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بيت / LGBTQ+ / THE RUIN OF CASSY BEAUMONT: BOUGHT AND BROKEN / Chapter 41 -الفصل 46

جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 46

46 فصول

SMALL VICTORIES

CASSY"Again." Madame Laurent doesn't even look up from the file in her hand.I suppress a sigh. This is the sixth time I've redraped the same piece of fabric.I undo every pin and start over.Beside me, Daisy whispers, "If she says 'again' one more time, I'm going to cry.""You said that yesterday.""I meant it yesterday too."I laugh under my breath.Madame Laurent's head snaps up. "If you're done entertaining yourselves..."The entire room goes quiet."...perhaps you can entertain me with decent work."Daisy mouths, We're dead.An hour later, Madame Laurent makes another round. She stops at my mannequin. Her fingers smooth over the shoulder line.She checks the waist. The hem. Then she walks away. No correction. No criticism.I blink. "Daisy...""What?""She didn't say anything."Daisy's eyes widen. "...Cass.""What?""I think that meas you're safe.."By lunch, everyone is exhausted. I collapse into my usual seat. Daisy drops beside me."I have news.""You sound excited.""I am."S
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YOU BELONG HERE

CASSYMy eyes race across the first few lines. Then a tear slips down my cheek before I can stop it."I got in!"I throw myself at Sienna before I even realize what I'm doing. She catches me instinctively. She wraps one arm around my waist."I never doubted you."I pull back just enough to look at her."You did.""I doubted Parsons."A smile tugs at her lips."Not you."I shake my head, laughing through my tears. Then I kiss her before I know it.The next morning, I arrive at Parsons feeling different. Like I deserve to be here.Daisy spots me the moment I walk into the studio."Why are you smiling like that?"I hand her my phone. She reads the email.Then screams."You got in!"Half the studio turns to look at us."I knew it!"She throws her arms around me."I actually knew it!""I was terrified.""I wasn't.""You weren't?""No." She pulls back."You work too hard not to belong here."The words settle somewhere deep inside me. Belong. Maybe… I finally do.Madame Laurent enters precise
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RECOGNITION

CASSYThe room falls completely silent. My heartbeat pounds against my ribs. Madame Laurent doesn't answer immediately. Instead, she looks at me."Cassy Beaumont."I freeze.Lily's eyes finally leave the mannequin and settle on me. They're assessing. Like she's trying to understand the person behind the garment."So you're Cassy." Her voice is surprisingly gentle."Yes, ma'am."She nods once. "Tell me why you designed the shoulders this way."My throat suddenly feels tight. "The client profile described a woman in a position of authority."Lily doesn't interrupt."So I wanted the silhouette to speak before she did."I step closer to the mannequin."The shoulders are structured because confidence should be visible before words are spoken."A few students glance at one another as I continue."The waist is softer because power doesn't have to erase femininity."Silence.Lily studies the garment again. "And the colour?""I wanted something timeless.""Why?""Because confidence shouldn't d
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THE INVITATION

CASSYBy the second month of the programme, Parsons begins to feel less intimidating.The whispers don't disappear completely. Some people still remember the leaked article. But they no longer define every room I walk into. Now people stop me to ask about fabrics. It's funny how talent changes conversations."Morning."I look up from my locker. Kevin gives me an awkward wave."Morning.""I tried what you suggested.""The shoulder construction?""Yeah.""Did it work?"He grins. "It actually did.""I told you."He laughs before disappearing into the studio.Daisy bumps my shoulder. "Look at you.""What?""Giving fashion advice like you've worked here for years."I roll my eyes. "I just answered a question.""You underestimate yourself too much.""I prefer realistic expectations.""No." She shakes her head. "You prefer hiding."That one lands. Before I can answer, Madame Laurent walks in."Everyone."Conversations stop immediately."We have a live client brief today."The atmosphere shif
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A DIFFERENT KIND OF ATTENTION

CASSY The applause dies down. Lily steps away from the podium with effortless grace. "I won't keep you seated all evening," she says with a small smile. "Fashion should be experienced, not lectured about." A ripple of laughter moves through the room. "I encourage all of you to explore the gallery. Speak to one another. Ask questions. Most importantly..." She pauses. "Stay curious." With that, the evening officially begins. Almost immediately, groups begin forming around the exhibits. Daisy hooks her arm through mine. "Come on." She practically drags me toward a display of evening gowns. I stop in front of one made entirely from layers of silk organza. "How does this even stay together?" "The construction is hidden." A voice answers beside me. I turn around. An elderly woman wearing a Parsons faculty badge smiles kindly. "The best garments rarely show you how difficult they are to make." I nod slowly. "I like that." She studies me. "First time here?" "Is it that obvious?"
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INTEREST

CASSYI tell Sienna about Lily that same night, mostly because keeping it to myself feels wrong after everything we've been trying to rebuild. She's at the kitchen counter when I get home, going through contracts with her glasses pushed up into her hair. She looks up when I drop my bag by the door."How was the event?""It was great. It felt like… I finally belonged somewhere after a very long time." I sit on the stool across from her. "One of our patrons, Lily Moore of Moore Enterprises, spoke at the event. It was so intriguing."Something flickers across her face before she gets it under control. "Okay. That's good.""She found me afterward. Outside, while I was waiting for Daisy." I turn the business card over in my fingers. "She said if I ever need advice about the industry, her assistant can arrange a meeting.""Isn't that just interesting? Why you?""Well… it wasn't like Daisy was with me at the moment.""What else did she say?""Sienna, she saw my potential. She also said I sho
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