Cassia stepped into her apartment, closed the door, and leaned back against it as her mind replayed the scene she’d just witnessed. Seeing Darvan wrapped up with Stacy in each other's arms in that crowded room had felt like a punch to the face. She’d thought she was moving on, thought she’d let
“You mean inspired?” he teased, and she smiled again. “The Arcadia Challenge?” he guessed, glancing toward her open door, where her drafts were spread across her desk. “Glad to see you’re finally going for it.” “Thanks to you, for giving me the push and ideas I needed,” she replied, and he smile
“You…” Mrs. Sinclair started, her anger nearly getting the best of her, but Cassia didn’t give her a chance to finish. “Mrs. Sinclair,” Cassia interrupted, making Mrs. Sinclair’s brows furrow in disbelief. She couldn’t comprehend how someone like Cassia dared to talk back and cut her off mid-sente
"Darvan," she called as soon as he picked up. "I just had a rather unpleasant run-in with that girl of yours. She’s gotten awfully bold, don’t you think? Disrespectful and rude!" She clicked her tongue, her anger resurfacing. "You won’t believe the disrespect I just had to endure." "What are you
Cassia walked towards the clerk, ignoring Darvan's gaze. She had spotted him the moment she entered, but refused to acknowledge his presence or his friends. She had come to pick up a custom jewelry piece for an important client Liam had mentioned, and she wasn’t about to let Darvan ruin her mood o
Cassia fought to stay composed, not wanting to get into such a conversation with him—not now. “I’ll…” she began, but Lucas took a step closer, leaning toward her, causing her to instinctively shift backwards. “Honestly, Cassia, I always knew Darvan didn’t deserve you at all,“ he continued. “He nev
“Could she really move on… if it’s not with me?” he wondered to himself, beginning to feel the weight of the possibility. Just then, the clerk approached him, holding a small, packaged gift in hand. "I'll be out for a while," Fredrick told Darvan, ending the call afterwards. “Here’s your order,” T
She could make out the words “family business” and “partnership,” guessing it was related to a recent decision involving Darvan’s family—a deal that might have been approved by higher-ups without consulting Liam. Liam ended the call abruptly when he noticed her, his expression softening. “You’re b
"She’s... alive?" he muttered under his breath, his voice barely a whisper. Cassia arched a worried brow, turning fully to face the waiter in front of her. "What did you say?" "Nothing." He cleared his throat, his gaze darting everywhere but at her. "I said you're... pretty." Her eyes narrowed sl
Cassia stood on the stage, her heart swelling with a mix of triumph and relief as the judges took turns offering their congratulations. Each word of praise felt like a warm embrace, validating not only her talent but the long, difficult journey that led to this moment. "Your innovation and craftsma
"I.. won?" She murmured in disbelief, blinking as if she couldn't believe her ears. Adeline’s eyes burned with fury as she glared at Cassia during the announcement of the competition results. Her expression darkened as cheers erupted from the crowd, and quiet whispers filled the room. Other contest
Felicia gave a final smile and turned to the remaining participants. "Good luck with the competition," she said warmly. "Thank you," they replied with a nod as Felicia left with Damien. Aliyah’s gaze remained fixed on the piece of paper detailing the design type, fabrics, and theme to be used. S
"It's chilly outside," his voice came through gently. "But, can you come out for a bit?" He asked, and once again, silence took over. Cassia raised a brow, wondering if he’d hit his head. The gentleness in his tone was unfamiliar. Before she could respond or break the silence, Darvan spoke again.
Nora's eyes returned to the designs in front of her, a slight smile forming on her lips. "What about something simple yet difficult? I'm eager to see who will actually become the face of the design world this time around," she muttered, rising to her feet. A small smile lingered on her lips as she
Cassia offered a soft smile, already knowing Samantha was here to mock her—just like always. But Cassia wasn’t ready to back down. She wasn’t going to tolerate any more insults from her. "I didn’t realize the contest was looking for something... different this year," Samantha said with a pointed t
The participants gathered in the workshop, each holding their designs with them. Cassia set her sketch and drafted patterns on the table, her mind busy with ideas for the next phase. She stood with the other contestants, waiting for instructions, while those who had been eliminated began leaving—exc
"It's a tie... So, what do the judges say about this?" Felicia turned to the panel of judges, who were all looking between Cassia and the other participant. Liam and Martinez exchanged glances with Mr. Alvarez, who inhaled deeply as if weighing what to say. The big hall was filled with excitement a