Chapter 21: Sawdust and Silver Prints

The satisfaction level in this chapter is off the charts! 🪵✨Watching Ethan walk into that engineering workshop expecting to dominate the room, only to hit a absolute wall of total indifference from Ava? PURE POETIC JUSTICE. He really tried to pull the "you need someone who knows how to network" card, only for Ava to shut him down with complete, unbothered grace. The way she didn't even raise her voice—just spoke with the absolute finality of a closed book—showed how completely she’s taken her power back.And can we talk about Liam? Custom biscuit-jointed walnut frames, turning down Ethan’s capstone bluster with an icy warning, and reminding Ava that nothing in that lab is more important than her art standing tall? That hand-holding under the harsh workshop lights said everything Ethan spent four years failing to understand. 🥹❤️Now that the air is completely clear and the frames are being sanded, Ava is ready to take Gallery Hall B by storm!