Chapter 37
Corine
That morning, I woke up with an odd blend of nerves and excitement buzzing in my chest. The sun slipped lazily through the cream curtains of my penthouse bedroom, catching on the gold detailing that had once made this place feel too big for just me and the kids. Now, it was filled with light... and laughter.
Astrid's tiny voice filtered in from the hallway, a babble of toddler syllables, followed by the light patter of her feet. I hadn't even made it to the mirror yet before I felt her climb onto the bed.
"Mamaaaaaa," she squealed, her curls bouncing, cheeks puffed like little apples. She was in one of Kyle's old shirts, dragging a pink beauty blender behind her like it was a stuffed animal.
I laughed, brushing the sleep from my eyes. "Astrid, you stole my blender again, didn't you?"
She giggled and smacked the sponge onto my cheek, completely unbothered by the fact that I wasn't even wearing foundation yet.
This had become our morning routine. Ever since Brittany and I started doing those "Get Ready With Me" videos-half wellness, half chaos-Astrid had decided she, too, was part of the brand.
Luxe Beauty had gone from a passion project to a best-selling line almost overnight. Every drop of serum, every lip tint, every moisturizer-it was mine. And now the world knew it. Our latest campaign had just hit Vogue's top ten, and the numbers were climbing faster than I could refresh my phone.
"You're going to be a CEO by the time you're five," I muttered into Astrid's curls, inhaling the warm vanilla scent of her baby lotion.
Kyle was already at school-thank God for Brittany, who had done the drop-off today-and I had a show to walk. My parents had to sleep in and since I was good on my own and decided to stay in NYC for a while. Louis Vuitton's Autumn Collection.
As Astrid babbled and climbed onto the vanity chair beside me, smearing a bit of highlighter across her chin, my phone buzzed. I reached for it absently.
Jasper: "Good luck today. You'll light up that runway. As always."
I bit my lip, a small, stupid smile tugging at the corners. My heart did that fluttering thing it had started doing recently-since Jasper began texting again. Nothing serious. Nothing deep. Just light, comforting little exchanges. A funny meme. A compliment. A late night, "You okay?"
Still... every time his name lit up my screen, I blushed like I was sixteen again.
And, of course, my mother noticed.
She walked in with a cup of coffee and raised a brow at my expression. "Jasper?"
I groaned. "Mom. Don't."
She chuckled, setting the mug down. "Just saying. A man who makes you smile like that without trying? Keep him around. Even if it's just for texting."
I rolled my eyes and stood, brushing mascara onto one eye while trying to keep Astrid from poking the other. "It's not like that. He's just... nice. Safe."
Her smile softened. "After everything, you deserve safe."
The rest of the morning passed in a blur of stylists, fittings, and makeup chairs. Brittany showed up backstage with her hair in a claw clip and iced coffee in both hands, as usual.
"Queen of glow," she smirked, handing me one.
"Queen of late," I replied, smirking back.
We posed for a quick selfie before heading out for our lineup. Everything about the show was crisp, refined, powerful. The LV team had outdone themselves. My look was bold-high-structured shoulders, a sharp cat-eye, and deep oxblood lips. I didn't even recognize myself in the mirror.
I looked like her. The Corine I used to be. The Corine I thought I lost.
As I walked down the runway, the lights blinding, the beat pulsing beneath my heels, I didn't think of the past. Not the betrayals. Not the silence. Not the months in a white room with nurses whispering behind closed doors.
I thought of Astrid giggling in my lap. Kyle's drawings taped to the fridge. Brittany sleeping over after our launch party, wine drunk and snoring into a throw pillow.
I was okay. I was healing.
But the moment I stepped into the post-show crowd and locked eyes with him-I forgot how to breathe.
Allen.
He stood toward the back, wearing that navy coat I gave him two Christmases ago. His eyes found mine like a magnet, and for a second, I felt the floor tilt. He didn't smile. Didn't wave. Just stared, like he wasn't sure I was real.
"What the hell?" Brittany whispered, appearing beside me. "Is that-?"
"Yeah," I choked out. "It's him."
I couldn't move. Couldn't think. Couldn't understand why he was there, in my city, at my show, looking at me like he hadn't shattered every soft part of me to pieces.
Before I could walk away-or scream, or cry, or crumble-Astrid came barreling out from the wings, Brittany's assistant chasing behind her.
"Mamaaaa!"
I scooped her into my arms, pressing a kiss to her warm forehead. My hands shook.
And then Allen started walking toward us.
Each step was heavy. Measured. Like he was afraid of scaring me off.
"Corine," he said, voice low, eyes flickering to Astrid. "She's... gotten so big. "
I held Astrid tighter, my jaw clenched. "What are you doing here?"
He swallowed, visibly trying to gather himself. "I saw the interview. And I thought it was good idea to stop by and see the kids, since I was also in New York ."
My heart stopped.
"I didn't come to ask for anything. I just... I wanted to see you. And the kids. I miss them."
I should've screamed. Should've told him to leave. But Astrid reached toward him with a little laugh, recognizing the man from old pictures and distant memories.
"Dada?" she said.
And just like that, the strength I'd built cracked a little at the edges.
Allen's eyes filled. He didn't reach for her-thank God-but his voice broke. "Hi, sweetheart."
Brittany hovered protectively by my side, one hand on my arm. I didn't say anything. I couldn't.
I just held my daughter and stared at the man I used to love, unsure of whether to let him in or build the walls higher.
"I'm staying at the Carlyle," he added quietly. "Just for a few days. I won't bother you."
Then, like he knew I couldn't take more, he turned and walked away.
And I stood there, with my baby in my arms and a heart full of ashes, wondering if healing meant letting go completely... or finding a way to forgive the ghosts who still lived in the quiet corners of my soul.