The next few weeks were a whirlwind.
With the partnership between L&X and AR Entertainment officially sealed, Lia found herself swamped with endless fittings, fabric deliveries, design alterations, and a constant stream of celebrity stylists seeking her attention.
But amidst the chaos, there was a strange calmness in her heart — one she hadn't felt in a long time.
Ryan had become a regular visitor to the L&X studio. Always claiming he was just checking in, but often staying longer than necessary. He'd sit on the couch in her office, watching her sketch with quiet admiration — never saying much, but his presence alone spoke volumes.
They were working like old friends again. No awkwardness, no tension. Just a seamless rhythm they'd always had. The way Lia handed him swatches without looking. The way Ryan instinctively knew when she needed coffee. Their bond was strong — familiar, deep, and safe.
One afternoon, as golden sunlight spilled into the studio windows, Lia stood before a mannequin, draping fabric for an A-list actress's red carpet gown.
Ryan walked in, holding two cups of coffee.
Ryan: "Americano, no sugar. You're welcome."
Lia: smiling softly "You're finally learning."
He placed the cup beside her sketchpad and leaned against the table.
Ryan:
"Your designs… they're not just clothes, Lia. They tell stories. When that actress walks the red carpet, she'll be wearing survival. Power. You."
Lia:
"It's not just about looking good. It's about feeling something."
He didn't respond, just kept watching her hands move as she adjusted the neckline on the gown. For a moment, the silence between them turned fragile. Not uncomfortable — but loaded.
Lia turned her eyes toward him, her voice softer.
Lia:
"Do you ever miss the simplicity… when it was just us two, dreaming of the future?"
Ryan:
"All the time."
The answer came faster than he'd meant it to. But he didn't take it back.
They both looked away at the same time, avoiding whatever that silence was trying to say.
---
The Red Carpet Event
The launch day arrived, and Lia stood behind the curtains, watching her designs take over the spotlight. One after another, celebrities walked the red carpet in her creations — bold lines, soft silks, and confident silhouettes.
AR Entertainment x L&X was trending globally within hours.
Backstage, Ryan approached her again, dressed in a charcoal suit that complimented the color palette she'd designed. He held out a hand.
Ryan:
"You did it. You stole the show."
Lia:
"We did it."
They stood there, side by side — two individuals who had built empires out of broken pieces. The moment was professional. The smiles were real. And yet, there was something unspoken growing in the silence between their glances.
Later that night, as Lia locked up her studio alone, she walked past the work desk where an old photo of her and Ryan lay tucked between sketchbooks — one taken before the marriage, before the heartbreak, before Elina.
She paused.
Looked at it.
And smiled — bittersweet, knowing, and strangely calm.
Some stories don't need to be rushed.
Some emotions grow in silence.
And some love… finds its way back home on its own.