Because her services were both intimate and impeccable, her reputation was stellar, and her designs were uniquely luxurious with a classical touch of mystery, Mila had carved out a niche for herself among the elite circles over the years, thanks to her rare and exquisite embroidery skills.
However, due to time constraints, she hadn’t been able to showcase her work at larger international events. For now, her custom pieces were priced in the tens of thousands, rarely breaking into the six-figure range.
But now, with more time to devote entirely to her art and design, Mila anticipated that her growth would accelerate.
As she unlocked the door to her villa and stepped into the expansive foyer, Mila took in the sight of the walls adorned with oil paintings and ink drawings, mostly portraits. There were also numerous design drafts of unfinished garments.
The floor was cluttered with racks filled with various fabrics, half-finished outfits, mannequins, and other miscellaneous items.
For the upcoming weekend, she could immerse herself fully in her work here.
Upstairs, the second floor was dedicated to finished pieces, valuables, and portfolios. Mila headed straight upstairs.
As she opened a door and saw a mannequin draped in cloth, she couldn’t help but pause.
This suit…
Pulling aside the curtain, she revealed a black embroidered men’s suit. The suit cuffs were adorned with a unique gold and silver cloud motif, crafted using a dual-color embroidery technique—Lillian’s Studio’s signature mark.
Additionally, a silver-threaded crane with outstretched wings rested on the suit’s shoulder, with a precious red diamond in its beak, positioned right over the heart, shimmering elegantly under the light—a subtle yet opulent touch.
Seeing this suit made Mila’s heart ache.
This was a piece she had created for Lysander, painstakingly designing the drafts during sleepless nights, carefully selecting and cutting each piece of fabric, stitching each detail, and acquiring the rare red diamond through a gem broker. It had taken over three months to complete.
Originally, she planned to gift it to Lysander on their eighth wedding anniversary, but that plan was shattered by his betrayal.
As she looked at the suit and recalled the humiliating confrontation on the street the previous evening, Mila felt an overwhelming urge to shred the suit to pieces.
She held the scissors in her hand, but hesitated at the critical moment.
Harper seemed baffled, Sir, didn’t Mrs. Montgomery leave on a business trip a few days ago? She hasn’t returned yet.
A business trip?
Hadn’t she already returned? He had seen her just last night.
However, he brushed it off, assuming Mila had nowhere else to go.
He recalled that before their marriage, Mila had a falling out with her family and hadn’t been in contact since. In Kingsford, she only had a few friends and no other place to call home.
This was the only place she could return to—where else could she possibly go?
Lysander inquired about Adrian at the old manor and then left.
He had come back to pick up Adrian, as he had promised to spend the weekend with him and Giselle.