An Empire of Ash, A Heart of Steel

studio. He didn't bring an apology. He brought a gift-a rare,

gala were... tense," he began, masterfully reframing the night. "But getting cl

a strategic sacrifice for his su

g onto mine. "I have one final tes

started

voice dropping to an intimate whisper. "This is it. The final hurdle. You pour your genius into this dress, and I swear

The promise hung in the air, a

screen lit up, filled with hundreds o

no emotion. "Imagine her poise, her elegance. Create a go

muse for the very dress that was supposed to represent my own future, my own

nance grew inside me. The design was beautiful, a cascade of silk and lace, but it felt... cold. Haunted. The love I tried to stitch

ch he kept in his home office. As I searched his desk, my eyes fell on

was the day after t

ket were Kurt Salaza

. It's a contingency plan, I told myself frantically. A surprise for me. He's just using her name for som