At Alexis's atelier, during this second fitting for her gown, Lillian found her excitement had dimmed. Despite the undeniable beauty of the haute couture dresses, they felt distant to her—like they were behind a pane of glass, out of reach.
'Maybe it is my frustration with Claude?' She wasn't entirely sure.
Alexis seemed to pick up on her mood, offering a light chuckle and a shake of his head. "This won't do. Without enough enthusiasm, how can you choose the perfect gown?"
"You're right, but..." Lillian shrugged, still unable to muster much excitement.
"Maybe I'm just tired."
Of course, that was just an excuse. Earlier, at Valentino, everything had followed the same routine as always: picking out an evening gown, preparing for yet another event. But now, things felt different.
She wa
