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
Stacy stood in front of her mirror, smiling at her reflection as her friends’ voices crackled through the phone speaker. Their playful teasing only heightened her excitement. She had already told them she was celebrating her birthday at the amusement park. “Today’s the day, Stacy!” one friend giggl
“And I’ve been wanting to thank you for taking care of Darvan all those years I was out of the country,” she added, her tone casual, though Cassia could sense the mockery in her tone. Cassia held her composure, refusing to let Stacy’s words get under her skin. “Alright…” Cassia replied simply. “Oh
At the critical moment when Cassia thought she was about to fall, Darvan miraculously caught her, unintentionally pushing Stacy aside in the process. Cassia was too shocked and startled to process what had just happened. But as she came back to her senses, she realized the hands steadying her wais
As he walked through the hallway, he overheard two employees talking. He paused, catching the end of their conversation. "Can you believe it? Cassia invited Liam to her place." “No way. She’s never had anyone over before. Remember when Liam suggested we host a party at her place last week to celeb
She crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. “And who exactly are the ‘we’ you’re talking about?” Liam glanced between them before settling his gaze on Cassia with a small smile, his expression calm. "I'll be on my way now..." he told her, making his way out and walking just a few steps to un
"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