Chapter 253

• The boutique smelled of fresh fabric and polished wood, a quiet reminder of all the years we had poured into it. I walked slowly between the racks, fingertips brushing over dresses that had been stitched in laughter, in frustration, in triumph. Each piece held a memory, a struggle, a victory, and I wanted whoever carried this forward to feel it all, not just see it as a product.
• Julian came up behind me, his hand resting lightly on my shoulder. “You look like you’re measuring the air,” he said softly, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Thinking about what comes next?”
• I nodded without looking at him. “Yes,” I admitted. “It’s time to decide who will carry this boutique forward. I want someone who understands the heart behind it, not just the business or the image.”