She Turned Her Grief Into Wings novel Chapter 50

“Shera, are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” She let Zena in, turned back to the stove, and poured a bowl of soup, setting it on the table. “Eat something. It’s going to be a crazy day.”

Noticing the unnatural flush on Shera’s cheeks and hearing the scratchiness in her voice, Zena asked, “Shera, are you sick?”

“It’s nothing. Just a little bug.”

A fever was nothing. Even if it was raining knives, she was going to that venue today.

“Is everything packed and ready?”

Zena nodded. “All organized. Not a single thing is missing.”

Despite being in a complete daze last night, Shera had meticulously gathered all the necessary materials and handed everything over to Zena to pack.

Zena slowly stirred her soup, still looking concerned. “Are you sure you’re okay? You really look like you’ve got a fever.”

Shera sniffled, her voice thick. “I’m fine. I know my limits.”

Knowing she couldn't win the argument, Zena quietly dropped it.

Shera changed her clothes, applied some light makeup to hide how pale she looked, grabbed the garment bags, and headed out the door.

The competition was being held at the Aurelia Apparel Association Exhibition Hall.

The semi-finals required contestants to present the physical garments constructed from their preliminary sketches. The pieces would be worn by models, and the designers had to present their concepts live to the judges.

By the time they arrived, backstage was already absolute chaos.

Models were rushing through quick-changes, and staff members were shouting, double-checking the run-of-show against their clipboards.

Leah Hayes, a senior staff member from the studio, had arrived early. Seeing them walk in, she immediately hurried over.

“How’s it looking?” Shera asked.

Leah was incredibly reliable, which was why Shera had sent her ahead to manage the logistics.

“Everything is running smoothly. The model is here and is currently in hair and makeup.”

Caden tapped his fingers rhythmically against his thigh, his eyes dark and brooding as he lost himself in thought.

Helga studied his expression. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was very off about him today. He hadn't even bothered acknowledging what she said.

He had been wearing that same stone-cold expression since she saw him this morning. He hadn't spoken a single word the entire car ride, aside from one brief work instruction he gave to Aiken.

According to the secretaries in the executive office, he had exploded yesterday. Aiken had looked visibly shaken leaving the office, and had explicitly warned the staff not to breathe anywhere near the CEO unless absolutely necessary.

To cause such a massive emotional swing... it definitely wasn't about work, and it definitely wasn't about the Hayes family. It had to be about Shera.

Were they fighting again?

Over the divorce?

Helga stared at his profile, her mind racing with calculated guesses.

Suddenly, a silhouette appeared at the side entrance. The man walked over, exchanged a brief, polite greeting with Galen Croft at the judges' panel, and then headed straight for the backstage area.

Rhys Jewell?