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9

A member of the audience retrieved it, causing the chatter to intensify.

Cornelius lifted the image from the ground, his eyes watering with disbelief.

"Is this what you create daily without showing me?"

"Am I merely a replacement for him?"

I had never witnessed Cornelius so devastated before.

Yet, I felt nothing.

For ten years, I had been devoted to him but received no love in return.

Now, even if he laid bare his soul, I remained unmoved.

"This press event is now concluded. Please exit in an orderly fashion."

I hurried to the platform, seized the microphone, and instructed the team to organize the departure.

"Calm the journalists. No topics besides Cornelius' issue should be addressed." I pulled Serena aside and gave her these directions.

Serena nodded gravely and swiftly left the area.

The vast conference room was now occupied by just four of us and the scattered artwork on the floor.