Chapter 139

Agnes

The morning sun streamed through the tall windows, casting golden light across the polished marble floors of the fashion show venue. Lunas from various packs filled the space, each accompanied by a little girl—daughters, nieces, or younger sisters, all preparing for the mother-daughter showcase.

“Look at all the pretty dresses!” Thea squealed, tugging on my hand and pointing at a rack of gowns being wheeled past us.

I squeezed her small hand, my chest warming at her excitement. “Wait until you see ours,” I whispered, leaning down to her level. “They’re going to be the most beautiful ones here.”

We made our way through the crowd to our assigned dressing area, a small corner space with our names printed on a laminated card.

The backstage area was utter chaos, and yet the organized kind—stylists rushing about with curling irons, makeup artists dabbing finishing touches on models’ faces, and designers making last-minute adjustments to their pieces. Little girls twirled around each other, showing off their outfits, and Lunas chatted with cups of tea in their hands, ready for the show.

I hung our garment bags on the provided rack and carefully unzipped mine to reveal the emerald gown inside. The fabric caught the light, shimmering like leaves on a canopy of trees. My fingers traced the subtle embroidered vines—the same ones I’d incorporated into Elijah’s suit, the connecting thread between all three of us.

“Can I see mine now?” Thea bounced on her toes, trying to peek around me.

I laughed, unzipping her bag to reveal a smaller version of my gown. The emerald fabric was the same, but where my embroidery was subtle, hers was more pronounced—vines climbing up from the hem and wrapping around the bodice, with a fuller, slightly shorter skirt and a more childish fit.

“It’s perfect!” she gasped, running her fingers over the beadwork.

We changed quickly, helping each other with zippers and clasps. Once Thea was dressed, I knelt down to smooth out her skirt.

“You look beautiful,” I said, pinching her cheek. “Just like a little princess.”

Thea twirled, making the skirt flare out around her. “We match,” she said. “Just like real mommies and daughters do.”

My heart clenched at her words, but I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded, forcing a smile. “That’s right. Just like that.”

The stylist arrived then, saving me from my emotions. She worked on Thea first, braiding small sections of her hair and pinning them back with emerald-studded clips that matched her dress. Then she moved to me, sweeping my hair into an elegant updo with a few loose tendrils framing my face.

Once we were finished, we stood side by side, looking at our reflections in the mirror. Just then, a familiar figure appeared behind us. Elijah, dressed in a sleek black suit—not the one I’d designed for him—that was for the upcoming gala. He was holding two bouquets of white lilies.

“For my two favorite ladies,” he said as he approached, handing a small bouquet to Thea and a larger one to me. His eyes swept over us both, lingering on me for a moment longer than necessary. “You both look absolutely stunning.”

Thea giggled, burying her nose in the flowers. “Thank you, Daddy!”

I clutched my bouquet to my chest, the sweet scent filling my nose. “They’re beautiful, Elijah. Thank you.”

He stepped closer, his cologne instantly enveloping me as he leaned in to press a kiss to my cheek. “For luck,” he murmured, his lips warm against my skin. Then he bent down to do the same for Thea, who threw her arms around his neck and kissed him back rather wetly.

My cheeks flushed with heat, and I touched the spot where his lips had been. The simple gesture shouldn’t have affected me so much, but my heart thrummed in my chest all the same.

“I’ll be in the front row,” Elijah promised before departing, leaving a trail of cologne behind.

The next hour passed in a blur. Thea and I were scheduled to open the show, showcasing our matching designs first. But as the time ticked closer, I became suddenly aware of the butterflies swarming in my stomach. I was a designer, not a model, and this wasn’t just a charity event for Lunas. There were a lot of people in the audience.

Needing a moment to myself, I slipped away, navigating through the crowded backstage area until I found a quiet corridor leading to the restrooms. Once inside, I braced my hands against the cool marble countertop, staring at my reflection in the mirror.

My skin looked pale despite the blush on my cheeks, and my eyes were wide with nerves. One of the assistants had mentioned in passing that Margot Chen, one of the most influential fashion critics in the territories, was sitting in the audience today. She was likely going to critique my work.

I should have been excited, but instead I was just… terrified.

Taking a deep breath, I splashed cold water on my hands and pressed them to the back of my neck. The cool sensation grounded me, but my heart continued to race.

My mother had been a renowned designer in her time. Before she passed, her name was whispered with reverence in fashion circles. The pressure to live up to her legacy weighed on me, especially today.

“I wish you were here, Mom,” I whispered to the empty bathroom. “I could use your guidance right now.”

Of course, there was no answer. But all the same, I closed my eyes, imagining her standing beside me with her hand on my shoulder. And her voice…

Goddess, I could barely remember her voice. It had been so long since she had passed. Too long, and yet not long enough all the same.

Still, the imagined touch of her hand on my shoulder, the smile on her face, felt so real that I almost believed she was there with me. I took a deep breath, then another, letting the tension drain from my shoulders. The nausea subsided soon after.

Finally, I straightened my dress, checked my reflection one last time, and hurried back toward our dressing area. But when I arrived, Thea wasn’t there.

“Thea?” I called, looking around in confusion. Perhaps she’d wandered off to look at the other dresses again?

I scanned the bustling backstage area, pushing past racks of clothing and makeup stations. No sign of her. Panic began to take hold of me, and I quickly found a staff member.

“Have you seen Thea?” I asked. “I can’t find her.”

The staff member looked utterly confused. “What do you mean? She’s with her mother.”

“I’m her—” My blood ran cold. “Wait… Do you mean…”

“Olivia?” the staff member finished for me, nodding. “Yes, she and Thea just walked the runway. The show has already begun.”

My lungs felt like they were collapsing. “What do you mean, they already walked?” I barked. My voice came out harsher than I intended, and the staff member flinched.

“I-I thought—”

“Where are they now?” I breathed. I didn’t have time to figure out why or when or how Olivia had taken Thea onto the runway. I just had to find them before something bad happened.

“They left right after their walk,” the staff member explained, looking sheepish. “Miss Olivia mentioned something about having visitation rights today and needing to leave early. Said you knew about it. I thought you orchestrated everything…”

No. I stumbled backward, gripping the wall for support. Olivia. She had taken Thea right from under my nose, walked the runway with her, and now they were gone.

“Are you alright, Luna?” the stagehand asked, reaching out to touch my arm.

I couldn’t answer. My legs moved of their own accord, carrying me toward the main room of the venue. Bile rose in my throat, and my head spun with fear and rage. Olivia had gone too far this time.

Without thinking, I burst onto the runway, my scream tearing through the music.

“Thea!!”