——————Selene's POV——————
The lights were blinding, the buzz deafening—and yet, all I could hear was the echo of my heartbeat. Fast. Steady. Strong.
I stood backstage at the grand hall of Paris Fashion Week, draped in silk and silver thread, my own design hugging me like a whisper of everything I had overcome. Models rushed past me, stylists darted between racks of couture, and cameras clicked like time speeding up—but I stood still.
My name was on the list. My name. Not just as a designer… but as a model.
Someone tapped my shoulder. "Two minutes, mademoiselle," the coordinator said with a nod.
I nodded back, but my eyes scanned the crowd—looking for one face. And then I saw him.
Antonio.
He stood in the front row, black suit crisp, eyes locked on me like I was the only person in the room. Next to him sat Ayra, Mira, Amara—and behind them, my parents and Aunt Melinda. Their smiles held so much pride I could practically feel it warming my skin.
I closed my eyes.
Flashes of late nights stitching alone, falling asleep beside Antonio with thread still tangled in my fingers, laughing with Devina as she helped me choose fabric, crying when the sketches were rejected the first time. All of it… had led me here.
"Selene Adele Laurent," the stage manager called softly.
That was my cue.
I stepped onto the runway, heels clicking softly on polished white, under a sky of glass chandeliers. The spotlight found me. Gasps whispered through the crowd as they realized—this wasn't just a model.
This was the designer.
Me.
I walked with my chin held high, spine straight, gaze forward—but my heart? My heart looked straight at the people who never stopped believing in me.
Each step felt like poetry. Each glance like a promise. And when I reached the end of the runway, I paused, turned—then caught Antonio's eyes again.
He stood up and applauded first.
The others followed.
The room erupted.
Backstage, people hugged me. Cameras swarmed. Interviewers begged for a quote. But all I wanted was to run to them.
And I did.
I slipped past the velvet curtains and found them. Antonio pulled me into the tightest hug, spinning me slightly, his lips brushing my temple.
"You weren't just walking, firefly," he whispered. "You were flying."
I looked at them all—my family, my found sisters, my love—and smiled through the happy tears.
This wasn't just my runway debut.
This was the beginning of something far bigger than fashion.
Antonio's POV
The buzz backstage was electric, but all I could focus on was Selene—my firefly—glowing brighter than the chandeliers above.
She had just conquered the runway, and the pride swelling in my chest was almost too much to bear. Watching her walk, owning the stage like it was made for her, I knew this was only the start.
After the applause faded and the crowd began to disperse, I took her hand. "Come on, let's celebrate."
We joined the others—Ayra, Mira, Amara, and her parents and my parents—at a cozy Parisian café nearby. Glasses clinked, laughter bubbled, and every smile shared felt like a promise.
Selene's phone buzzed constantly—calls from designers wanting collaborations, invitations to exclusive events, and messages from editors praising her work.
She looked at me with wide eyes. "I never imagined… this."
I squeezed her hand. "You earned every bit of it. And there's more coming."
Later that night, back at my apartment overlooking the city lights, we sat wrapped in each other's arms. The future felt vast and unknown, but with her by my side, it seemed like the world was ours to take.
Selene's dreams were finally unfolding, and I was lucky enough to watch them soar.
——————Author's POV ——————
The city lights of Paris slowly faded behind them as Selene and Ayra stepped through the door of their shared family home. The familiar scent of jasmine and old books welcomed them back—a quiet contrast to the glamour and noise of the runway world they had just left behind.
Selene exhaled deeply, the weight of the day finally settling. Ayra smiled warmly, sensing her cousin's mix of exhaustion and exhilaration. "You did amazing, Tash," she said softly. "This is just the beginning."
Selene nodded, already dreaming of the designs yet to come, the new doors opening wide.
Meanwhile, across town, Antonio pulled into the driveway of his family's home. His parents and sisters were already inside, voices echoing with the comfortable chatter of a family.
Antonio paused a moment by the door, thinking of how far they'd all come — from strangers in a new city to a family growing stronger every day.
Inside, the two families lived their own quiet rhythms, both touched by change but grounded in love and hope for the future.