The labyrinthine corridors beneath the Palais des Expositions were a stark contrast to the glittering opulence of the main hall. Here, exposed pipes lined the ceiling, and the air smelled faintly of ozone, hairspray, and industrial floor cleaner.

Serena Vance walked alongside Kaelen Cross, her ivo

The main hall of the Palais des Expositions was a sensory overload of flashing lights, thumping bass, and the suffocating tension of the global fashion elite. The runway, a massive stretch of polished black obsidian, reflected the blinding glare of the overhead spotlights.

Serena and Kaelen sat in

The standing ovation felt like a physical wave of heat crashing over the runway.

Serena Vance stood at the edge of the polished obsidian stage, the blinding spotlights washing over her ivory suit. For five years, she had watched this exact moment from the claustrophobic shadows of the wings. She h