Aiden’s POV The last two days had been hell. Ever since I took Lara out that night… ever since I stood with her under the city lights, feeling her warmth against me, seeing the way her eyes searched mine — it had been impossible to breathe without thinking of her. She had no idea what she was doing to me. Or maybe she did. Maybe she felt it too, the way her gaze lingered just a little too long, the way her voice softened when she spoke to me. And tomorrow… Tomorrow, I was supposed to stand in front of a crowd, smile like I was the happiest man alive, and marry Elena. I couldn’t. I didn’t want to. For two days, I’d been searching for a way out — a way to stop the wedding without destroying my family’s reputation, without dragging Lara into the firestorm. But every path felt like a dead end. Every thought hurt. Every decision seemed impossible. And in the middle of it all, there was her. Always her. Before stepping into the bathroom tonight, I’d been sitting on the
Lara’s POV It had been two days since that night with Aiden. Two days since the city lights blurred into a silent confession neither of us dared to say out loud. After we got home that evening, I couldn’t sleep. I lay awake, replaying every detail — his eyes on me, his jacket draped over my shoulders, the way his voice softened when he said he was glad I was there with him. It wasn’t a dream. I knew it wasn’t. I could still feel the warmth of his hand when he held mine, as if it had branded me. The next morning, he acted… normal. Too normal. Breakfast was the same — coffee in his left hand, newspaper in his right, barely looking up except to ask if I wanted toast. Not a single word about the night before. Not a single hint that it had happened at all. And maybe that hurt more than if he’d just told me it meant nothing. I kept telling myself I should be grateful. We hadn’t crossed a line — not completely. But my heart didn’t care about the technicalities. My heart only kn
Elena’s POV I sat cross-legged on the edge of the bed, the letter still in my hand, the words Private Review Meeting looping in my head. My eyes drifted to the envelope again. Formal dress code. Seven o’clock. Salon Noir. It felt… important. Too important. The other girls had joked earlier in the lounge that their meetings weren’t until the end of the week. So why was mine less than twenty-four hours away? My gaze slid to my phone on the nightstand. That missed call from my father was still there, the voicemail sitting like a stone in my stomach. I picked it up and pressed play. His voice came through, low and controlled, the way it always was when he was masking frustration. > “Elena, it’s your father. I trust you’ve arrived… wherever you said you were going. I’ve already spoken to Aiden today, and he didn’t seem to know you were traveling. We will discuss that later. The wedding arrangements are in place. Your absence at this point could invite… unnecessary speculation
Elena’s POV I turned away from the window and unpacked slowly, methodically. Every piece of clothing was chosen to strike a balance between confidence and seduction. I needed to stand out. I needed to be unforgettable. Because I wasn’t here to play fair. I was here to win. I should’ve felt nervous. Maybe even a little scared. But all I felt was hunger—hunger to win. After freshening up, I lay on the plush bed and pulled out my phone. A missed call from my father. I didn’t open the voicemail. I couldn’t. Not yet. A few minutes later, a welcome letter was slid under my door. It had the official Luxe Vogue seal. I sat up straight and opened it carefully, reading every word like it was a sacred text. --- >>>>>> Dear Contestant, Welcome to the Luxe Vogue Paris Elite Casting Program. You are one of fifteen models selected worldwide to compete for the honor of becoming the new face of Luxe Vogue. Over the next twelve weeks, you will participate in a series of fashion shoot
Elena’s POV The sun had barely risen when I wheeled my suitcase to the front porch, the morning air cool against my skin. A quiet calm hung in the atmosphere, but my chest buzzed with a strange mix of anxiety and excitement. My phone buzzed. Jessica: Outside. Let’s go, queen. I didn’t reply. I didn’t need to. I took one last look at the house—my home, my father’s empire. I stepped into the black car Jessica had brought. She was in the backseat, still in pajamas, holding two iced coffees and a wide grin on her face. “Paris, bitch!” she cheered, handing me one. “I still can’t believe you’re doing this.” I smirked. “Believe it. I left a note too. Just in case.” She snorted. “You’re such a drama queen. But I love it.” The driver pulled away from the curb, and my heart gave a small, traitorous pang. No one came running out to stop me. No lights flicked on. Just silence behind me as we drove off into my future. I leaned my head against the window, watching the quiet stree
Elena’s POV I stood in front of the open suitcase, clothes scattered across the bed like the chaos inside my head. Silk dresses, designer heels, makeup kits — all of it piled in a rush, yet I paused every few minutes, wondering if I was forgetting something… or someone. Not that it mattered. I was going. The soft rustle of fabric was the only sound in my room, yet my heart thudded like a drum. My closet looked half-empty already, and I hadn’t even packed everything. Tomorrow. Just one more night, and everything would change. I pulled out my phone, scrolling through my chats. Aiden’s name sat there — no recent messages. Of course. He hadn’t even asked where I’d been all day. Typical. Distant. Cold. But soon, he’d be my husband, whether he liked it or not. This trip wouldn’t change that. It was just a pause — a small detour for something far greater. Luxe Vogue wasn’t just a job. It was my future. It was the career I deserved. The fame, the name, the life I craved. I