Chapter 25

Silvia I stared at Noah across the room, momentarily forgetting my nerves. My brother really smiled- not the forced politeness of recent days, but a sincere, warm smile that lit up his face. The pale blue shirt the nurse had helped him into complemented his complexion perfectly. As the stylist adjusted his collar and stepped back, our eyes met, and for that brief moment, the weight of today's significance lifted from my shoulders. It was 11 AM, and the preparation room buzzed with activity. Cream-colored decorations adorned every surface, creating a soft backdrop for the controlled chaos. My hair was only half-done, red-brown curls pinned in strategic places while the stylist fussed over volume and symmetry, occasionally muttering about "bounce" and "balance." Alex was sitting cross-legged in his armchair, scrolling through his phone. From time to time, he made comments like: "Don't be all about eyelash glitter! We want the classic moon goddess elegance, not the over-decorated look of