CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY SIX – LESS THAN STELLAR RESULTS

The Parisian afterglow, a bittersweet concoction of disappointment and relief, clung to Karina like a stubborn fog. Back in New York, she dove headfirst into the wreckage of the show's aftermath. Reviews, both positive and negative, flooded her inbox. Positive ones praised the resilience of the collection, the "unexpected twists" that added intrigue. Negative ones, however, couldn't ignore the obvious gaps, the lack of cohesion that left the audience wanting more. Karina, fueled by a potent mix of frustration and determination, fixated on the negative. She dissected every critique, replaying the show in her mind, searching for ways to improve, to perfect. Sleep became a luxury she couldn't afford, replaced by late nights hunched over her laptop, sketching new designs, brainstorming marketing strategies. John, ever patient, tried to pull her back from the brink. He'd leave gentle reminders about taking breaks, about the forgotten dinner reservations accumulating dust in their emai