MasukSTEPHANIE'S POVThe private lounge on the top floor of the club is all low lighting, noisy as everyone in the lounge keeps cracking jokes, drinking and having fun.My mission tonight is very clear. I need to plant a sprout of doubt in his mind about Aria which is why I brought Lora with me.Lora is on my other side, already leaning toward Brian with that eager, wide-eyed look she thinks is charming. It makes my stomach turn. She doesn’t belong in rooms like this and it shows in every desperate smile. Still, she has proven useful. The information she delivered earlier was worth the irritation of bringing her.I press the sharp toe of my heel lightly against her foot, a painful reminder to bring her wandering focus back to the script.Lora flinches, tremors running through her shoulders before she catches herself, clearing her throat and forcing her features into a vulnerable mold. Hallelujah. Let the performance begin."I...“I just don’t understand why she won’t leave him alone,” Lor
ARIA'S POVNaomi turns in front of the mirror, examining the blouse I paired with a skirt. She tilts her head, then smiles.“You’re dangerous,” she finally says. “I came here for a simple afternoon and you’re rebuilding my wardrobe.”I adjust the collar slightly. “The proportions are better this way. You have the posture for clean lines. Most people waste it on things that are too busy.”She laughs lightly as she examines her nails in the reflection. “Then we’re doing matching colours. I’m thinking a deep rosewood. Something chic. It will look good on us, especially you.” She winks at me at her last word.We end up side by side at the manicure station, the soft whir of the dryers filling the comfortable silence between us. Naomi’s phone buzzes for the third time. She glances at the screen and her expression softens.“My husband again,” she says, not sounding the least bit annoyed. “He’s decided I’ve been away long enough. Keeps a
ARIA'S POV “Just a reminder, the appointment with Mr. Junior is still locked for next Thursday at eleven. He’s refused every alternative I’ve offered.” Sandra’s voice comes through the speaker. He said he will only deal with the owner of Aureline. No second designer, no senior associate. Only you.”I pinch the bridge of my nose, sketchbook still open on my lap. “Did he give any reason?”“Only that the pieces are for a private collection and he trusts your eye. He’s already transferred the holding deposit. I can try to push it another week if you need more time in New York.”“No. Keep it. I’ll be back in Paris by then.”"Perfect. I will lock it in immediately," Sandra sighed with immense relief. "We are all eagerly awaiting your return, boss. Safe travels."We go over a few more details—fabric arrivals, the junior team’s progress on the spring samples—before I end the call. Less than a week left. Noah and I still haven’t spoken. The fight— can it even be called that—has stretched l
STEPHANIE'S POVThe last takes wraps under the bright studio lights. Crew members begin resetting equipment while the director calls for a short break. I hand my prop weapon to an assistant and smooth the front of my costume, already calculating the rest of the afternoon.Coltrane Cruz stands a few metres away, accepting a bottle of water from his PA and shrugging into his coat. I cross the distance with an easy smile.“Coltrane. What do you say about running through a quick table read or some private run-through of the balcony scene before the main shooting. The choreography still feels a little loose on my side.”He glances over, polite but already half-turned toward the exit. “Yeah, sure. Just not today. I’m stacked.”“Oh, of course.” My smile doesn’t slip. “My driver is stuck in midtown traffic—can I hitch a—”Before the request can fully leave my lips, Coltrane offers a distracted wave over his shoulder and stride
The scent of cedarwood, leather, and steam starch clings to my clothes as I slip into the back seat of the car. I miss doing this. I miss the scratch of charcoal, the debate over grain lines, the chaos of creation. But more than that, I miss my son more than I expected. Daisy would lose her mind over the encounter with Stephanie. Realising how long it’s been since we properly talked makes me pull out my phone and type a quick reminder to myself. ***** I slide off my heels, reaching for a pair of soft indoor slippers, when my fingers freeze. There are two unfamiliar pairs of shoes resting on the display shelf. Someone is definitely inside the house. Not just one person. An unexplainable tension knots in the small of my back. Without even realizing it, my steps slow down naturally. In the salon two women sit close together on the large sofa. Naomi King and Stephanie Langford. Both turn when I appear. Their expressions still hold the remnants of whatever they were laughi
ARIA'S POV I step inside carrying my portfolio and the notes Elsie sent over last night. A few heads turn. I offer a polite smile and a quiet greeting. Most return it with nods. One woman—tall, sharp-featured, copper dyed hair lets her gaze travel over me slowly before looking away without a word. The temperature around her feels a few degrees colder than the rest of the room. Elsie appears almost immediately, tablet in hand, expression bright. “Aria, perfect timing. Some of the principal cast are coming in for fittings later today. Come, I’ll walk you through the boards.” She leads me toward a long table covered in sketches and fabric swatches. The main characters’ looks are arranged in sequences. Elsie talks quickly, pointing out seam placements, hidden stretch panels, and the way some pieces need to move from ballroom to battlefield without a full change. I can feel her watching my face as she shows me the lead female’s primary coat—heavy embroidery on the outside
ARIA'S POV When the morning light hit my face, everything hurt. My head throbbed so hard I almost fainted right back onto the pillows. My limbs felt like lead, completely pinned down by a deep-seated ache and my lips were cracked, dry, and bitter. Parting them sent a sharp sting across my mouth.
ARIA'S POV I dropped to my knees on the carpet of the suite, clutching my stomach. My breath came in short, ragged gasps.The room was turning upside down. I was drowning in waves of unnatural, terrifying heat that felt like it was cooking me from the inside out. My skin felt so hot it was actu
ARIA'S POV The ultimate power couple. That's what they call them. A bitter taste filled my mouth as Jamie and Lora looked at each other with loving eyes on that stage. Seeing how perfectly they fit each other felt like a blow to my chest, a pain so deep I literally wanted to rip my heart out jus
ARIA'S POV Some people get to see their world fall apart slowly. They have time to get ready for the crash. I didn't get that chance. My life didn’t fall apart slowly. It collapsed in one night. The night my boyfriend announced his engagement to my stepsister. And somehow… I was the only







