Anna POVI watched the woman on the television set in front of me. She talked about things that felt too familiar. Things that had been happening to me for the past few months.I didn’t blink.I didn’t move.I just sat there, listening, thinking, lost.“Your eyes have been glued to that screen!”Sandra’s voice echoed through the living room like a pop of reality.I turned around quickly. Her sudden voice pulled me out of my head.A small smile found its way to my face.“What’s up?” My voice was calm, maybe too calm.Sandra raised a brow. “That’s what I should be asking you. You good?”I nodded.Lie.She knew it. But she didn’t push.Instead, she walked over and sat beside me, pulling her feet up on the couch.“I brought you something.”She reached into her bag and brought out a notepad with a golden pen clipped to it.“What’s this?” I asked, my eyes lighting up a little.“Our new ideas,” she grinned. “We’ve got three orders from high-end clients after the show. We can’t just chill now
Anna POVOne Month After the Fashion ShowI sat at the top floor of our newly leased studio in the heart of the city—tall glass windows overlooking flashing lights and golden buildings. My hand trembled slightly, holding a cup of green tea, but not because I was nervous. It was disbelief. The numbers were there. The emails. The contracts. It was real.We had officially been offered over one million dollars in combined deals. From luxury department stores to international fashion chains. Anna Designs was not just a dream anymore—it was a name.Sandra walked in, holding a red folder. Her heels clicked softly against the polished floors."You ready for the final numbers?" she asked, grinning.I smiled back, still a bit in awe. "Are they bigger than yesterday?"She laughed. "Five percent more. Girl, we’re not just growing—we’re flying."I leaned back, blinking up at the ceiling. “Do you remember when I showed up here? With nothing but two suitcases and a stolen dream?”Sandra sat across f
Anna POV – Three Months LaterI couldn’t breathe for a moment. Not because of panic. But because of pride. This… this was real. It was finally happening. All what I planned for over the months was finally working.The lights dimmed and the runway music began. I stood backstage with Sandra, watching as our first model walked out in one of our signature gowns—hand-sewn, bold, and elegant. The fabric shimmered under the spotlight, the slit gliding as she strutted confidently like she was born for that moment.Sandra squeezed my hand. “You’re not dreaming.”“I feel like I am,” I whispered, my chest heavy with emotions. A drop of tears streamed down my chick.Just few months ago, I ran. No plan. Just instinct and desperation. I left everything behind—Max, Hae-Jae, my job, my reputation… even my name, in some ways. Now I stood here, in a new city, hosting a fashion show I thought I’d only ever see in dreams.“Look,” Sandra nudged me, “that’s Renee Dior… front row.”My eyes followed her fing
Anna POVThe city smelled different. When I mean different, it smelt better and Warmer. It sounded different too. People didn’t look at me like they knew my story. I liked that.“Come on, girl, smile a little,” Sandra said, bumping my shoulder as we walked down the street together. She had her sunglasses perched on her forehead and a large iced coffee in her hand.“I’m trying,” I muttered, tugging at the end of my sweater. “Everything still feels… new.”“That’s the point,” Sandra grinned. “New city, new life, new Anna. I like this version.”I chuckled lightly. “You barely even knew the old one.”“Exactly. And that’s the best part,” she said, throwing her arm around my shoulder. “We get to start clean. No past. Just future.”We walked into a cozy café that had become our spot. Quiet. Simple. Peaceful.“So,” Sandra said, stirring her drink, “You said you wanted to talk business.”“Yeah,” I said, finally meeting her eyes. “I want to start a fashion company.”She blinked at me. “Fashion?
Hae-Jae POVI slammed Max’s office door open. My chest rise with anger and rage that u couldn't control.He looked up, unfazed. “Oh. Look who finally decided to storm in.”“Where is she?” I barked with rage filled in my voice.“Who?” He leaned back in his chair like he didn’t know what I meant.“Anna.”Max smiled—mockingly as If I was saying some sought of rubbish and nonsense. “Did she run away from you again? Wow, must be something about you that’s not so loveable after all.”I gritted my teeth. “I’m not playing, Max. Where is she?”He stood slowly. “You think I know? She’s not my girlfriend. You had her under your thumb, not me.”“She’s gone!” I shouted. “Vanished! No phone calls. No texts. Nothing. You think this is a joke?”Max laughed bitterly. “You think she tells me where she’s going? Man, you messed her up more than I ever did.”“I swear—” I moved toward him.“What? Gonna punch me?” Max stepped forward. “Go ahead, Hae-Jae. Do it. You think I care anymore?”I lost it.My fist
Anna's POVI dragged my suitcase behind me, heart pounding like crazy. The train station was noisy, but in my head, it was quiet. Too quiet. Like something had died inside me.It probably had.I glanced at my phone.No new messages. No missed calls.Good.I switched it off.I was done.Done with Max.Done with Hae-Jae.Done with everything that looked like love but felt like pain.And I had three hundred thousand reasons to start fresh.The train ride was long. But I didn’t mind. I sat by the window, watching the trees blur past. My mind kept going back to that moment.Hae-Jae’s face when I resigned.“You’re quitting?” he asked, standing in front of my desk.“Yeah.”“Why now?”I didn’t answer at first. I just packed my things slowly.“You planned this?” he asked.I looked up. “You planned worse.”He blinked. “Anna—”“No. Don’t say my name like that. Like you care.”“I do.”“You gave me that job so I’d be near Max every day. You said it was a promotion. You lied.”“I was trying to—”“T