Chapter 19
On the last day of Fashion Week, Avery’s “Broken Wings” collection closed the show.
On the runway, models walked to the beat of music wearing her designs.
Black chiffon resembled the broken wings of butterflies, adorned with crystals and pearls that shimmered under the lights.
The intentionally asymmetrical cuts and fractured yet reconstructed lines told a story of pain and
rebirth.
Backstage, Avery nervously bit her lip, intently watching the audience’s reactions.
Alex stood beside her, his fingers tapping lightly before gently taking her hand.
“Look,” he pointed toward the end of the runway. “That’s your work, your story.”
When the final gown appeared, the entire venue fell silent.
It was a pure white wedding dress with countless butterflies embroidered on the skirt. Starting from the hem, the butterflies gradually became whole, culminating in a golden swallowtail butterfly
about to take flight at the bodice.
“Alex’s finger paused.
ak out of the cocoon,” Avery said softly. “Sophia found me and told me about the concept you
ad mentioned. I added it to my collection. I thought it was the perfect finishing touch.”
A soft laugh reached her ears.
“I must say, I’m honored.”
Avery turned to look at him and found Alex’s gaze uncommonly gentle.
“You deserve a fresh start, Avery.”
Alex squeezed her hand gently, his tone solemn: “Not as someone’s shadow, not as the one who was abandoned, but as yourself. As a talented designer, you need to believe in yourself–you deserve to be loved wholeheartedly.”
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Chapter 19
As he finished speaking, the show ended, and thunderous applause erupted from the audience.
During the curtain call, Avery slowly walked onto the runway.
The lights were blinding. She squinted and saw her brother and Alex sitting in the front row, applauding vigorously with proud smiles on their faces.
At this moment, all the applause and acclaim were for her alone.
For a fleeting moment, she thought she saw a familiar figure standing in the shadows of the last row–Jake.
He stood there silently, not moving, just watching her with complicated eyes.
Avery looked away, then bent down to bow deeply to the audience.
In that moment, she felt the butterfly tattoo behind her ear grow warm, as if truly experiencing
rebirth.
At the celebration party after the show, Alex found Avery standing alone on the terrace.
The London sky was unusually clear, dotted with stars.
“What are you thinking about?”
He approached, offering her a glass of champagne.
Avery shook her head: “Just feeling… amazed. A year ago, I was still trapped in that rainy night, trapped in a love that would never be returned. Now, my work has reached the international stage.”
“That’s life.” Alex leaned back against the railing. “Some wounds seem impossible to heal, but it’s precisely those cracks that allow light to shine through.”
He paused, taking a small velvet box from his pocket.
“Avery, please don’t misunderstand,” he said with a smile. “This is just an invitation. Next month, I have a project in Switzerland and would like you to join me. There’s the most beautiful butterfly valley in the world there. I think you’d like it.”
Avery looked at the butterfly–shaped brooch in the box–silver wings inlaid with tiny sapphires that sparkled under the starlight.
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Chapter 19
“I’d love to,” she heard herself say..
Upon receiving her affirmative answer, Alex released an almost imperceptible sigh of relief.
He then pinned the brooch to her collar and gently embraced her.
Avery closed her eyes, inhaling his faint scent of pine–steady and reassuring.
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