ALINA’S POV.

    “Calm down, everything is going to go great.” Lucian whispered to me, leaning in slightly.

    Today was the day of the fashion show, the day my fashion line, Alinova, would be revealed to the world.

    The buzz of anticipation clung to the air like luxurious perfume, heavy, and quite impossible to ignore.

    “What if something goes wrong?” I asked nervously, my fingers lightly brushing the silk of my deep midnight-colored gown. My voice quivered slightly, even though I tried to keep it steady.

    We were standing at the entrance of the grand ballroom, now beautifully decorated. Each chandelier above twinkled like stars waiting for their cue to shine.

    The ballroom looked like something out of a dream, elegant with a bold twist. ck velvet drapes lined the walls, with hint of gold catching the light. A ss runway ran down the center, softly glowing from beneath like it was holding back a spark, just waiting to ignite.

    Mia had truly outdone herself. !--

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    “Nothing will go wrong.” Lucian assured me, squeezing my hand gently. His calm was like an anchor I needed to keep me grounded. “Ready?” He asked.

    I nced up at him. In his tailored ck suit and crisp shirt, he looked as though he belonged here more than anyone, untouchable,posed, maic, and most of all, formidable.

    “I was born ready.” I said softly, my lips tugging into a smile.

    He chuckled under his breath and extended his arm once again. “Then let’s go give them a night to remember, shall we?”

    Around us, peopleughed over clinking champagne sses. Heels tapped rhythmically on the marble floor, and camera shes lit up the space. A low hum of conversation danced across the room.

    And this… this was my stage.

    After tonight, I would no longer be the woman who once walked in shadows, but the silent creator behind Alinova.

    I inhaled slowly, steadying the rush in my chest. This night wasn’t just about fashion. It was about making a statement. About taking back what was mine.

    As we walked further in, eyes turned. Not just to Lucian ckwood, whose very presence drew attention like gravity, but to olli/li/ol

    Not everyone recognized me immediately.

    They saw a strange woman on his arm, elegant, poised, and unfamiliar. Whispers stirred as expected and curious eyes tried to figure out who I was.

    They’d find out soon enough.

    I was proudly rocking one of my designs, and it was doing exactly what I aimed for, gathering attention.

    I noticed Mia at the far end of the room, her earpiece snug against her ear and a clipboard clutched tightly in her hand. Her brte hair was twisted up into a sleek bun, and her expression flickered with barely restrained pride when she spotted olli/li/ol

    “I’ll join you soon, baby. I want to go speak to Mia for a bit.” I leaned in slightly and said to Lucian.

    He still hadn’t gotten used to the endearment, so the brief flicker of surprise in his eyes was expected.

    He nodded in acknowledgment, and I made my way toward Mia. As I approached her, I walked past and subtly signaled for her to follow. I didn’t want anyone knowing I had any rtions with her, not yet at least.

    “Everything’s in ce, ma’am,” she informed me, brushing an imaginary speck from my dress once we reached a quiet corner away from wandering eyes. “The models are all lined up. The runway’s clear. Lighting and music are synced. You’re precisely on schedule.”

    “Perfect.” I gave her a quick squeeze on the arm. “You’ve done magic, Mia. And you look stunning, by the way.” I added with a smile.

    She was also wearing one of my designs. She was going to be the face of my brand, so she had to look the part.

    She grinned. “I learned from the best.”

    Before she could say more, the music shifted.

    Soft, thumping chords drifted through the room,mysterious and slow, like something just beginning to unfold.

    The lights dimmed.

    Conversations faded.

    “I’ll see you soon.” I told her before walking back to Lucian.

    And then, it began.

    “Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Alinova!” the MC spoke loudly into his mic.

    There was no apuse, just silence as the spotlight was directed to the stage alone. The anticipation was so thick in the air I could literally taste it.

    Then the first model stepped onto the runway, draped in silk the color of smoke, her shoulders sharp and proud.

    The crowd stilled. Every eye locked onto her movement, the fabric, the fierce geometry of the design.

    This particr collection yed with fire, it featured me-like details embellished along the hems, bold asymmetry that posed as wings frozen mid-flight, and sheer veils that softened the daring designs like they were hiding something just beneath the surface.

    The theme was rebirth.

    Every piece I created told a secret story of destruction transformed into something powerful, a story of fragility reshaped into strength.

    It was my story.

    I watched from my seat beside Lucian, his hand resting on my thighs. His expression was, as expected, unreadable, but I could feel it. The subtle shift in his posture, the way his hand tightened slightly around my leg, and how his gaze never wavered from the runway… or maybe from me, through it all.

    There was something intense in his eyes, something I couldn’t quite put my fingers on, but it felt like he was connecting deeply to what I had created.

    Model after model emerged, each look bolder than thest.

    A red leather corsetced with silver threads that mimicked veins, paired with a sheer skirt split to the thigh.

    A floor-length cape made entirely of embroidered phoenix feathers.

    My final design, a gown forged in gold and ck, a molten silhouette that shimmered like ash turned to sunlight.

    The whispers in the room grew.

    There were murmurs of awe. Spection.

    I heard someone gasp behind me.

    Then I heard her voice, sharp with disbelief.

    “What the hell…”

    I turned my head slightly. Seraphina was practically standing from her table, her eyestched onto the golden gown gliding down the runway. Her lips were parted, frozen somewhere between horror and fury.

    Perfect.

    “Here we go.” I could hear Mia say through the earpiece I had taken from her earlier so we couldmunicate more easily.

    “I was wondering when she’d notice.” I muttered, though my face remained still as stone.

    Even Lucian didn’t notice me speaking.

    Thest model took her final steps down the runway, slowing as she reached the end and struck a confident pose. Cameras shed all around. Everybody rose to their feet in a burst of apuse. Then the music faded, and the room fell quiet again.

    Mia stepped onto the stage, her posture elegant, confidence beaming from her like light. It made me feel like a proud mother.

    “Thank you all for attending the exclusive preview of Alinova’s debut collection: Ashes to Embers,” she said in a clear andposed voice. “We invite our fellow designers to prepare their teams as we continue the evening with additional showcases-”

    “No!” Seraphina snapped, cutting her off and making every head turn in her direction.