Just as she stepped back into her bedroom, her phone rang. She picked it up and smiled when she saw the name flashing on the screen.
"Becca," she answered.
"Hey girl!!!" Becca's voice came alive, full of energy. "Guess what? It's the owner of Velvet Eden's birthday today. She's coming over to the club herself!"
Isabella chuckled softly, leaning against the table. "Velvet Eden, huh? Why does she hide herself so much? She owns the place."
"She doesn't hide," Becca replied quickly. "She just… trusts her workers to keep things running. She made that club for us—for every lesbian who needed a place to breathe. She doesn't feel the need to parade herself."
Isabella smiled faintly, her tone soft. "Yeah… and we do appreciate that." She glanced toward the little shrine-room door. "I'll try to come over tonight."
Her chest tightened as she remembered—it was Ava's birthday too. Every year, no matter where she was, she found a way to celebrate quietly. Sometimes with a cake, sometimes with flowers, sometimes just sitting by the shrine and talking to her in the silence of the night. Even if Ava wasn't there, Isabella never let the day pass unnoticed.
"Do more than try," Becca teased. "This lady is beautiful."
Isabella rolled her eyes, smirking. "Don't tell me you're falling for her already."
"Who wouldn't?" Becca said dramatically. "I've only seen her once, and I can't get her out of my head. She's a doctor too, can you believe that? I swear, I keep wishing to fall sick just so she can treat me."
The two of them burst out laughing. Becca's laughter was contagious, bubbling through the phone until Isabella chest felt lighter.
For the first time that day, Isabella felt alive again—not weighed down by memories, not chained by her parents' rules. Tonight, maybe things could be different.
Velvet Eden's entrance glowed with soft golden lights, the kind that made the place feel exclusive and untouchable. Expensive cars lined the curb, their engines still warm, and women in elegant suits and glittering gowns disappeared inside through the velvet-draped doors. The air smelled faintly of perfume, leather, and city night.
Isabella's sleek black car pulled up smoothly. She stepped out, tall and striking, dressed in a fitted dark blazer over a crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled neatly to her forearms. Her tailored trousers and polished leather boots gave her a sharp edge, her dreads tied back in its usual tomboyish style. She carried herself with quiet confidence, though her eyes betrayed the storm of thoughts within her.
Before she could adjust her jacket, a familiar voice squealed.
"Bestie!" Becca practically bounced over from the entrance. Her eyes sparkled as she grabbed Isabella's arm. "Did you see her? Did you see her?"
Isabella blinked, puzzled. "Who?"
"Lily! The Lily. The owner of Eden. She just got down from her car and walked in." Becca pressed a hand to her chest like she was trying to stop her heart from leaping out.
Isabella's brows furrowed slightly, uninterested. "I didn't pay attention."
Becca groaned dramatically. "God, Bella, how could you not notice her? She's… she's like—" She waved her arms helplessly, searching for words. "She's perfection walking."
Isabella smirked faintly, tucking her hands into her pockets. "If you say so."
Becca leaned closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially. "I swear, I'm so in love with her. But rumor has it, she usually walks with one Tomboy. Maybe they're dating."
Isabella tilted her head, eyes narrowing slightly but keeping her cool tone. "So? Why don't you just approach her yourself? Is it that hard?"
Becca gasped and slapped her arm lightly. "Are you insane? Me? If she even looked at me, I'd melt on the spot."
Isabella chuckled, shaking her head. "You're being ridiculous."
"No, I'm serious!" Becca fanned herself dramatically, eyes wide and dreamy. "If she just… spoke to me, I think I'd collapse."
That broke both of them into laughter, their voices carrying against the hum of the city night. For a moment, Isabella forgot the strange weight in her chest, forgot the shrine at home, forgot the loneliness she carried.
Becca tugged at her arm, grinning from ear to ear. "Come on, let's go inside before I actually faint out here."
As Isabella stepped toward the glowing entrance of Velvet Eden, she couldn't shake the odd flutter in her chest. She brushed it off as just the thrill of the night—but deep down, she kept thinking of Ava.
The music inside Velvet Eden pulsed with life, not loud and chaotic, but rhythmic and intoxicating—like a heartbeat that bound every soul in the room together. The air was laced with perfume, laughter, and the faint scent of wine and cigars. Lights shifted in hues of crimson and violet, bathing the crowd in a soft glow that made the space feel surreal, like stepping into a dream where time was suspended.
Velvet couches lined the walls, women leaning close together in whispered conversations, their laughter tumbling freely. At the bar, bottles glimmered like jewels while bartenders mixed cocktails with practiced flair. It wasn't just a club—it was a sanctuary. Here, no one had to pretend, no one had to hide.
At a table near the center, Isabella sat with Becca, She looked confident, commanding—yet her eyes carried a quiet searching, an ache that had never left her.
Becca leaned in, sipping her martini. "Bestie, you're too stiff. Relax, it's a party. Look around—tonight Velvet Eden is heaven itself."
Isabella gave her a faint smile, her gaze drifting across the room. She didn't know why her chest felt heavy, like something important was about to happen.
The music slowed. Suddenly, the spotlight shifted to the stage. A woman stepped out first—tall, broad-shouldered, dressed sharp in suspenders and black trousers. Julia. The club's MC and Lily's friend. Her voice was steady, playful, as she teased the crowd into cheers.
Then she grinned and spread her arms wide.
"Ladies, tonight is not just any night. Tonight we celebrate the queen of this haven—the woman whose vision gave us Eden. Please welcome… Lily!"
The crowd erupted.
And then she appeared.
Ava.
She moved onto the stage with the kind of grace that silenced chaos. Her dress shimmered under the lights, midnight silk clinging and flowing as she walked. Every step was poised, deliberate. Her hair cascaded around her shoulders like a river of fire under the lights, her smile radiant, her presence magnetic.
Isabella froze.
Her breath hitched, her heart thundered against her ribs. For a moment, she thought her mind was playing tricks on her. The glass of wine slipped from her hand, crashing softly against the floor, red liquid bleeding into the carpet.
Becca turned, startled, then laughed.
"I told you, bestie. Didn't I? Her beauty could catch even a priest's attention."
But Isabella didn't laugh. She couldn't. Her throat tightened, her palms trembled. She hadn't spoken of Ava in nine years, hadn't let her name pass her lips even in whispers to Becca. And now here she was, alive, radiant, standing a few feet away on that stage.
Lily hugged Julia, who kissed her cheek playfully. The crowd cheered. But Isabella's stomach knotted at the sight. That small touch twisted into something deeper—memories of moments they had once shared, a thousand nights when Ava's lips had pressed against hers.
And then Lily spoke.
"Family," her voice rang, warm and velvet, filling every corner of the room. "That's what I call each of you. Tonight isn't just my birthday—it's proof that we can create a home, a place where every woman is free to be exactly who she is. Velvet Eden was built for us—for those still in hiding, those afraid of their reflection, those who cannot yet love openly, and those who already live in their truth. This place belongs to every soul who has ever longed to breathe freely."
Her words were tender, each syllable wrapped in fire. But hidden within them was something more—a longing. She spoke as though she were reaching across time, as if her heart was still searching for someone.
Isabella's eyes blurred with tears. She tried to blink them away, to stay composed, but they betrayed her, slipping down her cheeks. Because she knew. She knew every word was for her. Every sentence was Ava's heart still speaking to hers across the chasm of years.
"Here," Lily's voice trembled just slightly, "you don't have to be afraid to love who you love."
The room erupted in applause, cheers, whistles.
And then, over the noise, Becca cupped her hands and screamed at the top of her lungs:
"WE LOVE YOU, LILY!!!"
The spotlight swept toward her. The crowd's cheers intensified.
And that was when Ava's eyes landed on Isabella.
The smile faltered, just for a heartbeat. Her chest rose sharply. Her lips parted, but no sound came out.
Nine years collapsed in an instant.
In that frozen moment, surrounded by laughter, music, and light, the world shrank until it was only them—Ava on the stage, Isabella in the crowd. Two souls who had once belonged to each other, now colliding again as though fate had planned this very night.