Darvan's words caught her off guard, and she blinked at him, unsure if she had heard correctly. She opened her mouth to respond, but he spoke again, cutting her off. "I know I’ve been... difficult. I know I’ve hurt you. But I can’t stand this anymore.” He took a step closer, his voice faltering for
Stacy paced her room, her fingers gripping her phone tightly as she dialed Darvan’s number for the third time that morning. The line rang endlessly, but there was no answer. Fear gripped her. He had been the one calling, yet she had ignored his calls. Now that she was the one trying to reach him, an
Stacy sat at the dining table, staring at Darvan for a long time without saying anything. The silence between them stretched, heavy with unspoken words. She couldn't shake the thought of the lie he'd just told her. So if she hadn’t called Fredrick earlier, she might have believed him without questi
Stacy inhaled deeply as she struggled to pull Darvan up, but he slumped back onto the cushions, immediately losing consciousness. She let out a tired sigh as she looked at him. His face was pale. How she wished she were the reason he was in this state. But no—it was because of another woman. "You s
A few nights after dinner with Mr. Martinez, Liam sat alone in his office, staring blankly at his computer. He had been working on a design, but his mind had started to wander. The soft glow of a nearby lamp cast faint shadows across his desk, but the thoughts crowding his mind were far heavier. C
"Who’s there?" Cassia stammered, her voice trembling as she crawled backwards cautiously. Her heart pounded in her chest as the door slowly creaked open, inch by inch. A figure stood in the shadows, tall and imposing, with a presence that sent chills down her spine. The deep voice that followed ma
Darvan turned away from Cassia's window, but his eyes caught movement—a shadow slipping past her curtains. It wasn’t hers; the figure was unmistakably different. Something felt off, and a cold sensation ran down his spine. His instincts screamed danger. "Cassia!" he said, his voice sharp with worr
Liam's car came to a stop and he left it, hurrying to her door. His heart pounded, not from the rush, but from worry. Her trembling voice still echoed vividly in his mind. He knocked gently on her door and waited patiently for her to answer. When she did, face-to-face with him, her expression said
Kelvin walked down the street, his hands tucked into his pockets, his head tilting repeatedly toward Martinez's house. "She really doesn’t eat chocolate?” he muttered to himself, his brows knitting together in confusion. The thought clung to him as he continued walking. "Maybe she’s not the woman
"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