[EVE]
I woke up not to the jarring sound of my alarm, but to sothing thick and sticky being licked onto my face.
Groggily, I cracked open an eye to see Sebastian's big, cheerful face hovering over , tail wagging in his typical, happy way.
"Mm . . . what? It's the weekend," I mumbled, pulling the covers up in protest. "Why are you waking up this early?"
Sebastian was unbothered by my groggy state, and nudged his nose against the alarm clock on my nightstand, as if he were trying to point sothing out.
"What? Are you hungry?" I yawned, peeking at the clock. "It's only ten in the morning, Sebastian. Can't you let sleep until eleven? It's the weekends"
Just as I started to close my eyes again, a sudden thought jolted awake.
The
auction
!
"Oh shoot!" I scrambled out of bed, grabbing the alarm clock and staring at the ti. "The auction's at one!"
And here I was, still half-asleep. With the travel ti, getting ready would take at least two hours. I groaned, glancing at Sebastian as he wagged his tail and barked as if agreeing.
"Sebastian, why didn't you wake up sooner?" I huffed, mock-accusingly. He tilted his head, then nosed his empty food bowl.
"Oh, right. You're probably starving," I said, feeling a pang of guilt.
If Sinclair found out I'd been late feeding his beloved dog, I'd probably won't hear the end of it.
"Let's just keep this little detail to ourselves, alright?" I muttered as I filled up Sebastian's bowl. He barked cheerfully, wagging his tail as if nodding in agreent.
Sotis, I swear this dog understands every word I say.
As he dug into his food, I dashed into the shower, determined to get ready as fast as possible. My usual leisurely morning routine was out the window; there was no ti to waste.
After a quick rinse, I scanned my wardrobe for a decent dress, but I quickly realized the glaring problem: I didn't have anything suitable for an event like this.
Most of my fancier dresses had been left behind — those that Sullivan and Sophia had bought were at their estate, and the ones Victor and Sinclair got were still at Sinclair's mansion.
I sighed, kicking myself for not planning ahead. I should've brought sothing suitable with , but in my excitent to be alone at my condo these weekend, the auction had totally slipped my mind.
Updating my wardrobe wasn't exactly high on my priority list right now, so there wasn't a single decent dress in sight.
Just as I was about to give up, and opted for what I have at the mont, I had a sudden idea.
"Hyun!" I said aloud.
Of course! Hyun's studio was nearby, and though it hadn't officially launched yet, he might have a dress or two already made for display.
Desperate tis call for creative solutions.
Hyun's studio was just a short drive from my condo, so I could swing by and grab a dress after finishing my makeup here.
I glanced at Sebastian, who had finished eating and was now sprawled out comfortably on the floor.
"Are you coming with to the auction, or staying here to enjoy so peace and quiet?" I asked him, half-joking.
Sebastian gave a big yawn, stretching out as if settling in for a cozy day at ho.
"I'll take that as a '
stay
,'" I laughed, making sure he had enough food and a few treats scattered around his area.
With caras set up around the house, I could check in on him now and then to make sure he was alright. Enjoy new adventures from empire
Satisfied that he was fine, I finished my make up, and dashed out the door to see if Hyun had the miracle dress I needed.
A few minutes' drive, and I was at Hyun's studio. The place was still buzzing with the energy of setup and finishing touches, but even in its early stages, it was already impressive.
The lobby was decorated in soft pastels—pinks and purples with elegant gold and black accents—setting a sophisticated yet playful tone.
The fitting and display area was a crisp, clean white, with color brought in only by the dresses carefully displayed.
I didn't need anything extravagant, just sothing that had that perfect mix of elegance and simplicity.
"Eve?" Hyun's voice broke my train of thought.
I turned, and there he was—though he looked almost like a different person. He was taller now, standing straight instead of his usual slouch, and his hair was freshly styled, dyed in a way that brought out his features.
Gone was the shy, boyish look I rembered; now he looked confident, with a playful, charming edge.
"Hyun?" I blinked, barely recognizing him. "Wow . . . I almost didn't recognize you! You look incredible!"
Hyun's cheeks tinted slightly as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Ah, well, Genevieve's been on my case about standing up straight, skincare routines, the works. I figured I should get serious with the opening coming up. I don't want to make you look bad."
I laughed, patting his shoulder. "You're doing great, honestly. You're going to impress everyone, trust ."
His eyes sparkled with excitent, and he flashed a beaming smile. "I won't let you down!"
Ah . . . my heart is healed . . .
"By the way, have you had breakfast yet? I don't have much, but I can grab sothing for you if you're hungry."
"Oh! Actually, I'm here because I need a dress. Just sothing simple and elegant—do you happen to have anything I could borrow? A spare maybe?"
Hyun chuckled and shook his head. "Borrow? Spare? Eve, co with ."
Without another word, he led further into the studio, where seamstress were busy creating and adjusting different clothes.
Dresses at all stages of completion filled the room, but one piece at the center imdiately caught my eye. It was stunning.
"Oh, wow . . ." I could barely breathe at the sight.
Hyun took my hand gently. "I designed this with you in mind, Eve. I hope that's alright."
I stared at him, my heart warming. "Hyun, it's beautiful! It's exactly what I need—can I burrow it?"
He raised my hand to his lips in a quiet gesture, making freeze, feeling my pulse quicken. "It's yours."
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