Gemotions

The gala was in full swing, chandeliers casting a glittering light on the opulent room. Serena felt like an unwelcome guest, trapped in a gilded cage. Across the crowded ballroom, she saw him, Julian, the renowned artist, surrounded by admirers. He was holding court, regaling them with tales of his "groundbreaking" sculpture – a piece that looked remarkably like the wire and papier-mâché bird she'd created in their shared studio.

Her stomach churned. A headache was starting to throb behind her eyes. He’d dismissed her work as “amateurish,” a fleeting experiment. Now, he was lauded for it.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm the rapid beat of her heart. She gripped her champagne flute so tightly the glass seemed in danger of shattering. She wanted to yell, to scream, to expose him. But she stayed silent, a bitter smile twisting her lips.