Chapter 9
Salty ocean breeze drifted through the half–open window as I finished the final line. When I looked up, River was leaning against the doorframe watching me.
He held two coffee cups, eyes crinkling behind his gold–rimmed glasses:
“The wings in your final ‘Caged Birds‘ design have three more cracks than the original.”
My hand paused. The bird on the paper had shattered wings but still reached defiantly upward–just like how I felt that night hunched in the storage room sketching.
I reached for the coffee, bitter aroma spreading across my tongue: “Cracks are the price of breaking free.”
“But light gets in through the cracks.”
River suddenly leaned closer, his long fingers tracing the paper’s edge.
His sleeve brushed my hand, the warm touch making me instinctively pull back.
He chuckled softly and pushed a stack of photos toward me:
“The client wants to showcase ‘Caged Birds‘ at next month’s Fashion Week. I’m thinking real feather
embellishments–are you scared of birds?”
“I used to be.”
I traced the white egret spreading its wings in the photo, remembering how Jake had thrown my windowsill sparrow figurine in the trash.
“But now… I’m more scared of staying caged.”
River’s gaze lingered on my fingers for a moment before he turned and pulled out a ribbon–tied box from his
drawer:
“Open it.”
Inside lay a feather brooch–silver wire wrapped around the base, tiny diamonds catching the light like scattered
stars.
My breath caught–this was the design from my sketch that Jake had torn up two years ago! River had somehow
made it real.
“I found that paper the day you withdrew from the exhibition.”
River’s voice was soft as sea mist.
“Now it’s back where it belongs. Hope you like it.”
21:01
Just a Stand In?! My Billionaire Hubby’s OTHER Wife…
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Chapter 9
Late night in the studio, only one desk lamp glowed.
I was chewing my pen, tweaking design sketches, when I heard rustling behind me..
River approached with a blanket, still carrying the cool night air:
“Temperature drops like crazy here at night. If our star designer gets sick, I can’t afford to delay ‘Caged Birds.“”
I realized I was only wearing a thin blouse, but now soft wool covered my shoulders.
River casually pulled up a chair and studied my heavily revised sketches:
“Trying to use gradient blue for ocean waves?”
“Yeah, but I can’t find the right fabric…”
“I’ll take you somewhere.”
He suddenly interrupted, lamplight reflecting in his lenses.
“Close your eyes.”
21:01
