Five Years Later

Later, I heard from my friend Ally that Felix had gone into a frenzy after failing to reach me for so long. When I disappeared without a trace, he sent people everywhere to look for me.

But since no one could find me, his temper grew worse by the day. He lashed out at everyone around him, cursing anyone who crossed his path. People became so terrified of upsetting him that they tiptoed around, too afraid to even mention my name.

When I heard all this, I felt nothing at all. It was as if the person he was desperately searching for wasn't me.

With the money his mother had given me, I settled down in Provenelle. I rented a small house and found a job in fashion design. It wasn't what I had studied, but I loved creating beautiful clothes. In this new place, no one could cage my imagination or freedom again. Even though I had to start from scratch, I was filled with energy and life.

…

Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, five years passed. My designs began to headline major fashion weeks around the world, adored by wealthy entrepreneurs and celebrities alike. I won several prestigious international awards and became the head and chief designer of my own fashion company.

This year, I was headed to Parovine to present our new haute couture collection at Fashion Week. After finishing a meeting with a celebrity's agent about a custom design partnership, I was invited to attend her friend's birthday party. I originally declined, but she was so enthusiastic that I was eventually dragged along.

As the private room door opened, laughter and music spilled out, and dozens of curious eyes turned toward me.

I lifted my head—and froze.

There he was.

Felix.

The boy I'd once known was gone. In his place sat a man—handsome, poised, with an air of power that commanded attention. The black suit he wore accentuated the sharp lines of his shoulders, and the years had carved a maturity into his once-youthful face. The people around him toasted him with respect and flattery.

Seeing him again after all these years caught me off guard.

Eleanor sat beside him, just as beautiful as ever, clinging to his arm. It seemed their relationship had stayed strong—they'd probably be married by now.

Someone in the crowd recognized me. "Whoa! Felix, look—your first love is here!"

Another voice followed with a sneer. "First love? More like his doormat!"

Curious, mocking eyes turned toward me instantly.

Felix's head snapped up. When his gaze met mine, his eyes widened. He rose to his feet instinctively but froze after a single step. Shock flickered across his face, giving way to a swirl of emotions—confusion, guilt, hesitation.

Eleanor's expression stiffened. She quickly grabbed his hand and forced a smile. "Honey, calm down." Then, she turned her glare on me. "Kathy, when did you come back?"

"Yesterday." I smiled lightly, walked to an open seat, and sat down with calm poise. "It's been a while, everyone."

Many of the faces were familiar—former classmates, old colleagues. They'd always delighted in mocking me, and clearly, nothing had changed.

"Kathy, where have you been all these years? Don't tell me you went back to the slums and married some poor guy?"

"She's got no money, no power—who else could she rely on but a man?"

"Just look at her clothes. Doesn't even look like a designer brand. No matter how well she dresses, she still reeks of poverty."

"Exactly. Back then, she slaved away for Felix, always beneath him. Some things never change."

Their snide remarks echoed one after another, laughter rippling through the room.

The agent who brought me there wanted to defend me, but I gave her a small shake of the head and a quiet gesture to stay silent.

Instead, I calmly picked up a piece of canape, took a bite, and said simply, "I've been doing very well."

But of course, they didn't believe me.

"Really? Doesn't look that way."

"If you're struggling, just say so. We can help you find a job."

"Yeah, my company needs a receptionist. Or maybe a janitor—hard work, but good pay. Think about it."

Old Faces, Old Scorn

I frowned, realizing these people hadn't changed one bit. Even with money in their pockets, they still reeked of that same old pretentiousness.

The room buzzed again with gossip.

"Wait a second, the necklace she's wearing—it looks like Chanel's latest design from this year, worth tens of millions!"

"It really is!"

"She can't possibly afford that!"

"She can't, but a man could."

"Exactly. With her kind of background, no man would ever want to marry her. He's probably just having some fun with her."

"Kathy, there are a lot of scammers these days. Don't get fooled—be careful not to give both your heart and body to him."

"Yeah! You used to be the top student in our class. If you're doing this badly now, it's really embarrassing for all of us."

I said nothing and quietly enjoyed my food. After a full day of flying, I was tired and starving, with no time to eat earlier.

While Felix's eyes burned with anger and resentment at seeing me staying silent, Eleanor scoffed as she stepped toward me. "Kathy, have you been starving for a week or something? You can't stop eating."

She loomed over me, dripping arrogance. "How sad, scarfing down food like this. Life must've treated you terribly in the last five years."

She paused, then added with a sneer, "How about coming back and playing the lapdog again? At least you'd have food and a roof over your head. We're old acquaintances, after all—consider it an act of charity."

After a few more bites of steak, warmth returned to my stomach and a bit of energy with it. I looked up at her and shook my head. "No, thanks. You can save your charity for someone else."

Eleanor burst into mocking laughter. "Stop pretending. You're just too proud for your own good—it's only going to make your life harder."

Then, she began flaunting her achievements. "I'm a top fashion designer now—one of the rising stars in the industry. My future's bright, and I'll be rolling in money soon. All it takes is one word from me, and you'll never have to worry about food or clothing again. Feeding you would be no trouble at all."

Everyone knew Eleanor was the woman Felix loved, so they all scrambled to flatter her. Her happiness meant his approval.

"That's right, Eleanor. You're amazing."

"She's worked so hard all these years. Give it a few more and she'll have a firm place in the international fashion world."

"Someone as talented and gifted as her is the only one worthy of Felix. I'm jealous, honestly."

"She's beautiful and sensible. She and Felix are a perfect match."

Eleanor raised her chin proudly, basking in the admiration. She always did love the attention. To show off even more, she dropped another piece of news. "I'll be collaborating with Miss Farah, one of the biggest designers in the field. Once our company brings her on board, we'll be taking things to a whole new level."

I blinked in mild surprise but said nothing. 'This partnership can go to the dumps,' I thought.

I stood up, ready to leave. But before I could take another step, Felix's voice—tight with anger—snapped out behind me. "Kathy, stop right there!"

I froze, turning only enough to give him my cold, distant back. "Can I help you?"

His footsteps came heavy and deliberate. When he stopped in front of me, his gaze was locked on mine, voice sharp with blame. "You've been gone for years, and now you want to run off again? You really have no heart at all. Do you feel even a shred of regret?"

False Pity

My eyes flashed with annoyance. What was there to regret?

Just as I was about to speak, the door swung open from the outside. Felix's assistant walked in respectfully. "Sir, we weren't able to invite Miss Farah."

Eleanor's eyes widened in shock. "That's impossible! I checked—she was supposed to be on today's flight."

The assistant lowered his head and replied quietly, "Our people waited outside the whole day, but no one knew what she looked like, so they couldn't tell who she was."

Eleanor's expression faltered in disappointment.

I suddenly remembered seeing someone holding a sign for Farah at the airport earlier. I hadn't paid it any attention then, but now it all made sense—they were her people.

The atmosphere in the room turned awkward, and Eleanor quickly forced a smile. "It's fine. I'll go meet her myself tomorrow. I'll make sure she agrees to the collaboration."

The crowd immediately chimed in with encouragement.

"Eleanor, you're incredible. You'll definitely make it happen."

"That's right. We all believe in you."

"You're Felix's perfect partner—so capable and reliable."

Under their praise, Eleanor's smile gradually shifted into pride and satisfaction. But the moment she caught Felix's gaze lingering on me, that smile vanished. She grabbed his hand with a hint of grievance. "Don't forget, you two are already over."

Felix clenched his jaw, trying to hold back his temper, his whole presence heavy with restrained anger.

I turned back to him, arching a brow with a faint smile. "You said I was heartless. So what exactly is there left to explain?"

Felix froze, clearly stunned, his face grim as if he wanted to speak—but before he could, Eleanor cut in. "Kathy, why don't you work for me? You could be my assistant—make coffee, handle small errands."

The others jumped in immediately.

"Eleanor's assistant isn't just anyone. You should be grateful for the opportunity."

"Don't act so proud. If you're unemployed, you should accept it."

"We're all classmates here—we're just trying to help."

I frowned, my voice flat and cold. "I already have a job. I don't need yours."

I turned to leave again, but Eleanor stepped in front of me, eyes brimming with false sorrow. "Kathy, are you still mad at me for taking Felix? I didn't mean to. We just fell in love—it was beyond our control." Her eyes shimmered with tears, her voice trembling.

I sighed, growing impatient, and answered truthfully. "I'm not mad. I wish you both well."

However, Eleanor refused to drop it, twisting my words through her own lens. "No, I know you're still hurt. You must curse me behind my back every day."

Then, she bent at the waist, bowing as tears finally spilled down her cheeks. "I'm sorry. Please forgive me."

I stared at her in disbelief. She could've won an award with that performance.

The others rushed to defend her.

"Eleanor, you don't need to apologize. She's not worth it."

"It's kind of you to show sympathy, but with her background? She's nowhere near Felix's league. Even if you hadn't stepped in, he'd never have chosen someone like her."

"Exactly. She grew up in the slums. Her parents didn't even have proper jobs. I still remember—her mother was sick all the time, and her father was a gambling addict drowning in debt. He almost sold her off back then."

"With a background like that, it's shameful."

"You shouldn't bother helping her. People like her would only cause trouble in your company—a ticking time bomb."

"She doesn't deserve your kindness anyway."

Eleanor sniffled, wiping at her tears, shoulders trembling in mock surrender. "If that's how it is… then I won't help you."

Then, she turned to Felix with a wounded look, her voice soft and pitiful. "You saw it yourself, darling. I really tried to help her, but she just wouldn't appreciate it."