Chapter 18 

Ever since breaking free from Milo, Eliana had built an entirely new life in LA. 

The moment she stepped off the plane at LAX, Darcy and the whole team were waiting for her. When they talked about their vision, then with passion, reminding Eliana of who she’d been before she’d lost herself in a marriage that never valued her, if i hadn’t been for Mito, the have taken this leap years ago. 

They grabbed dinner together, then immediately dove into work. Building a fashion studio from scratch meant handling everything personally–routing locations in West Hollywood, overseeing renovations, registering the business, hiring talent. Going from zero to something real wasn’t easy, but Eliana attacked every challenge with fierce determination. She didn’t have time to waste thinking about Milo anymore. 

After months of relentless work, the studio finally started coming together. 

When Darcy asked what to name it, Eliana thought for a moment and wrote down “Lumina Studios.” 

She wanted both her studio and her future to shine–to be luminous, brilliant, everything her old life had never allowed her to be. A beacon in the fashion world that represented rebirth and brilliance. 

Darcy loved it immediately. “Perfect. This is your rebirth, babe, Lumina it is.” 

With their small but dedicated team–Darcy handling operations, creative directors Maya and James bringing fresh perspectives–they launched into LA’s competitive fashion scene. 

The beginning was brutal. No major clients, established designers looking down on them, and during their worst stretch, they lived on takeout and pure determination. But this studio carried their dreams, and Eliana refused to give up no matter how tough it got. 

Their breakthrough came when they entered the Emerging Designers Showcase at LA Fashion Week. It was a huge risk–they’d invested everything into five pieces that represented Eliana’s vision: sustainable luxury with bold, architectural lines that celebrated women’s strength. 

The night of the show, Eliana watched from backstage as their models walked the runway. The collection was called “Phoenix–each piece telling the story of a woman rising from ashes, becoming more powerful than before. 

The audience response was electric. Fashion editors were taking notes, buyers were pulling out their phones, and by the end of the show, Lumina Studios had three major department stores wanting to place orders. 

“Holy shit, Eliana, we did it!” Maya screamed backstage as orders started flooding in. 

That showcase changed everything. Within weeks, they’d gone from struggling unknowns to the hottest new studio in LA. 

Six months later, they had their own showroom in the Arts District and were turning down clients. 

Then Nathan Johnson joined them. 

Eliana had discovered his work on Instagram–architectural jewelry that perfectly complemented her aesthetic vision. His pieces were like wearable sculptures, bold and beautiful. She’d reached out immediately, even though they could barely afford another team member. 

Nathan had heard about the buzz around Lumina and was intrigued by Eliana’s reputation as someone who was redefining sustainable fashion. When they met at a coffee shop in Venice, the creative chemistry was instant. 

“I want to create pieces that make women feel invincible,” he’d told her, his eyes intense with passion. 

“That’s exactly what we’re doing here,” Eliana had replied, and she’d known he was meant to be part of their team. 

Now, a year later, they were celebrating another major milestone. 

“To completing our biggest contract yet–the Sunset Boulevard boutique chain!” Eliana raised her champagne glass, her face glowing with pride and accomplishment. 

“Cheers! Eliana, you’re absolutely killing it!” James whooped. 

“Girl, you’ve turned us all into millionaires!” Maya laughed. 

“Don’t forget Nathan’s jewelry line–those pieces are flying off the racks!” added Sarah, their newest intern. 

15:20 

Sorry Captain Milo, Our Love Score Has Hit Zero 

Everyone dlinked glasses at Nathan smiled modestly, though his eyes wayed Hixed on Ellans. 

Vit all because of Ellans’s vision. She saw what this could become when the rest of us were still dreaming small.. 

Eliana felt herself blushing under his intense gaze. Nathan had been nothing but professional, but lately, she’d caught him looking at her maa something precious. She quickly turned to chat with Maya, her heart doing weird fluttery things she wasn’t ready to analyze 

The contrast with her old life was stark. Back then, she’d made herself small, invisible, grateful for scraps of attention. Now she was the creative director of a thriving studio, respected in her field, financially independent, and surrounded by people who valued her talent. 

She’d built this. Created something beautiful and successful with her own hands. 

Looking around at her team–her chosen family–Eliana felt a profound sense of belonging. 

This was who she really was. This was her true self.