After Elena left, the room felt colder.Not because the air had changed, but because something invisible had settled over Mercury’s shoulders. She stood exactly where she was, staring at the closed door long after the sound of Elena’s heels had faded down the corridor.Her heart was still racing.Slowly, Mercury inhaled, then exhaled, forcing the tension out of her chest. She refused to let a woman from the past dictate her present. Whatever Elena had come for, whatever trap she was planning, Mercury would not allow herself to shrink.She straightened her shoulders.Running was not an option. Hiding was not an option. And proving herself was no longer about survival alone.It was about dignity.She turned back toward the mirror.The designers, who had been waiting nervously, immediately resumed their work. None of them spoke. Their movements were precise, professional, and cautious, as though they sensed the fragile balance in the room.Fabric brushed against Mercury’s skin as dresses
Last Updated : 2026-01-09 Read more