Chapter 227

• As the afternoon stretched on, the boutique hummed softly with conversation. Patrons moved slowly between racks, their fingers brushing fabrics, their eyes bright with curiosity. It was quiet, yet alive—a gentle energy that filled the room with something that felt almost sacred.
• Elias, a young designer who had recently completed my masterclass, approached me with a sketchbook. “I didn’t expect to see you like this,” he said. “You usually keep your work so private.”
• I smiled faintly. “Some days, privacy is necessary. Other days, it’s about sharing the feeling behind creation, not just the object itself.”