CLAIRE

The article came out on Monday morning, three days before the showcase. I woke up to my phone buzzing with notifications, text messages from Nina, from customers, from people I hadn't spoken to in months.

I grabbed my phone and opened the Modern Fashion Magazine website, there it was, front page of their digital edition.

*"Claire Cross: Designing Power After Pain"*

The main photo showed me at Nina's studio, examining a piece of fabric with focused intensity, my hair pulled back, wearing the navy blazer Julian had chosen.

I looked professional, confident, like someone who knew exactly what she was doing. I scrolled down to start reading, my heart...