SOPHIA I dropped the phone the moment the call ended, letting it fall onto the vanity with a dull sound that barely registered before laughter escaped me—unplanned, sharp, and completely out of place. It startled me enough that I pressed my lips together afterward, as though I could still contain it, but the sound had already filled the room. “I really can’t believe this,” I said, more to myself than to anyone else, though I was already turning toward my assistant. Judith paused briefly before responding, her fingers still resting near my temple as she adjusted a loose strand of hair that refused to stay in place. She was good at her job—careful, attentive, and observant without being intrusive—but even she seemed uncertain now, as if she could sense that this was not the kind of news that should be met with easy enthusiasm. “What is it, ma’am?” she asked, her voice light but cautious, as she continued working on my hair. We were already behind schedule, with the fashion sho
Last Updated : 2026-01-28 Read more