Part 25
After a brief, peaceful honeymoon exploring the quiet coastal towns of the Amalfi Coast, Sofia and Ethan returned to London with a renewed energy.
Their business, Aura Design, was growing faster than they had ever anticipated, gaining a reputation for creating spaces that felt like a sanctuary.
They were forced to move into a larger studio office and hire their first two full-time design assistants to handle the workload.
Sofia managed the client consultations and interior styling, while Ethan handled the architectural blueprints and structural planning.
They were a flawless team, balancing each other's strengths perfectly both in business and in their marriage.
Back home, Alexander and I continued our monthly dinners, which had evolved into a comfortable, deeply valued friendship.
We no longer talked about the legal battles or the pain of our past divorce; we talked about our current projects, our health, and our pride in Sofia.
One evening, Alexander brought a folder of architectural plans to our dinner, placing it on the table with an excited grin.
"My development company is launching a new luxury eco-friendly residential project downtown," he explained.
"I want to pitch a collaboration to Aura Design to handle the interior concepts for the entire complex."
I looked at him, surprised and deeply touched by his desire to support our daughter's professional growth on a global scale.
"That would be an incredible milestone for them, Alexander," I said, looking over the impressive blueprints.
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"But you know Sofia—she won't accept it if she thinks it's a handout. You have to let her win the contract fairly."
Alexander laughed, nodding in agreement. "Oh, I know. I'm inviting three other firms to pitch, but I have no doubt she will blow them away."
