Chapter 17
“Do
you know why I chose butterflies?” Avery suddenly asked.
Alex put down the sketch, his gaze falling on the tattoo behind her ear. “Because only after enduring the pain of breaking out of its cocoon can a butterfly spread its wings and fly. Right?”
Avery’s fingers trembled slightly around her pencil.
Eight years of love had amounted to nothing but a joke.
She had once thought she would be forever trapped in that dark rainy night–trapped in the moment
Jake chose to save Hannah instead of her.
“If you need me,” Alex suddenly said, “for next week’s Fashion Week. If your collection needs
architectural structural support, I can offer advice.”
He didn’t wait for Avery’s response, didn’t even look at her.
He just sat there quietly, leaving the choice entirely up to her.
Avery’s eyes flickered. Alex’s gentle inquiry was like a key, unlocking the door to her tightly closed
heart.
But he merely stood at the entrance, patiently waiting for her invitation.
Outside, the winter wind showed no sign of abating. The previously cold, quiet studio was now filled
with the sweet scent of milk.
For the next week, Avery worked diligently preparing for Fashion Week.
The sun outside rose and set.
She yawned again–this was already her third consecutive all–nighter.
As the opening of Fashion Week drew closer, Avery became increasingly dissatisfied with her runway design. The crumpled paper balls by her feet nearly covered her shoes, and her body was showing signs of exhaustion.
“But this part still isn’t right…”
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She Moved On… He Crashed and Burned
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Chapter 17
Through her haze, Avery heard a gentle knock. Turning her head, she saw Alex standing at the door, waving slightly when he caught her eye.
Seeing that she couldn’t design a piece that satisfied herself, Alex took her to his own studio to change her mood.
She entered his room, looking around.
Alex’s studio always smelled of pine and pencil shavings. Blueprints were spread across the long
table in organized chaos, impressively dominating the central area of the workspace.
Avery found herself treading lightly. Surrounding her were countless intricate miniature
models–she felt as if she had wandered into Lilliput.
Suddenly, her attention was drawn to a miniature glass greenhouse by the window.
The curve of its dome perfectly matched the butterfly wing arc in her design.
Sunlight penetrated the glass, casting delicate shadows on the floor that resembled fluttering wings.
“This is…”
Avery gazed at the scene, mesmerized, her voice naturally softening.
Alex’s footsteps stopped behind her, bringing with him a faint scent of pine.
“It’s a project for Switzerland,” he explained.
In a spot where Avery couldn’t see, Alex unconsciously touched his earlobe.
“But if you like it, you can use it for your runway.”
A draft paper suddenly appeared before her. Avery stared at it in surprise before reaching out to
take it.
Dust particles danced gently on the paper. The lines seemed to grow freely–the dome gradually transforming into outstretched butterfly wings, with intertwining vines growing at the glass seams.
She saw her design’s soul reinterpreted through another artistic language.
“Isn’t that too wasteful?” Avery shook her head, attempting to place the draft back on the table. “This must be an important bidding project, right?”
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She Moved On… He Crashed and Burned
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Chapter 17
Alex just smiled, folding the draft and placing it back in her hand.
The next day, the door was knocked on again.
Avery lifted her head with an eagerness she herself hadn’t noticed.
Alex walked in, unmelted snow still clinging to his hair, carrying a model in his arms.
The greenhouse dome had been transformed into asymmetrical butterfly wings. Each glass panel was etched with different butterfly patterns, refracting rainbow colors in the light.
Most striking was the crooked ribbon bow on the base, resembling an awkwardly perched butterfly.
Avery noticed the adhesive bandages on his fingertips.
“First time tying a butterfly bow,” he said, the tips of his ears turning slightly red, his voice almost melting into the night. “Quite embarrassing.”
Warm light filled the room. Looking at his earlobes, Avery found herself speaking impulsively.
“Why are you so nice to me? Because my brother asked you to?”
Alex remained silent for a long time before finally speaking softly.
“Your brother did ask me to look after you.”
In the quiet room, heartbeats thundered, rising and falling.
His fingers brushed the model as he spoke clearly: “But I won’t deny I have my own reasons too.”
17:08
