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BONUS
Chapter
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[EVE]
As I stepped into Hyun's studio, the soft glow of the afternoon sun filtered through the tall windows, casting a warm light over the chaos of his workspace.
Bolts of fabric were draped over chairs, sketches scattered across tables, and the faint hum of a sewing machine filled the air.
Hyun, perched amid the organized chaos, looked up from his work with a smile that could chase away the chill of any winter day.
"Eve, you're here," he said, his voice warm but tinged with exhaustion.
I placed a small box of brownies on the corner of his cluttered desk. "Of course. And I brought you so snacks. You look like you need them," I said, eyeing the dark circles under his eyes.
Hyun waved off my concern with a soft chuckle. "I'm fine, just a little lightheaded. Nothing new."
I frowned. "That's not fine, Hyun. I know we're on a tight schedule, but what's the point of hitting deadlines if our star designer ends up in the hospital?"
He laughed again, a gentle sound that didn't quite reach his tired eyes. "Don't worry about . I've been taking supplents."
I shook my head. "Supplents aren't enough. Have you seen yourself in the mirror? You've lost weight. Hyun, this isn't sustainable. Maybe we need to scale back the collection."
Hyun leaned back in his chair, an amused glint in his eyes. "Eve, you don't need to fret. I've already finished the winter collection."
"What?" My eyes widened in disbelief. "You've already finished it? That's incredible, but why do you still look so overworked? Don't tell you've taken on extra orders."
He shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. "No extra orders. You told to limit them to increase demand and exclusivity, rember? So, with no orders to fill, I moved on to the spring collection."
My mouth dropped open. "Spring? That's still three months away! You've already started?"
Hyun nodded, a faint blush coloring his pale cheeks. "I didn't have anything better to do. Designing keeps calm."
I crossed my arms and fixed him with a stern look. "If you have nothing better to do, then rest. You're burning yourself out."
Hyun reached out, his fingers brushing against my head in a gentle pat, his erald-green eyes locking with mine. They held a warmth that softened my irritation, but his words only made worry more.
"I'm fine, Eve," he said softly. "I'm just . . . grateful. Excited, even. I couldn't stop working if I tried. This is what I love, and not working makes anxious."
My chest tightened at his words, torn between admiration and frustration. "Hyun," I said with a sigh, "I'm getting you a nutritionist and a nurse. No argunts."
He chuckled, the sound light and teasing. "If it'll make you worry less, I'll eat more als and take longer naps. Deal?"
"It's not a deal. It's an order," I muttered, half to myself.
Hyun bead at , his tired face lighting up in a way that made my frustration lt. "While you're here, want to check out the spring collection? Or the winter one?"
"Both," I said, curiosity piqued.
He handed a folder containing the winter collection's designs. My fingers traced over the intricate sketches, each one more breathtaking than the last.
"There are only twenty pieces for n and won combined, yet you've created so much," I said, marveling at his artistry.
Hyun leaned forward, his expression proud but modest. "They won't all make it to the runway, but they'll be displayed in the store. It's important to showcase our vision, even if only a few pieces are chosen."
"That's a brilliant idea," I said, flipping through the pages with genuine awe.
Hyun's passion was infectious, his dedication unmatched. But as I admired his work, I couldn't shake the thought that his drive to create could be the very thing that broke him.
Enjoy new stories from empire
I vowed silently to do whatever it took to ensure he stayed healthy—not just for the collections, but for himself . . . and of course, for my investnt.
After reviewing my other investnts and wrapping up the day's business, I decided to call it a night. My apartnt beckoned—a quiet haven where I could organize my thoughts.
With Hyun's first runway show scheduled for the 20th and my upcoming trip to Germany looming after, there was no ti for loose ends.
For now, though, there was the Christmas party at school, then Hyun's show. Germany could wait.
As I stepped into my apartnt, a nagging sense of forgetting sothing flitted through my mind. Shrugging it off, I pushed the door open and froze in the doorway.
Cole.
He was in my kitchen, effortlessly stealing the air from my lungs, dressed in nothing but a tight white tank top that clung to his lean, sculpted torso and a pair of sweatpants slung low on his hips. His hair was damp, droplets clinging to his forehead and curling at the ends, evidence of a fresh shower.
The sight should've annoyed —he was always here, invading my space—but instead, it had my heart hamring in my chest.
"You're back," he said casually, glancing over his shoulder. The sound of his deep voice stirred sothing dangerous inside .
I opened my mouth to retort, but it was lost as my eyes betrayed , traveling of their own accord. From his wet hair, down the sharp angles of his jaw, to the subtle curve of his neck and shoulders, and finally landing on the defined lines of his abs.
"Like what you see?" he teased, a smirk tugging at his lips.
I snapped back to reality, cheeks burning. "What are you even wearing?" I demanded, trying to sound indignant but failing miserably. "It's like you're
asking
to look!"
His grin deepened, a wicked gleam lighting his eyes. "Good. Seems like seducing you with this outfit was the right choice."
My brain stalled. "Huh?"
Before I could step away, he moved toward with slow, deliberate strides, his presence overwhelming. In one smooth motion, his arms ca up, caging in against the door.
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