Ashes of love:betrayed by love, disowned by family

a's

urrect myself from ruin and return as

at the penthouse had everything. Industrial sewing machines, bolts of imported silk and organza,

closed scar. Each desig

t like a shadow, sometimes watching from the do

.materials, contacts, permits he ma

ssed out on a pile of fabrics. When I woke, there was a

him place

te returned to ins

seven pieces, each one bolder than the last, vibrant colors, sharp edges, raw

with metallic ribcage embroidery d

hoarse. "It w

d. "You've go

door, watched us both

aid. "Then we start casting

adowing my face. But I

, the skyline glittering around me like stars scattered across bro

ing," he said

en there? Turning to

veling,"

his coat. "Good. That means y

tantly. "I don't kn

"The old you died in that alley. The

about you? Who were you befo

r a moment. The

ame e

isbelief. "Vale... a

dded

r plane crashed...

He took the wo

manded. "Wh

illed me for real if I hadn't," he said.

as he turned and star

nvestigators. My body was 'never

. "So you've been...

ed. "And waiting. For

eath

?" I asked, my voic

nded me what it looks like when

ifted. Neither moved. But everythin

ed awa

how to thank y

t win." He reached his hands to

tion, fabric fittings, late-n

lists, lighting crews, and photographers began preparing the secret venue: an abandone

ly showcase, just as Celeste promised

elivered to Damon Vexler and Brielle Av

I thought. L

tlike chairs lit by soft spotlights. The air was heavy with the scen

ned me in the a

pered. "I fe

hen paused. "There

bankrupt. I can ruin Brielle's career. I have the t

ened on the edge

rise," I said slowly. "Th

s dark. "Then to

ravity of my rebirth, but in that moment, standing in a for