in my throat, shattering into glass shards that cut painfully.

The string in my chest that had been stretched too long finally snapped with an audible break.

Fine.

I suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of relief.

So this was what complete despair felt like.

I slowly raised my head, no longer looking at the carefully orchestrated lies on his phone screen.

Instead, I looked directly into his furious eyes, even curving my lips slightly, my voice so calm it sounded foreign even to myself.

"Uncle, I'm sorry."

"I lost my composure and offended Aunt. Please convey my apologies to her."

I saw a flash of confusion in his eyes, as if he hadn't expected me to give in so easily.

But that confusion lasted only an instant before being covered by even deeper coldness.

He coldly put away his phone, as if even looking at me one more second would contaminate him.

"Remember your place. Don't test my patience again."

The door slammed shut in my face, the wind it stirred hitting my face like ice.

I finally sank down slowly, hugging myself, but I couldn't shed a single tear anymore.