apartment, a fifth-floor haven Olivier's father had gifted to the couple. In the charming neighbourhood, chic cafés buzzed with laughter, their red awnings flutter

riane ran her fingers over a silk scarf on the counter, its gold wax print a piece of Abidjan she'd brought along. She tied it around her neck, the sw

e bedroom, his tailored blazer accentuating his sharp jawline. His eyes raked over her

ftly, but his words stung. She'd paired it with a cream blouse and fitted trousers, hopi

it." He crossed the room, his tone softening as he kissed her forehead. "I

le at a Parisian finance firm demanding perfection. She'd seen the way he gazed at her with a p

agined her creations on Paris Fashion Week runways, her name whispered among the elite. She thought of exploring the city more to understand its fashion life, observing the daily looks of Parisians on the streets,

he arrived at a sleek restaurant in Saint-Germain, its glass walls reflecting the city's glow. Olivier was alr

em, but her stomach knotted when she realized she

r hissed as she sat, his voice low but veno

hispered, her cheeks

released her quickly, smiling at a colleague as if nothing had happened. Ariane forced a laugh at a joke she hadn'

l traced a dress with wax-print accents, a tribute to her roots. She longed for Abidjan's warmth, the zou

ng up the screen. Ariane answered the v

u already blending in, Paris looks good on you, show me around!" Ariane panned the camera across the apar

ucking a curl behind her ear. "Ju

ere glowing at the wedding. Now you look like you're carrying t

the way he'd gripped her wrist, the isolation creeping in. But she couldn't.

e, not shrink." She paused, then added, "Maman's asking about you too. She's proud, but worried 'cos

gering. The next day, wanting to bring a bit of Abidjan to Olivier, she crossed to the kitchen to cook something familiar, jollof rice, the way Awa had tau

s tie. "We're not in a market stall, Ariane

n her hand. "I thought you'd like it,

hone from his pocket as it buzzed. Ariane glimpsed the screen, a message from someone named

e. "I have a big week ahead," he said, his tone icy. "You're not going anywh

loring Paris, building her career, living their fairy tale. But as Olivier's shadow loomed, th