LOGINThe first night in the holding cell was pure torment.I couldn't sleep soundly because there was no mattress, no blanket, nothing remotely comfortable to lean on.And this concrete wall kept echoing every sound, bouncing it back in a terrifying resonance.Ugh. Even my own breath was loud enough to disturb me.I sat huddled in the corner, hugging my knees, trying to warm my trembling body.Even in my home world, I had better situations than this prison cell, though I used to think being away from my parents and struggling to survive as a runaway was bad enough.Worse still, I had no idea how to defend myself. My phone was confiscated, which meant my live stream was cut off.Again…Nadira wins again. And Julian, who ceaselessly took her side. Or... could this be part of their plan?Damn them!Julian really seems to be my hater.The cell door swung open, the grinding metal sound deafening. I instantly sat up, my eyes alert on the figure of an officer who entered with a food tray. Huh, if
While Nadira looked at Julian with dramatic sadness, "Julian... I do not want to trouble you with our sisterly problems.""What is going on?" Julian asked.Nadira pointed at me, "Helena stole the bracelet that grandpa gave me. You know I always wear it, right?"Julian approached, his cold face suddenly turning into a confused expression, then he hissed in pain again before finally lifting Nadira up."I am scared, Julian," Nadira said, hugging Julian tightly. Then Nadira looked at me with an evil look and a sneer.Julian's eyes shifted from the bracelet in the pouch on my desk, then to me."I did not take it," I replied flatly. "I have video evidence, and I will request the security footage to prove I never went near her makeup desk.""She is lying!" Nadira clutched Julian's arm. "Please, you have to believe me! That bracelet means so much to me!"'Tch! A cheap trick... Julian will definitely defend me,' I thought confidently.Julian gently pulled his hand away. "Then you will not mind
After Jien finished my makeup, Lily helped me put on an apron. "You are absolutely perfect, Miss Helena," she praised me."Oh, you flatterer," I said, pulling out three one hundred dollar bills.Lily gasped in surprise. "You are not joking, are you, Miss?""I love compliments!" Ah, my narcissistic side was showing. "Beware, if you compliment me again, I will give you an apartment in downtown Amsterdam!" I warned her.Lily then guided me to the shooting location, which had been transformed into a large kitchen occupying the center of the yard, complete with professional cooking equipment and various camera angles."Today's shoot is for the cooking competition show," Lily explained. "You will be paired with another contestant because the director wants natural compatibility, so your chemistry needs to be tested in this photoshoot session."I heard Lily's instructions but my stomach churned when I saw Nadira among the contestants, her characteristic mocking laugh sharp and calculating as
I meditated briefly at 11 PM, trying to focus and find the peace I desperately needed. But the leaked article about my private meeting with Julian kept spinning through my mind, shattering my concentration and sending me spiraling into speculation.Did the culprit have a personal grudge against me? Was it Nadira? But did she still have enough power to control her people? I had worked with Grandfather to protect myself, but I never asked for Nadira to be removed. She only needed to see me as her rival. I just never expected Nadira would go this far.Or worse, what if Julian himself was behind this? After all, he was the one who invited me to meet. His lingering gaze near me was what the stalker photographed. Damn it!I had barely begun enjoying a sliver of fame, praised by fans for my comeback, but now every video I recently uploaded was flooded with vicious comments: "You can't get attention by relying on Julian. We know you two were together once, but face reality. Nadira is Julian's
Atrium Café sat atop Meridian Tower, surrounded by glass walls that created the illusion of dining among the clouds. I arrived precisely at 2:00 PM, wearing an ivory silk dress that was feminine and elegant enough. Julian was already there, standing by the glass wall overlooking the cityscape. He turned as I arrived, shaking my hand with professional formality that reminded me of our kiss. This time without kissing my fingers. "Helena," he greeted. "Thank you for coming." I smiled, taking the seat across from him and crossing my legs slowly. His eyes followed the movement before returning to mine. "About our chat, it might have disturbed you." "Not at all. I'm not that busy." I gave him a thin smile, showing I was no longer the lowly person I once was. "Good to know. I wasn't sure you'd respond, considering our last meeting was quite heated." That kiss. He was referring to the kiss that happened during my desperate moment. I admitted it was reckless, done when I thought Julia
"Sit," Pandu commanded.I took the chair across his desk, maintaining the ramrod-straight posture that was a prerequisite for being inside this 'house.'Pandu finally looked up, his face retaining its powerful authority despite his age. "You've certainly kicked up quite the dust storm," he said.I offered a slight smile. "I was merely attempting to step out of my comfort zone," I replied.He returned the smile. "And when exactly did this 'awareness' strike you? I feel like I foamed at the mouth trying to forbid you from marrying Oscar a few months ago.""Humans are not meant to be stagnant, Grandfather. Consider me Helena 2.0. I’ve realized the Turi family was right, and the Padip family is profoundly irrational."Grandfather chuckled. "You always manage to make me feel ten years younger." After the laughter subsided, he asked, "And how is the previous version of Helena?"I scratched the back of my neck. "That was just a moment of self-deprecating madness yesterday.""Come here, Helena







