Chapter 2 — The Dress No One Recognized
Chapter 2 — The Dress No One Recognized
The ballroom was silent.
Not a single champagne glass clinked.
Not a single conversation continued.
The elderly designer remained kneeling beside the torn gown, his fingers gently tracing the damaged embroidery.
His eyes filled with sadness.
"I spent eighteen months making this."
He slowly stood.
Then looked directly at the woman in the gold gown.
"You destroyed history."
The socialite laughed nervously.
"It's just a dress."
The designer's expression hardened.
"No."
"It is the last piece I will ever create."
A murmur swept through the room.
Everyone knew his name.
Henri Laurent.
The legendary couturier who had dressed queens, actresses, and first ladies for more than five decades.
He had announced his retirement months earlier.
This gown...
Was meant to close his career.
The woman in gold suddenly looked uncertain.
"I... I can pay for it."
Henri quietly shook his head.
"No amount of money can buy back time."
"No amount of money can replace eighteen months of work."
She glanced around.
The same guests who had laughed moments earlier now refused to meet her eyes.
Henri turned toward the young woman.
"My dear..."
"I'm so sorry."
She smiled softly.
"It's only fabric."
He looked at her with pride.
May you like
"No."
"It's much more than that."
