LOGINThe email arrived on a Tuesday morning, just as Serena was reviewing Vale Maison’s production schedule.Her assistant, Chloe, appeared at the office door with a tablet.“Serena, there’s a meeting request I think you’ll want to see.”Serena glanced up. “Another charity invitation?”“No. It’s from Veyronne Collective.”That caught her attention.Serena took the tablet. Veyronne Collective was a major international luxury group with an impressive distribution network and partnerships across several fashion markets.She opened the email.Subject: Strategic International Partnership Proposal — Vale MaisonThe message was brief. Veyronne had followed Vale Maison’s recent collections and was interested in discussing a potential international partnership.Serena read it twice.“What kind of partnership?”“They haven’t specified. They’ve requested a preliminary meeting and attached their company profile.”“Have you checked them?”“I’m working on it. They’re legitimate, and their recent expansi
The quiet late-afternoon sun warmed the high windows of the study, casting long, gold ribbons across the dark floorboards. Outside, Manhattan moved at its usual frantic pace, but inside the penthouse, the air felt slow and calm.Zora was still months away from arriving. Serena sat on the comfortable sofa with her feet tucked beneath her, wearing a soft cream knit dress that hugged her round, six-month bump.Across the coffee table, Asher set down a blue leather folder. He didn't open it like a corporate presentation this time. He simply laid it flat and looked at her, his dark eyes warm and relaxed."I revised the schedule for the next three months," Asher said, his low voice filling the quiet room. "Doctor visits, Vale Maison’s final spring checks, Blackthorne’s travel limits, and our home preparations."Serena reached over, pulling the folder toward her. She flipped through the pages with a raised eyebrow. "Asher... this is only three pages long. Where are the colo
Evelyn poured silver-filtered tea into a bone china cup, the sharp, floral aroma of bergamot rising into the quiet air of her townhouse drawing room. Rain tapped a steady, rhythmic pattern against the tall street-facing glass.Across the mahogany table sat Mara Forbes. She had not removed her dark coat, and her hands rested flat on her lap, her eyes cool and unreadable as she looked around the velvet-draped room."I appreciate you coming on short notice, Mara," Evelyn said smoothly, setting the silver teapot back on its saucer with a delicate clink. "I know my son can be difficult to manage, especially when his pride is wounded."Mara didn't touch her cup. "Cassian told me you wanted to set up a trust for the baby. He also said you had specific terms."Evelyn smiled softly, leaning back against her armchair. She smoothed the front of her silk blouse, keeping her tone warm and reasonable. "I am a grandmother thinking about the future, Mara. Nothing more. Cassian’s cur
"If we drop the hand-woven silk coats from the opening segment, the entire narrative of the spring line falls apart," Serena said, her voice firm as she tapped her pen against the glass table.The main conference room at Vale Maison smelled of warm coffee, freshly printed line sheets, and the crisp, cold air leaking through the high Manhattan windows. At six months pregnant, Serena sat at the head of the table in a soft burgundy dress, her hand resting over her rounded bump.Marcus rubbed his forehead with a heavy sigh. "I know, Serena. But Continental Luxury just called from Paris. Their main factory in Lyon had a power grid failure. The custom silk runs are delayed by two full weeks. If we wait for them, we miss the buyer showcase in Milan.""And if we replace the silk with standard satin, the collection looks cheap," Serena countered sharply, looking around the room at her design leads. "Every fashion column in the city is already watching us. They think because I announced my preg
Four months had melted away into the crisp, biting cold of late winter, taking Serena’s morning sickness with them and leaving behind a soft, unmistakable curve beneath her cashmere sweaters. At twenty weeks pregnant, the quiet uncertainty of the early days had transformed into a steady, daily rhythm.The snow had started falling over Manhattan early that evening, covering the big glass windows of the study in soft white. Inside, the room was warm, smelling of cedarwood and hot tea.Serena sat with her legs crossed on the big rug, surrounded by paper spread all over the floor. At five months pregnant, her belly was now a soft, round bump under her dark sweater."Asher, this isn't a list of baby names," Serena said, holding up a thick sheet as he walked into the room carrying two hot mugs. "This looks like a business report."Asher set the mugs on the coffee table and knelt beside her on the rug. "It’s a list of choices. I sorted them by where they come from, how they
After the public pregnancy announcement, Cassian had spent forty-eight hours trying to erase the image of Asher and Serena from his mind.He had failed. Every time he opened a browser, glanced at a newspaper on a diner counter, or passed a newsstand on Lexington, their faces were there—smiling, composed, and celebrated by a city that had discarded him. Comparison was a poison he knew he shouldn't drink, but watching Asher build a bright, public future made Cassian’s own cramped reality feel suffocating.His phone buzzed on the coffee table. A text from Mara.We need to finalize the schedule and expenses for the next few months. Are you available at three?Cassian stared at the message, swallowed his pride, and typed back a single word: Yes.They met at a quiet, unpretentious café off Third Avenue. Mara was already sitting in a corner booth, a notebook and a neat folder open before her. She looked composed, her dark hair pulled back, completely unbothered by the r







