Chapter 277

Audrey

The morning of the show was a frenzy. No, more than a frenzy. It was complete and utter chaos.

I spent the entire morning from sunup to noon running endlessly from one end of the venue to the other, desperately trying to make sure every last detail was perfect. The racks were lined with clothes, models and stylists bustling about, and all I could think about was how one tiny thing going wrong would ruin everything.

A misplaced hem. The wrong lighting. A dress out of line. Every possibility spun through my head, tangling up in knots. And the fact that I’d hardly slept last night didn’t help any.

I was somewhere between the back dressing room and the main area when my mother appeared out of nowhere in a rush of blonde hair and sweet perfume. She stepped in my way, physically blocking me from rushing past her.

“Audrey.” She put a gentle hand on my arm and stopped me in my tracks. “You need to breathe.”

“I am breathing,” I said, but it came out shaky, and I could tell that she knew I was lying.

She just shook her head and wrapped her arms around me, tugging me close. The smell of her perfume and the soft silk of her blouse enveloped me, and I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

“You’ve done everything you can, sweetheart,” she murmured, stroking my hair. “It’s all going to be wonderful. Just like we planned.”

I closed my eyes, letting myself sink into her embrace for just a moment. “It just feels like… if one thing goes wrong…”

“It will be perfect, Audrey. Don’t worry.” She pulled back, giving me a reassuring smile. “I panicked before my first show, too. Every designer does. But you’re not doing this just for yourself, honey. This show is about something much bigger. It’s about making a difference. And that’s what people will remember.”

if only a little. She was right–this was about helping others, not about making a name for myself. It wasn’t like the Paris fashion show all over again, back when I was a human

take a moment to catch your

be done now. The models were getting dressed, the staff was handling the lighting, and the audience

Edwin. I ducked into a

go to that spot. He was leaning against the wall, looking ridiculously handsome in his fitted suit.

the wall and striding up to me. “The brilliant designer in the flesh. How’s it

loose thread away from unraveling,” I replied with a shaky laugh as I

for a moment, kissing the top of my head, before he pulled away. “Come with

and into a small room tucked away from the main bustle of everything. He glanced around, closing the door behind

from his pocket, handing it to me with a sheepish smile. “Don’t look at me like

+5

revealing a soft red scarf. I could tell immediately that it was handmade–there were more than a few uneven stitches, and the

fingers over the wool. “Did you… did you knit this

Thought it could match the one you made

perfect,” I whispered, lifting it and inhaling the scent of him that was all

tightly, feeling his

sure you

nodded into his chest. “I love it.

against my collarbone as he adjusted it around my neck. “You know,” he murmured,

came back in a rush. How could I forget?

his grip possessive and steady. He gave a gentle tug, drawing me toward him until there was nothing between us but our clothes. That’s one of my favorite memories,

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