Chapter Thirty Two
Chapter Thirty Two
The ride to the atelier was a blur, her mind running through everything that needed to be done. The fashion contest was looming closer, and the pressure was mounting. But this wasn’t just any competition it was her chance to make a mark, to solidify her place back in New York’s elite fashion world.
When she arrived at the atelier, the familiar hum of activity greeted her. The team was already at wo mannequins stood draped in half–finished gowns, bolts of fabric lay across worktables, and the sound of sewing machines filled the air. This was where Tasha felt most alive, where her creativity could flow freely.
“Good morning, everyone,” Tasha called out as she stepped inside.
The team greeted her with nods and smiles, eager to hear her next instructions. She walked straight to the design board, studying the sketches she had been working on for weeks. The evening gown was almost complete, but something about the design still felt… off.
One of her seamstresses approached, holding a small box of crystal embellishments. “Ms. Taylor, we received these samples this morning. Would you like to take a look?”
Tasha examined the crystals, holding them up to the light. They were beautiful, but not quite what she needed. “They’re good, but not perfect. Let’s add more crystals to the waistline and bring the neckline down slightly. It needs to be more daring.”
As she continued fine–tuning the details, a voice interrupted her from behind.
“Tasha.”
She turned to see Vanessa standing at the entrance, her arms crossed and a smug expression on her face. Tasha’s heart sank, but she kept her cool.
“Vanessa,” Tasha said evenly, trying to ignore the sense of dread creeping in. “What brings you here?”
Vanessa’s eyes swept the room, clearly unimpressed. “Just thought I’d check in and of course I’m part of the Paris team. I heard you were involved in the contest, and I was curious to see how your little project was coming along.”
Tasha clenched her jaw, refusing to let Vanessa get to her. “It’s coming along just fine, thanks.”
Vanessa stepped closer, her tone dripping with fake concem. “I must say, I’m surprised. Corning back to New York after all these years? And with Daniel still around? You’re brave, Tasha. give you that.”
Tasha’s pulse quickened at the mention of Daniel, but she didn’t let it show. “I’m not here for Daniel.”
Vanessa smirked, clearly enjoying the tension. “No, of course not. But you know he’s not going to just forget everything, right? Especially now that you’re back in his city, in his world.”
Tasha’s fists tightened. “This isn’t about him. This is about my work.”
Vanessa raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. “Is it? Because it looks like you’re trying to win something more than just this contest.”
Tasha took a step forward, her voice firm. “I’m here to win, Vanessa. Nothing else.”
Vanessa chuckled softly, turning to leave. “We’ll see about that. Good luck, Tasha. You’re going to need it.”
Chapter Thirty Two
As she walked out, Tasha exhaled slowly, trying to calm the storm brewing inside her. Vanessa’s words lingered, but she couldn’t afford to let them distract her. There was too much at stake.
She turned back to her team, her resolve stronger than ever. “Alright, everyone. Let’s get back to work. We’ve got a contest to win.”
***
Hours later, after a whirlwind of work at the atelier, Tasha checked the time. It was time to pick Ethan up from school. She grabbed her coat and hurried out, feeling a sense of calm as she headed towards the school, which wasn’t far from the apartment. The streets of New York felt different today more alive, more electric. Maybe it was the anticipation of seeing Ethan’s smiling face.
The moment she arrived, Ethan came running out, his small backpack bouncing behind him. “Mommy!” he called, his arms stretched wide.
Tasha bent down and scooped him up into a hug, kissing his forehead. “Hey, sweetie! How was school today?”
Ethan grinned. “It was good! Miss Caroline gave us a story about a dragon, and I drew you a picture!”
Tasha smiled warmly as Ethan rummaged through his backpack, pulling out a crumpled drawing of a colorful dragon breathing fire. “That’s amazing, Ethan. I’ll put it on the fridge when we get home.”
Hand in hand, they began their walk back to the apartment. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows on the sidewalk as they strolled, talking about dragons, knights, and Ethan’s day at school. When they reached the apartment block, Tasha paused to chat with a fellow mother, Mrs. Carter, who lived nearby.
“Afternoon, Tasha,” Mrs. Carter said with a smile. “Ethan looks like he’s grown an inch since the last time I saw him!”
Tasha chuckled. “He’s growing way too fast for me to keep up.”
They exchanged a few more pleasantries when, suddenly, Tasha realized Ethan wasn’t at her side. Her eyes darted around, and she saw him a few feet away, his curious little feet taking him off the path. Before she could call out, he accidentally bumped into someone.
It was Venessa.
Ethan collided into her, and her phone slipped from her hand, clattering to the ground. Venessa’s face twisted with fury as she turned to the boy, grabbing his arm too tightly. “You little brat!” she hissed, her grip making Ethan wince.
Ethan’s eyes filled with tears, and he stammered, “I’m… I’m sorry…”
Tasha’s heart raced as she watched from a distance, frozen in shock. But then, something stirred within her protective, fierce.
At that moment, Daniel’s car was parked just a bit farther down the street. He had been finishing up a call when he noticed the commotion. His eyes widened as he recognized Venessa and the small figure she was gripping. His heart skipped a beat. Ethan?
Without thinking, Daniel quickly opened his car door and started walking briskly towards them, his pulse quickening with every step. The closer he got, the more intense the scene became. Venessa was still
Chapter Thirty Two
holding Ethan’s arm, and Daniel’s protective instincts
But before he could get there, he heard a voice that n
“Ethan? Ethan!” It was Tasha.
She appeared from around the corner, her voice filled seemed to freeze.
Chapter Thirty Three
Tasha didn’t hesitate. She rushed forward, her hands pulling Ethan away from Venessa’s tight grip. “Mom! *Ethan cried, his face streaked with tears, clinging to fier as if he was terrified of letting go.
Tasha’s heart pounded, her breath shallow with anger as she faced Venessa. “Get your hands off my son!* she snapped, her voice sharp and filled with protective fury.
Venessa blinked, clearly taken aback at first, but then a wicked smile spread across her lips. “Your son?” she echoed, her tone dripping with malice. Her eyes gleamed with amusement, as if she had found a weakness to exploit. “This bastard?”
Before Venessa could utter another vile word, Tasha’s hand flew across her face with a loud, resounding slap. The force of it caused Venessa to stagger back, her hand instinctively reaching for her reddened cheek, shock and humiliation in her eyes.
“You will pot speak about my child like that,” Tasha hissed, her voice low but filled with such intensity that it could cut through steel.
Without waiting for a response, Tasha turned her back on Venessa, pulling Ethan close to her side, her heart still hammering. Ethan sobbed softly, clinging to her, but Tasha’s focus was on getting him away from this mess.
Unknown to her, Daniel had been watching the entire scene unfold from a distance. His feet were rooted to the spot, a whirlwind of emotions flooding him shock, confusion, admiration, and something deeper, something he couldn’t quite name. Seeing Tasha in such a raw, protective moment shook him to his core.
This was not the Tasha he remembered. She was stronger, fiercer. And she had a son, a son who had just
called her “Mom.”
He hadn’t moved an inch, still processing the gravity of what had just happened. His mind spun as he tried to piece everything together, but the one undeniable truth that hit him hardest was that Ethan… was
her son.
He had known Tasha for years known her well. But this, this woman he had just seen, was different. The fire in her eyes, the way she had fiercely defended Ethan… It was like seeing her in a new light, one that made his chest tighten.
Daniel blinked, replaying the moment in his mind, the way Ethan had cried out for her, how Tasha had pulled him away from Venessa like a lioness protecting her cub. He remembered Tasha from their time in New York, and there had been no mention of a child. No signs, no clues. But now…
How long has she moved on and had a son?
His heart pounded as questions flooded his mind, questions he didn’t have answers to. And the timeline didn’t make sense. He calculated quickly, Ethan couldn’t have been more than Five years old. Could he have been born right around the time they…?
The thought hit Daniel hard in the gut, making him draw in a shaky breath. Could Ethan be…?
He shut his eyes for a moment, the implications almost too overwhelming to consider. If Ethan was his son… The idea shook him to his core, a mix of confusion, hope, and fear swirling inside him. He hadn’t planned on this. He had kept his distance from Tasha for so long, convincing himself it was for the best.
But now?
