Chapter 279

Audrey

Edwin and I emerged from the small room, his hand still resting protectively on my back. The hustle and bustle of last- minute preparations immediately hit us, assistants running back and forth, models being ushered into position, and the soft hum of the audience’s chatter drifting through the walls.

“I guess no one would have noticed our little tryst anyway,” Edwin mused under his breath with a smirk.

I glanced up at him, wiggling my eyebrows suggestively. But a sound caused us both to whip our heads toward the dressing

area.

“Owww! My ankle!”

Exchanging worried glances, Edwin and I rushed toward the sound. A small group had gathered in a huddle near the back of the dressing area. In the center of the commotion was a young woman, one of the models, seated on a chair with her head in her hands. Her shoulders shook as she cried out.

I hurried over, Edwin following closely behind.

“What happened?” I asked, kneeling in front of the model. She looked up at me, her face pale, tears clinging to her lashes. “I–I twisted my ankle really bad,” she stammered, wincing as she shifted her foot slightly. “I was fine earlier, but it hurts to put any weight on it now…”

Someone behind her chimed in, “She tripped backstage. I thought she’d just shaken it off, but…”

I glanced down at her ankle, which was already beginning to swell slightly under the delicate straps of her shoe. The show was minutes from starting. Panic might have been setting in, but I couldn’t afford that luxury–not now.

I took a calming breath, tapping into that silver pool of energy inside of me. With a reassuring smile, I reached out to touch/ her ankle. “May I?” I asked.

She winced, flinching away.

“It’s alright,” I murmured. “I’ll help you.”

hesitation, the model

touch her ankle.

power flow from my fingertips. It started off as a cool stream, like trickling water,

release, her muscles relaxing as the pain ebbed

my hand

surprise and relief on her face.

breathed, a smile breaking through. “Thank you, Luna. Really…

what I’m here for. Now, get into

crew was palpable, and I looked up at Edwin, I saw a look of pride in his eyes. He gave me

as

everyone,” the stage manager said, clapping her

58%

dimmed and the music began to play, a hush fell over the audience.

as the first

piece was a set made by Edwin, in his classic Brooks Designs style: a matching trousers and blazer set with an oversized, masculine

gold threads that he had used to stitch everything together glimmered under the stage lights. Cameras flashed, the

bust, the strappy heels and golden arm bands making her look as if she was bound

hours, the intricate stitching, the late–night sketches, and the dreams the three of us had poured into this collection. My heart swelled close to bursting as I watched our

a hand slip into mine. I glanced up, finding Edwin beside me, his gaze focused on the

just watched in awe, holding each other. Piece after piece walked the runway, and the audience’s murmurs of appreciation grew louder, a few exclamations of awe reaching my ears as each new design was revealed. It

finally, it was time for the final

wasn’t too out there, too eccentric. I hoped that people would understand

nonsense.

a haunting melody as the final model stepped onto the runway. I held my breath as she took

he’d shown me, the flowers and birds and rays of sunlight. But there were also the darker ones, the shadows, the scars from his

of them coalescing into the

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