Chapter 6: The Boutique Door Chimed
That Tuesday afternoon was quiet and elegant.
Sunlight poured across the polished marble floors of my flagship boutique. Silk dresses hung beneath warm lighting. The air smelled faintly of cedar, jasmine, and new leather.
I was adjusting a display near the front when the bell above the door chimed.
Something shifted in the air before I even looked up.
Then I saw him.
Mark stood just inside the entrance, older than I remembered. His suit was expensive, but it sat on him like a costume. His eyes were hollow, carrying the unmistakable weight of a man who had discovered too late that the grass had not been greener.
It had only been artificial.
He looked around the boutique first. The marble. The lighting. The staff moving with quiet professionalism. The name of my brand displayed in brushed gold behind the counter.
Then his gaze landed on me.
At first, he did not recognize me… Continue Reading ⬇️