POV: Celeste
The champagne glass slipped from my fingers.
I watched it fall in slow motion spinning through the air, catching the light from the crystal chandeliers, then exploding against the marble floor of my gallery. Tiny pieces scattered everywhere, just like my life was about to.
Ladies and gentlemen, Adrian said into the microphone, his voice smooth and confident. I have an announcement.
My fiancé stood on the small stage I'd set up for tonight's party. Two hundred guests filled the gallery art collectors, wealthy buyers, everyone who mattered in our world. They'd all come to celebrate our engagement.
Adrian smiled at the crowd. That perfect smile I'd fallen in love with three years ago.
As of today, I am the new owner of Thorne Gallery.
The room went silent. My heart stopped beating.
What? I whispered, but nobody heard me.
Adrian continued like he was discussing the weather. I want to thank all the investors who sold me their shares. This gallery has potential, and under my leadership, it will finally reach it.
My legs felt weak. Investors? Shares? I owned this gallery. I'd built it from nothing after my mother died. Every painting on these walls, every sculpture, every carefully chosen piece I'd selected them all.
Adrian, what are you doing? I called out, my voice cracking.
He looked at me then. Really looked at me. And his eyes were cold. So cold.
Business, Celeste. Just business.
A woman stepped onto the stage beside him. My stomach dropped to the floor.
Vivienne.
My best friend since art school. The person I'd trusted with every secret. The woman who'd helped me pick out my wedding dress just last week.
She took Adrian's hand. Their fingers intertwined like they'd done it a thousand times before.
No, I breathed.
Adrian and I have been together for eight months, Vivienne announced to the crowd. Her voice was bright and happy. We're in love. We're getting married.
The room exploded with gasps and whispers. People stared at me. Some looked shocked. Others looked entertained, like they were watching a movie.
My brain couldn't process what was happening. Eight months? But Adrian proposed to me ten months ago. Which meant...
You've been cheating on me, I said loudly. Both of you. This entire time.
Adrian shrugged. Actually shrugged. You made it easy, Celeste. You trusted me with everything. Your business accounts. Your investor contracts. Even your apartment lease. He pulled papers from his pocket and waved them at the crowd. Remember those documents you signed during our engagement? The ones I said were just formalities?
Ice flooded my veins.
You signed over everything, he continued, grinning now. Your gallery. Your savings account. Your apartment. All of it. Legally mine.
That's not possible, I whispered. But even as I said it, I remembered. Adrian bringing me papers to sign during romantic dinners. Just business stuff, babe. Trust me. And I had. I'd signed everything without reading it because I loved him.
Because I was an idiot.
Security, Adrian called out.
Two large men in suits appeared at my sides. I recognized them they worked for the building. Except now Adrian owned the building, which meant they worked for him.
Escort Ms. Thorne out, please.
You can't do this! I shouted, trying to pull away from the guards. This is MY gallery!
Not anymore, Vivienne said sweetly. And honestly, Celeste? You should be grateful. You were never that good at running it anyway. We're doing you a favor.
The guards grabbed my arms. People were taking out their phones, recording everything. This would be all over social media in minutes. Everyone would see my humiliation.
Wait! I struggled against the guards. My things! I need my things!
Already moved to a new location, Adrian said. You'll get an address tomorrow.
They dragged me toward the door. The crowd parted like I was diseased. Some people laughed. Actually laughed.
I saw Mrs. Chen, one of my biggest buyers. She looked away quickly when our eyes met.
Mr. Rodriguez, who'd been like an uncle to me. He studied his champagne glass.
Not one person helped me. Not one.
The guards threw me out the front door. Literally threw me. I stumbled down the steps in my heels and crashed onto the wet sidewalk.
It was raining. Of course it was raining.
The gallery doors slammed shut behind me. Through the glass, I could see the party continuing. Adrian and Vivienne kissed on the stage. People clapped.
My phone buzzed. A text from the building manager: Locks changed on your apartment. No entry permitted.
Another text. The bank: Account frozen pending ownership transfer.
Another. Another. Another.
Everything I owned, everything I'd built, everything I was gone in sixty seconds.
I sat on the wet sidewalk in my fancy dress, rain soaking through to my skin. People walked past me. Nobody stopped. Nobody cared.
I had nothing. No money. No home. No friends.
Wait.
I clutched my purse tighter. Inside was one thing Adrian didn't know about. One thing I'd never told anyone about.
My mother's mirror.
It was wrapped in an old scarf at the bottom of my bag. Mom had given it to me before she died five years ago.
Keep it safe, she'd whispered. It's been in our family for generations. It shows the truth when you need it most.
I'd never understood what she meant. It was just an old mirror.
But right now, it was the only thing I had left.
I stood up on shaking legs. My heel broke. I kicked off both shoes and started walking barefoot through the rain.
I didn't know where I was going. I just knew I had to get away.
Behind me, through the gallery windows, I saw Adrian and Vivienne laughing. Celebrating. Probably toasting their victory with my expensive champagne.
Thunder rumbled overhead. Lightning cracked across the sky.
And for just a second one impossible second I could've sworn I saw something in a store window reflection.
Not my face.
Someone else's.
A man with dark hair and storm gray eyes. He was looking right at me.
I spun around. The street was empty.
When I looked back at the window, only my own reflection stared back. Wet. Broken. Alone.
I was losing my mind.
Perfect.
I laughed. It came out sounding crazy.
I'd lost everything in one night. What was sanity compared to that?