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Chapter 181

Author: Ranya Vale
last update Last Updated: 2025-08-15 05:25:56

The week had been full of noise, the kind that did not come from hammers or sewing machines but from conversations, emails, and headlines that seemed to follow me into every quiet corner. By the time Sunday arrived, I wanted nothing more than a day without demands.

Julian suggested the river. It was late morning when we left the apartment, the air just warm enough to walk without a coat. The city was slower on Sundays, as if even the traffic had decided to take a softer route. We stopped at a bakery along the way for coffee and small pastries wrapped in brown paper. The warm scent of butter and sugar drifted up as we walked, mingling with the faint sharpness of roasted coffee.

The riverbank was only a fifteen-minute walk, but by the time we reached it, the pace of the city felt far away. The water moved in an unhurried rhythm, catching the light in shifting patterns. Boats passed now and then—some small and private, others carrying families or tourists who leaned over the sides to tak
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  • He Chose my Cousin, so I Chose Revenge   Epilogue

    The sunlight spilled into the boutique through the tall windows, catching the fabrics in a golden glow. I paused at the entrance, letting my eyes wander over every corner. The racks, the sketches, the small details everywhere whispered stories of persistence, of struggle, and of choices I had made and owned. Each corner carried a memory, each fold of fabric a reminder of who I had been and who I had become. Julian stood behind me, his hand resting lightly on my shoulder. He did not need to say anything. His presence alone reminded me that I had not walked this path alone. I breathed in the quiet of the morning, the ordinary noise of the city outside fading to nothing, and for the first time in years, I felt completely still. I moved slowly toward the counter, where Claudia had left a note earlier. She always knew the right words. You have done it. You have carried everything forward and made it yours. The words pressed gently against my chest. I had carried so much in my life—the sh

  • He Chose my Cousin, so I Chose Revenge   Chapter 251

    The room had settled into a calm hush after the final reveal, the quiet almost sacred. I let my eyes wander over the designs, each piece a chapter of my life, stitched with my fears, my triumphs, and my resilience. It felt strange to look at them without the pressure of judgment, without the sharp edges of expectation slicing through my chest. Julian stayed close, his presence grounding me as I walked among the displays. “It’s like a lifetime wrapped up in silk and thread,” he said quietly, letting his words float between us. I nodded, tracing the hem of a gown that had once been ripped during a rehearsal. “Every tear, every late night, every failure—I’ve carried them here,” I said softly. “And now they’re part of something whole.” Simone moved to my side, her eyes scanning the room. “It’s breathtaking,” she said, her voice low, almost reverent. “I can see the little girl who started this, the woman who fought through everything, and the person standing here now. You’ve bridged the

  • He Chose my Cousin, so I Chose Revenge   Chapter 250

    The first guests settled into their seats, small wooden chairs arranged in a semicircle around the central display. I stood quietly at the back, letting my eyes linger on the designs one last time. Each piece told a story I had lived: the folded sketches of sleepless nights, the flowing dresses that had been stitched with hope and tears, and the sharp-edged jackets that had been forged in defiance. Julian slipped in beside me, offering a calm smile. “You’re trembling,” he whispered softly. “I’m not,” I said quickly, though my chest tightened. “I’m… aware. That’s all.” Claudia shifted in her seat, glancing at the first sketchbook I handed around. “These… these are incredible,” she said. “I can see every version of you, every moment you’ve lived through.” Simone reached for the sketchbook, her fingers brushing mine briefly. “It’s like stepping into a memory,” she murmured. “I feel every struggle, every victory… every loss.” I nodded, keeping my voice soft. “That’s what I hoped. Not

  • He Chose my Cousin, so I Chose Revenge   Chapter 249

    The morning light spilled lazily through the boutique windows, falling in warm pools across the worn wooden floors. Dust floated in the beams, catching in a way that made the air itself feel alive. I walked slowly among the tables, smoothing fabrics, arranging sketches, and adjusting mannequins, as though every careful movement stitched me back into the person I had always been meant to become. Noelle followed quietly, her fingers brushing the silk and cotton as if testing for its memory. “This one feels like your old self,” she said softly, “but stronger. More certain. More… you.” I nodded, letting my hand linger on a skirt I had designed ten years ago, a piece that had survived countless failures and rejections. “It’s what this show is for,” I murmured. “To see the journey, from the girl I was to the woman I am now.” Claudia arrived next, carrying a small bouquet of wildflowers she had chosen from a nearby market. “I thought you might like something living in here,” she said with

  • He Chose my Cousin, so I Chose Revenge   Chapter 248

    By mid-afternoon, the designers had settled into a rhythm. Noelle moved among them, offering pointers, encouragement, and the occasional gentle correction. I watched, a quiet pride swelling in my chest. One young designer, shy and hesitant, held up a finished sketch. “I… I wasn’t sure about this part,” she admitted. “The sleeve, the cut, the fabric… I wasn’t confident.” I leaned closer, studying the lines carefully. “It’s beautiful,” I said, smiling. “The sleeve gives movement, and the fabric choice brings out the elegance of the design. Confidence comes from knowing you’re listening to both your heart and your hands.” She blinked, relief washing over her face. “Really?” she asked. “Really,” I confirmed. “You’ve got the instincts. Trust them. We’ll refine together, but this is yours first.” Claudia came up behind her, nodding approvingly. “See? It’s already coming to life,” she said softly. “You just needed someone to remind you it was okay to try.” Simone was crouched beside an

  • He Chose my Cousin, so I Chose Revenge   Chapter 247

    The evening fell gently outside the boutique, the sun painting the street in muted golds and soft shadows. Inside, the designers were packing their tools and sketchbooks, their faces glowing with satisfaction and exhaustion. I watched them, a quiet pride swelling in my chest, realizing the boutique had finally shifted from being mine alone to something living, breathing, and collective. Noelle stayed behind a moment longer, running her fingers over the fabrics still stacked on the worktable. “I didn’t realize how much weight this would carry,” she said softly, almost to herself. “But it feels… right. Like it was meant to be shared.” I smiled, walking over and placing a hand on her shoulder. “It was always meant to be shared,” I said. “The boutique isn’t a single person. It’s all the people who care enough to create something true.” Julian came up quietly behind me, his hand brushing mine. “They’re lucky to have you guiding them,” he said gently. “And lucky to have Noelle learnin

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