Five years earlier, when Jaycob finally joined the Mills family, he found himself fighting on two fronts at once. He was still pouring everything into his own startup while slowly stepping into responsibilities within the larger Mills Group. He had naively believed that coming back into the Mills family would automatically put him next in line. Instead, he walked into a ruthless arena where every decision was scrutinized, and a single misstep could destroy him.

His half-brother, Kristopher Mills, never let up. No matter how much Jaycob achieved, it always seemed to pale next to Kristopher's shadow. The constant pressure wore him down and quietly turned his frustration into resentment.

Day after day he came home to find Kendra quietly tending to the small details—preparing his meals, pressing his shirts, keeping the household running smoothly. She appeared content in that simple, domestic rhythm. And the longer he watched her, the more irritated he grew. Why couldn't she offer him more? Was this really the woman he was supposed to build an empire beside—someone whose only skills were in the kitchen and the laundry room?

Then Valerie stepped into the picture. She told him plainly that she could help him solidify his position in his family. She offered the full weight of her own influential background—every valuable connection, every resource—to strengthen his claim to succession.

After weighing it carefully, Jaycob announced his engagement to Valerie.

In his mind, the plan was simple. Once he married Valerie, he would keep Kendra around in a quieter capacity. As long as she stayed out of the way, he wouldn't mind providing for her financially, maybe even sparing her a little attention now and then.

Kendra had always been easy to satisfy, after all.

Back then, Kendra convinced herself he must have been forced into this arrangement. She worked tirelessly to win over Sharon Mills, his grandmother, which led to her becoming his wife.

And now she stood here, asking him why he had gotten engaged to Valerie.

Jaycob let out a soft, mocking sound. His voice sliced through the air like winter wind. "You actually think you can measure up to Valerie? She comes from a pedigree. She was raised with the finest education money can buy. She understands business inside and out. She has genuine talent—she can actually help me win the fight for control of the Mills empire. And you? What have you ever brought to the table? Nothing. For five years, you've been nothing more than a pretty face."

The words struck one after another, each one sharper than the last. Whatever faint spark of hope Kendra had carried finally flickered out.

And yet, strangely, in that same moment, she felt a quiet release.

She silently forgave the younger version of herself who had lived so small and so patiently for five long years. At last, she released her hold on the relationship.

So Jaycob truly did love Valerie—enough to have saved himself for her all this time.

She still couldn't quite grasp how someone could change so completely and so fast. But none of it mattered anymore.

"Alright," she said in a soft, even voice. "Tomorrow morning. Nine o'clock. Let's get divorced."

With that, she turned the wheelchair and rolled away.

Jaycob didn't lift his eyes from the tablet screen. "Fine," he said flatly.

The front door clicked shut behind Kendra.

......

Kendra left the villa and returned with Alexia to Alexia's modest downtown apartment.

"Sorry, it's nothing fancy," Alexia said with an apologetic shrug. "Business has been tough the last couple of years. This is the best I can do right now."

Kendra gave her a small, genuine smile. "I'm just thankful you're letting me stay. Really."

The guest room Alexia had prepared was small—barely big enough for a single bed and a narrow wardrobe.

After unpacking her suitcase, Kendra stood in the middle of the unfamiliar space and let out a long, slow breath. Ten years ago, she could never have pictured walking away from Jaycob like this.

A gentle knock sounded at the door.

She opened it to find Alexia standing there with two cold cans of beer in her hands. "Want one?"

Kendra felt bone-tired and nearly turned the beer down, but she could see the worry etched on Alexia's face—the last thing her friend needed was to leave her alone with her thoughts. So she gave a small nod instead.

They settled in the living room, where the coffee table was already scattered with chips, nuts, and a couple of bowls of popcorn. Alexia tipped her can back and downed half of it in one long swallow, then turned to look at Kendra.

"Tell me the truth," she said quietly. "What really went wrong these past few years? You two were so wrapped up in each other. You finally made it down the aisle—how did it all unravel like this?"

Kendra didn't answer. She just stared at the rim of her unopened can.

Alexia let out a long breath. "Okay. You don't have to say anything if you're not ready. Still, if I had had any idea things would end up this way, I never would have let you walk away from the studio back then."

She paused, then went on, "The girls you trained—they're all out there now, lighting up bigger stages. And that account of yours… you had more than three million people following you. You stopped posting five years ago, but they're still there. They leave comments every week, asking when you're coming back, holding space for you."

Kendra dropped her gaze to her lap. "That is my fault," she murmured.

For five whole years, she had poured every ounce of herself into Jaycob—his schedule, his comfort, his world. The account she used to update with clips of rehearsals, warm-ups, and quiet moments of joy had sat untouched. To protect herself from the ache, she hadn't even logged in. She had convinced herself the followers had moved on, that no one remembered the dancer who used to share her days so openly. Hearing Alexia say her followers were still showing up in the comments made her eyes burn.

All that time, she thought she was standing up for their love, shielding it from the world. But the marriage had been flawed from the start—and in the end, it had quietly stripped away everything she had once built for herself.

Alexia reached over and gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Hey, don't carry that alone. You've got me, okay? Right now, just rest here and let that leg heal. I'm already thinking ahead. When you're ready, we'll make your return something no one can look away from. You'll step back into the dance world strong, head high, like you never left."

Kendra managed a small smile and nodded. She didn't mention that she had already decided to start looking for a job the very next morning.

The following morning, after a simple breakfast, Kendra was slipping on her coat to leave for the courthouse when her phone hummed with a fresh notification. It came from Aaron.

"An urgent issue cropped up in the Zeross project. Mr. Mills boarded an early plane this morning to sort it out. He might be away for several days."

This was par for the course. Over the last five years, any shift in Jaycob's itinerary reached her not through his own words, but always via his assistant. By now, the pattern felt as familiar as an old scar.

Kendra typed back swiftly. "Any idea when he might return?"

Across town, Aaron paused, glancing uncertainly before passing his phone to Jaycob. "She wants to know... your expected arrival."

Jaycob huffed a sharp, dismissive breath, the atmosphere around him crackling with frost. "Timelines on deals like this shift like sand. Have her hold tight."

Left with little recourse, Aaron sent off. "The undertaking is full of twists—tough to pin down an end date."

He typed another message. "I'll update you the moment he's back in town."

Kendra let the screen go dark without a word. Turning her attention elsewhere, she pulled up the job forms she had fired off late the previous night—each and every one stared back with a blunt rejection.

Kendra had trained as a dancer her whole life. Most other jobs wanted years of experience or special qualifications which she no longer had. After putting her career on hold for so long, getting turned down again and again felt almost certain.

Just when she was starting to feel like she had run out of choices, she spotted an ad for a modeling job. It listed the usual things—height, weight, and pay—but what really caught her attention was the line that said meals and housing were provided. That was exactly what she needed right now.

Without thinking twice, she packed her few things and set off.

She followed the address from the ad and arrived at the agency. The receptionist led her to a small conference room. After she filled out the paperwork, the woman said, "This job needs final approval from our manager in person. Please wait here a minute—I'll go get him."

Kendra hadn't been sitting long when the door swung open.

"Well, look who it is," a familiar voice drawled. "What brings you to a place like this for an interview?"

Kendra looked up and went still. Standing in the doorway was Sebastian Ford.

Back when she married Jaycob, she was still teaching and performing at Alexia's studio. Sebastian had been her agent then. With her strong skills, she quickly started getting noticed and booking more jobs. She and Sebastian worked closely together, spending a lot of time side by side.

Then one evening at an event, Jaycob walked in just as Kendra and Sebastian were laughing and talking.

The sight set Jaycob off. He marched over and punched Sebastian right there in front of everyone. After that, he forced Alexia to fire him.

From that day on, Jaycob refused to let Kendra dance or appear in public again.

Now Sebastian took the seat across from Kendra, not bothering to hide the dislike on his face.

"So why aren't you at home playing the perfect rich wife?" he asked with a sneer. "What, did Jaycob finally get bored with you?"

He gave a short, bitter laugh. "I hear he is glued to Valerie Fletcher these days. Doesn't even bother coming home anymore? Honestly, I saw it coming. Men like him aren't stupid. No matter how good-looking you are, you're just a passing thing. You can't go up against a real high-society lady."

He leaned back in his chair and kept going. "You thought marrying into money would make you somebody special. You even threw away your career for it. What a complete waste."

His words poured out, sharp with old anger and disappointment at the person Kendra had let herself become.

Kendra dropped her gaze, a flash of guilt in her eyes. "I'm sorry for what happened back then."

Sebastian let out a scoff. "Don't bother. Why aren't you dancing anymore?"

Kendra told him about the injury, explaining that it wasn't serious and wouldn't hold her back in the long run.

Sebastian gave her a quick once-over before looking down at the file in his hands. "Our agency books modeling jobs and handles representation. We're a small outfit, so don't expect a steady contract. You pick up work when it comes. We split the pay seventy-thirty. No jobs, no paycheck. That's the deal."

Kendra went straight to the point. "The ad said meals and housing are provided."

Sebastian flashed a mocking grin. "They are. But don't get your hopes up for anything fancy. It's a world away from the life you knew as Jaycob's wife."

The jab was clear, but at least Kendra wouldn't have to worry about food or a roof. She couldn't go on crashing at Alexia's place forever; she refused to become a permanent burden on her friend.

She nodded in agreement. The receptionist walked her through the onboarding forms and handed her a small key for the dorm.

The room was tiny—just enough space for a single bed and not much else.

Kendra pulled her suitcase inside. She hadn't even started unpacking when her phone buzzed. It was a message from Sebastian.

"There is a women's fashion brand casting models right now. Get ready and head over for the audition."

"Understood."

The agency wasn't big. Sebastian had been there for years, but he didn't represent many models. This particular brand was easily his most important client.

To show how much the job mattered, Sebastian drove Kendra there himself.

On the ride over, he talked the whole way. "If you nail this audition, you could end up as the main face of their entire new collection this year. You've got to seize it. I checked around—the person who really decides is the photographer, Kody Price. If he likes you, the job is basically yours. But his taste changes fast. I can't guess what he'll want today, so keep your eyes on him. The moment you see him losing interest, switch up your pose right away."

Kendra listened closely, locking every tip in her mind.

When they pulled up, the hallway was already crowded with models waiting for an audition. Sebastian tried chatting with a few of the staff, hoping to make some connections, but after a few failed attempts, he came back looking disappointed.

Seeing how hard he was trying made Kendra's stomach twist with nerves. Five years away from work—she wasn't sure she could still move the way she used to.

"All models that are auditioning, line up now!" A young woman with a high ponytail called out the order.

Kendra stepped into line with the others.

A minute later, a man walked in. His hair was bleached almost white, and he wore dark sunglasses even indoors. Dressed head-to-toe in the latest street style, he moved with easy confidence. He slid the shades off and scanned the room with a cool, almost arrogant look.

He was Kody.

"You, you, you… and you. Stay. Everyone else—out."

He pointed lazily around the room, his finger landing on Kendra without hesitation.

The chosen models were ushered into the bright studio space. Sebastian quietly followed behind Kendra.

The young ladies quickly changed into the brand's fresh collection and took their turns in front of the lens. One by one, Kody watched their shots on the monitor, shaking his head each time. His face stayed blank, unimpressed. He waved them off without a second thought.

Soon it was Kendra's turn.

She stepped into the light. The hot studio lamps hit her skin, and something inside her clicked back into place. The familiar setup, the quiet hum of the equipment, the weight of eyes on her—it all felt right again.

She raised her eyes to the camera. Her body moved before her brain even gave the order. Years of training kicked in automatically. Every shift of her weight, every tilt of her head, every stretch of her limbs looked completely natural, yet carried the sharp control and grace that only a dancer could bring.

Kody, who up until then had been scrolling on his phone and barely glancing up, finally looked at the monitor properly. And once he did, he didn't look away.

"Nice. Excellent!" Kody burst out, his voice full of energy. "Now give me something different—switch it up."

Kendra flowed through several more poses, smooth and steady, until the audition finally came to an end.

Kody's excitement was plain on his face. He looked ready to pick a winner right then and there, but with so many girls still waiting their turn, he held himself back and stuck to the plan.

Kendra stepped off to the side of the studio. Sebastian rushed over, his grin wide and impossible to hide.

"Not bad," he said, almost laughing. "I was worried five years of playing perfect wife had dulled your edge—but you're still razor-sharp. If you land this, it's huge for you, and it'll put our little agency on the map too."

Kendra offered him a polite smile and stayed quiet.

Back in college, Jaycob had never let her take any side jobs. But she hated seeing him carry everything alone, so she secretly started modeling for a photography student to earn some money on the side. The schedule was easy to work around, and the money helped a lot.

That student later turned into a big-name photographer—known not just for her stunning shots, but also for how harshly she called out lazy or unprofessional models on social media.

Kendra had listened to those rants for years without realizing how much she was soaking up. All those lessons about angles, lighting, and attitude were coming in handy now, more than she ever expected.

Across the studio, Kody had finished looking through every single candidate's shots.

"Thanks for coming in today, everyone," he called out. "Kendra Murray—stay behind. The rest of you can head out."

A quiet wave of disappointment moved through the room as the other models packed up their bags. Then a sharp voice sliced through the murmurs. "So it's rigged now? Investors pulling strings for their picks? I've never even heard of Kendra Murray. Why does she get to stay, and I don't?"

The speaker was Rosie Lloyd, a model with a solid reputation and real followers in the industry.

If it had come from someone less established, people might have brushed it off as sour grapes. But Rosie's words carried real weight; her work was strong, and she had the popularity to back it up.

Kody frowned and glanced her way. "Not buying it? Alright. Let's put the photos up."

The big screen flickered to life, scrolling slowly through the test images.

The early shots were decent but nothing special. Then Rosie's set appeared—bold, confident poses with a strong, commanding energy. Clearly professional.

A few soft murmurs rippled through the room.

"Wait," Kody said evenly.

The slideshow kept going until Kendra's images filled the screen. She didn't strike dramatic poses like Rosie, but every frame carried a soft, effortless grace. Her shots didn't scream "commercial ad"—they felt more like quiet, intimate glimpses into the private world of someone refined and well-bred.

Kody pointed to the screen. "This season's line is all about minimalism and high-end pricing. Kendra nails the vibe we're going for. There is this subtle sadness in her expression—it adds depth, makes the clothes feel like quiet luxury, real elegance. Rosie, you're great, no question—but for this particular collection, Kendra's look and presence fit better."

With the side-by-side comparison right there for everyone to see, the grumbling died down.

Rosie snatched up her bag, her expression stormy. "You'll regret this," she snapped, then turned and walked out, the door slamming behind her.

At the Mills Group's top-floor office, an assistant knocked lightly before stepping in, tablet in hand.

"Mr. Mills, one of Jaycob's subsidiaries is selecting a new model this season. Ms. Murray attended the audition today."

He passed the tablet over to Kristopher. Onscreen, Kendra looked as though she had stepped back onto the stage she once dominated—every movement fluid, every expression finely tuned. Yet beneath the flawless exterior lingered a quiet sadness in her eyes, subtle but impossible to ignore, tugging at the viewer without a single word.

Kristopher studied the screen for a long moment before speaking. "Inform Jaycob that you're taking over this project. From now on, you'll personally oversee the model's work."

"Understood."

The door clicked shut behind the assistant. Kristopher's fingers hovered over the tablet, brushing lightly across Kendra's image. For seven years, Jaycob had ground her down until this was all that was left.

Kristopher murmured, voice low and cold, "Jaycob, you're truly beyond forgiveness."

With the chaos finally settled, Kody and his assistant escorted Kendra upstairs to finalize the contract.

The moment the elevator doors slid open, Kendra stopped short. Standing inside were Jaycob and Aaron.

Wasn't Jaycob supposed to be out of town? So that had been a lie. Or perhaps he had simply returned ahead of schedule.

Kendra cast them a brief glance, then deliberately looked away, acting as though they were complete strangers.

She and Sebastian remained silent. The air inside the elevator grew thick, pressing down on everyone's nerves.

Unable to bear it any longer, Kody cleared his throat and stepped forward. "Mr. Mills, we've just wrapped up selecting the model for this season's new collection. We were on our way upstairs to sign the contract. Would you like to review the audition photos?"

Jaycob said nothing. Unfazed, Kody opened the tablet and flipped through the images, one after another.

There was no arguing it—Kendra looked breathtaking.

Jaycob's gaze flicked toward the screen, his expression turning stormy. A short, icy laugh escaped him. "This is the model you chose?"

Kody stiffened. "Is something wrong? Should we consider someone else?"

Jaycob remained silent, his face unreadable and cold as stone.

Sensing the tension, Aaron smoothly stepped in. "That decision is entirely up to you. It's only a minor brand under the Millis Group—there is no need for Mr. Millis to get personally involved in something so small."

Relief washed over Kody's face. Without wasting another second, he motioned for Kendra and Sebastian to step out with him.

They exited on the ninth floor, while Jaycob and Aaron continued upward to the twenty-first—an executive level reserved strictly for senior management.

Once the elevator doors closed behind them, Kody finally let out the breath he had been holding, as though he had just narrowly escaped a storm.

Kendra followed Kody and the assistant down the office corridor in a daze, her feet moving on autopilot while her mind drifted elsewhere. She only snapped back to reality when Kody's voice cut through the silence.

"Why is the office locked? Where is HR?"

The assistant was already tapping furiously on her phone. "They went down to the fifth floor. I'll go get the contracts right away."

Kody's brows knitted together as he turned and strode after her. "They knew we were signing this afternoon. If they're not prepared, I'll make sure they don't forget next time!"

As the two of them disappeared down the hall, Sebastian glanced at Kendra. "I'm heading out for a smoke."

And just like that, Kendra was left standing alone.

With nothing else to do but wait, she drifted toward the stairwell, craving a breath of fresh air. She moved slowly, unhurried, until she reached the corner and nearly collided with a tall figure who stepped directly into her path, blocking her way forward.