Lilian POVI had barely left the office when everything around me seemed to fall apart. Each step I took was heavier than the last. The words I exchanged with Finn hammered in my mind incessantly, like an out-of-tune song that I couldn't silence. With each breath, the weight of guilt seemed to crush my chest, making each movement more painful. All I wanted at that moment was to disappear, to get away from everything.When I returned to the room, my eyes automatically searched for Jensen, as if his presence could bring me some kind of relief, but the truth was that not even he could save me from what I was feeling. He was there, casually leaning against one of the tables, seeming completely oblivious to the emotional hurricane that was hitting me. His face was calm, almost relaxed, as if what had just happened was just a small setback, an inconvenience of no real importance.“This guy has to stop hitting me. He’s so out of control,” Jensen murmured with a chuckle, shaking his head almo
Lilian POVI felt lost. Everything seemed to fall apart around me, and the weight of the conversation with Finn was still there, throbbing in the back of my mind. Sitting on the bathroom floor, my face still wet with tears, I wondered how things had gotten to this point. I should have been excited about the studio opening, the event I had dreamed of for so long, but all I could feel was a mixture of guilt and despair. I wanted to disappear, disappear for a while, and not have to deal with all this. The tightness in my chest didn't let me breathe properly.It was then that I heard a soft knock on the door. “Lilian? Open up, it’s me, April.” Her voice was calm, but full of concern. I knew she wouldn't leave until I opened the door, so I slowly got up and unlocked it.When April walked in, her eyes immediately met mine, full of concern and affection. Without saying a word, she hugged me. It was one of those hugs that only the closest friends know how to give, full of understanding, witho
Lilian POVI was completely stunned, my hands were shaking, and my heart was beating so fast that it seemed to want to come out of my chest. The words of that nasty article still echoed in my mind, reverberating like poison slowly spreading through every cell in my body. How could I, Lilian, be described as the "dishonest thief incapable of running a fashion business"? What had I done to deserve such cruelty? My dream, the one I had cultivated with so much care and effort, was crumbling before me because of a slander. I didn't know how to react. I didn't know whether to run, cry, or simply collapse on the floor. The day that was supposed to be a celebration was turning into a nightmare that I couldn't seem to wake up from. The studio, my refuge and symbol of months of hard work, sacrifices, and countless sleepless nights, was now shrouded in a dark cloud of public humiliation. The promises I made to myself that this would be one of the most special days of my life were shattered with
Lilian POVI felt my heart racing inside my chest, as if it were going to explode at any moment. Kate Nash was there, standing in front of me with that cynical smile and look of triumph. She didn't need to say anything. The mere fact of her presence at the event was enough to indicate that it had been her. The one responsible for destroying my reputation. Jensen's ex-lover, who I had never taken seriously, was now getting what she wanted: bringing me down.I took a deep breath, trying to find some semblance of calm to deal with the situation. But it was almost impossible. I knew that all my hard work, all my effort to design the opening of that exhibition, was threatened by a wave of past scandals that always seemed to come back to haunt me. That woman was managing, in front of everyone's eyes, to ruin everything."Were you, right?" The words escaped my mouth before I could control them. My voice was weak, filled with a mixture of anger and disbelief. "Were you the one who published t
Lilian POVI sank into the armchair in my studio, as if my body had been emptied of all energy. The space that once inspired me now felt suffocating and heavy, as if the walls were closing in on me. Everything I worked to build was in ruins, and why? Because the past, once again, had come back to haunt me, and this time with destructive force.Kate Nash, with that cruel, triumphant smile, had achieved exactly what she wanted—tarnishing my reputation and ending my dream of launching my new brand. The opening of ‘It’s Lilie’s’ was supposed to be a proud moment, the highlight of my career. But instead, it was a complete disaster. Rumors spread on the internet, poisonous articles, and lies manufactured to destroy everything I had built with so much effort. All because of that woman."Lilian, you need to stay calm," said my friend, who was sitting next to me, holding my hand firmly. "It's not the end of the world, we can turn things around. We can find new sponsors, redesign the strategy,
Lilian POVIt was Madam Christina. I couldn't believe it. The woman who was standing right there, in the hall of my studio, was nothing less than one of the biggest influences on the fashion world in our city, maybe even in the country. The kind of person who, with one word, could elevate a brand to luxury status or destroy it completely. For someone like her to come to the launch of a brand, it would normally be necessary to already be established in the market and have a huge influence. But here she was, at the launch of my brand, "It's Lilie's", something I thought was on the verge of collapse after the Kate debacle.I could barely process what was happening. The shock left me paralyzed for a moment, and I realized I was just standing there, mouth open, staring at her. The words escaped me, but I knew I needed to compose myself quickly. I swallowed hard and stood up, trying to maintain as much composure as possible."You are very welcome, Madame Christina," I managed to say, althou
Lilian POVThe opening of my studio was beyond any expectation. I could never have imagined that something that seemed destined for failure would turn into such a stunning and unforgettable night. Everything around me seemed magical, as if the universe had conspired so that, at the moment I needed it most, everything would shine as I had always dreamed.The environment was impeccable. The strategically positioned lights illuminated the corners of the studio, highlighting my creations hanging on delicate mannequins spread throughout the room. The pieces were displayed like works of art, and guests couldn't take their eyes off them. The colors, the fabrics, the carefully thought-out details—everything came together to create an elegant, sophisticated and, above all, inviting atmosphere. There was an air of expectation in the room, as if everyone was ready to be surprised.The smell of the flowers that decorated the tables mixed with the perfume of the guests. The arrangements were a com
Kate NashSitting on my luxurious leather sofa, with a glass of red wine in my hand, I watched the fiasco that was the launch of Lilian's clothing brand. The images on the TV screen showed flashes of the event, but I knew everything was falling apart. “If this woman thought she could compete with me, she was very mistaken”, I thought, taking a sip from the glass. “There’s no way she’s going to recover from this.”I invited some friends to celebrate Lilian's misfortune, and as soon as they entered, I started laughing sarcastically. “You won't believe what's happening to our dear Lilian! The failure of the time!” My friends surrounded me, their laughter and nasty comments filling the air. It was a true catharsis session. “She’ll never be able to do anything!” said one of them, adjusting her hair with an exaggerated movement. “The divorce was the icing on the cake for this woman!” The laughter was musical to my ears, each laugh was a symphony of Lilian's defeat.With each laugh, my ego