The next few weeks were a dizzying whirlwind of fashion show preparations for Evelina. Her days blurred into a cycle of design meetings, venue walk-throughs, and tedious promotional strategizing. When she wasn't shuttered away in her office poring over seating charts and vendor contracts, she was jetting off to handle fittings and rehearsals with her runway talent.

Sleep was a luxury she could scarcely afford with opening night rapidly approaching. Still, the frenetic pace suited her just fine. Evelina thrived on the chaos, drawing strength from the familiar rhythms of throwing herself into her work. It was a welcome distraction from the resurgence of Alden into her life and all...