Chapter 7 - A Brand New Foundation
Six months after the trial ended, my life had completely transformed.
Using the financial settlement from the divorce, I sold the massive, cold Westchester estate that held so many painful memories of Victoria’s interference. With the proceeds, I bought a beautiful, light-filled three-bedroom home in a quiet neighborhood near Park Slope, Brooklyn, featuring a private backyard with a sprawling oak tree where Arya could play safely.
I also restarted my career. Before marrying Logan, I had been an interior designer with a sharp eye for modern, functional spaces, a career I had set aside when Victoria insisted that "Carile wives do not work hourly jobs."
I launched my own design firm, naming it Aura Design Co. My story—and the publicity surrounding the high-profile court case—had drawn a surprising amount of support from women across the city. Within months, I had secured three major residential projects in Manhattan and Brooklyn.
One afternoon, I was at a high-end architectural supply showroom in Soho, browsing material samples for a brownstone renovation project.
"Excuse me, do you know if this white oak veneer is available in a matte finish?" a warm, deep voice asked from behind me.
I turned around to find a tall man in his late thirties with dark hair, warm amber eyes, and a friendly, relaxed smile. He was dressed in a casual charcoal blazer and held a set of architectural blueprints under his arm.
"It is," I said, offering a professional smile. "But if you're using it for high-traffic cabinetry, I’d recommend the satin polyurethane seal instead. The matte tends to show oil marks over time."
The man looked at me, visibly impressed. "That... is actually extremely helpful. I was about to make a very expensive mistake for a client." He extended his hand. "I’m Julian Vance."
I shook his hand. "Skyler."
"Wait—Skyler?" Julian smiled warmly. "Are you Eleanor Vance's client? The designer who just launched Aura?"
I blinked in surprise. "You know Eleanor?"
Julian laughed gently. "She’s my aunt. She’s been raving about you for months—not just about your resilience, but about your design concept for the Loft Project on 23rd Street. She said you have the best eye for spatial balance she's seen in years."
"Eleanor is too kind," I said, feeling a genuine blush touch my cheeks for the first time in years.
"She wasn't exaggerating," Julian said, looking into my eyes with genuine interest. "I running an architectural firm downtown—Vance & Partners. We’re currently looking for a lead interior designer to collaborate on a new sustainable residential complex in Hudson Yards. Would you be open to getting a coffee and talking shop sometime?"
May you like
I looked at Julian. Unlike Logan, whose charm had always felt rehearsed and performative, Julian radiated a quiet, grounded confidence. There was no arrogance in his posture, no hidden motive in his smile.
"I’d like that, Julian," I said. "I’d like that very much."
