“Ashley Fortisiano made it clear that The Empress Line would never compromise on quality. That commitment stood firm even amid rumors of raw material shortages caused by fierce competition.”

On the cheap restaurant TV, Ashley appeared elegant, dressed in chic workwear—modest yet undeniably luxurious.

She answered reporters’ questions calmly, her aura worlds apart from Ashley who had once hurled lingerie at Joy’s face just weeks earlier.

Joy, eating in that dingy restaurant, ...