Chapter 92KYLEI stood at one of the marble sinks, as I turned on the tap watching the cold water run down my hand and trying to force the frustration that I had been feeling all evening.The face looking back at me in the mirror belonged to someone I barely recognized – the cloth made me feel like I was someone special but Evelyn really spoiled It for me.For a moment, I could almost imagine what it would be like to attend an event like this on my own terms, not as someone's obligation or burden.The door opened behind me, and I expected to see another guest looking for a moment of peace away from the festivities or hell Evelyn coming in here to drag me back to be her personal busboy .. Instead, I found myself face to face with the man who had been occupying far too much of my mental space since our encounter in the elevator earlier that week.Darius looked magnificent in his formal wear –It was a midnight blue tuxedo that fit his tall frame perfectly and made his dark eyes seem eve
Chapter 91KYLEThe Met Gala was everything I had expected and nothing I had prepared for at the same time. Normally, I never did attend the Met Gala, not that I was missing anythings but Damon never went on this things with Amy, neither did anyone else from the Rodriguez family, and going alone meant inviting people to gossip about me and my past as usual. But this year was different, Isabella wanted all of us there, going as far as to stay up all night sewing the clothes and I wasn't going to disappoint her, not on her big day.But standing on the red carpet beside Evelyn, acting my loyal duty of being her lapdog, watching the flash of cameras and hearing the shouted questions thrown out way but went ignored from reporters, I felt completely out of place despite wearing what was arguably the most beautiful suit I had ever owned.Isabella's masterpiece fit me like it had been sewn directly onto my body, the charcoal grey fabric catching the light in ways that made the silver threadin
Chapter 90DAMONThis call was shorter than the last one that we just watched but somehow It was even more draining to watch than the previous ones. Kyle's responses were limited to "Yes," "Of course," and "I'll be right there," delivered in the same blank neutral tone that suggested that he had perfected years of practice in being a robot and his feelings were not wanted, neither were his opinions."I have to go," Kyle said after ending the second call as he turned around to look at us as he announced. "Evelyn needs help picking out a dress for tonight, and she wants my opinion on her jewelry choices and cloth attires."He had already finished eating his breakfast and was focused on bullying Thorne, so he stood and began gathering his things with quick movements that spoke of long experience with being summoned at a moment's notice by them and knowing better than to slack off and is getting punished. The transformation from relaxed friend to dutiful family member was striking and s
Chapter 89DAMONBreakfast that morning felt different from our usual quiet family meals. There was an energy in the air that seemed a buzz as everyone was glowing in excitement, still talking about the stunning garments hanging in the nearby room and the woman who had created them with nothing but love, determination, and an entire night's worth of tireless work. Isabella sat beside me, finally looking relaxed for the first time in days, a soft smile playing at her lips as she watched everyone continue to gush over her creations. "I still can't believe you managed to get my measurements perfect without ever actually measuring me," Elena was saying as she buttered her toast, shaking her head in amazement as she added. "It's like you have some kind of supernatural intuition for tailoring.""Years of practice," Isabella replied modestly, though I could see the pride in her eyes at Elena's continued praise. "When you work in fashion, you develop an eye for proportions and fit. Plus
Chapter 88ISABELLA "There's nothing childish about drawing inspiration from stories that move us, and you should not put yourself down. This is actually an inspiring story, more than you know." Damon said, his voice warm with pride and love. "And this dress is going to stop traffic. You're going to be the most photographed woman at the entire event."I moved on to Damon's outfit, pulling away the protective covering to reveal the tuxedo I had created for him. The jacket was classic black, but I had incorporated midnight blue accents along the lapels, cufflinks, and bow tie that would complement my dress perfectly. The cut was impeccably tailored to his broad shoulders and lean frame, and I had added subtle blue threading throughout that would only be visible in certain lighting making it seem like he was wearing two different outfits in the photos."We'll look like we belong together," I said softly, suddenly feeling vulnerable as I wanted Damien to know just how much I felt about i
Chapter 87ISABELLAMy heart was beating fast against my ribs as I approached the makeshift garment rack, wondering if this was the night thing to do, as I was suddenly acutely aware that everyone's eyes were on me and it was making me nervous. What if they did not like it and they were Just being polite to me. The exhaustion from staying up all night was starting to catch up with me, but the adrenaline of sharing my work kept me moving forward. I had poured everything into these pieces – not just my technical skills, that I had nurtured since my college days and the few spare moment I got while raising Tommy and Sean, but I had also added my love for each person in this room, my desire to belong to this family that had chosen me first, and my hope that I could contribute something meaningful to this family that had given me so much."I need to apologize first," I said, turning to face them all before revealing the garments. I needed to clear the air between us first and foremost."I