The final judging session for the Global Destination Design Awards was livestreamed.
I wore a white suit.
Before I took the stage, Xavier pinned a carved wooden brooch to my lapel.
"It's made from one of the pieces of timber your father left behind. I commissioned a woodworker to carve and finish it for you."
I ran my thumb over the miniature joinery carved into the brooch, and my eyes stung.
"Thank you."
He looked at me.
"Zoey, today isn't about proving that you're good enough for anyone. It's about showing them that you've earned your place here through your own work."
My final proposal was titled Haven.
It was no longer merely a design for a destination wedding venue.
It had evolved into a mixed-use destination development that combined timber construction, sensitive hillside
