that matched the flash of a dozen cameras. My latest collection, "Urban

f the fashion world. My life was a meticulously tailored garment, every seam perfect, every thread in place. At the center of it all was m

ng. I stepped off the stage and into the chaotic energy of the backstage area, my heart still racing. I scanned the crowd for

oman I didn't recognize. She was petite, dressed in a simple, almost waifish dress that looked out of p

ease. I walked toward them, my heels cli

said, my vo

kly replaced by something else, something I couldn't quite

k, distracted peck. His attention was alre

Willow Vance," he said. "Willo

ful to finally meet you, Scarlett. Your designs... they'

t there was a glint of something else in their depths, something sharp and calculat

eping my tone polite. "I wasn't aw

n Ethan's arm. "It's a long story. Things have been... diffic

tly, plastering on a smile

focus was entirely on her. He held her elbow as if she were made of glass

voice low and protective. "The family... they haven'

ration. The way her body angled toward him, the way her eyes never left his face,

y smile feeling stiff.

dawn. This woman, with her innocent facade and her

n was thick enough to cut with a knife. The scent of champagne and success from the af

that had him completely captivated. I tried to join the conversation, to share the triumphs of my show, but my

id to Ethan once Willow had finally retir

back to me. "She's just grateful, S

practically hanging off you all night.

itation in his eyes. "What do you want me to do? Throw my own fami

slightly. "I'm asking you to remember that I'm your wife. Tha

I told you ho

ing back to her," I shot back. The words h

in a silk pajama set that I recognized as one of my own designs, a sample I kept in t

oice trembling slightly. "I heard shou

y at me, a flicker of triumph in her gaze before it was replaced by

tracing a path down her cheek. "I don

asterful p

lted away, replaced by a wave of g

oftening. He walked over to her, completely ignoring me. "Scarlet

er, a gesture of comfort that

my home, in my clothes. He was dismissing our conflict, dism

eeds to," Ethan said, his back still to me, his voic

the floor-to-ceiling windows. My meticulously crafted life had just been ripped at the seams,

oice dangerously quie

is expression hardening. "That'

A week. Two weeks. W

s tone final. "She's family. And you will

the cold rage building in my chest. The first thread had been pulled