Chapter 5

"It's okay," I said.

By the time I walked out of the Glisson Group building, it had already started raining.

I stood under the entrance and looked at the rain pouring down outside. Suddenly, everything felt ridiculous.

Before everything restarted, I threw away all my pride just to marry Harold. In this life, I wanted to make it on my own. But the people who looked down on me had never changed at all.

My phone suddenly rang. Bruno was calling.

"Julia, how did the interview go?" he asked.

"Not great," I said honestly.

The line went quiet for a few seconds.

"Come home first," he finally said. "There's something I want to talk to you about."

When I got back to the Bailey family house, I noticed a stranger sitting in the living room.

He looked around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. He wore a dark blue sweater and had soft features and a clean, warm smile.

"Julia, this is Stuart Windrow," Bruno said. "He's the youngest son of the Windrow family and the grandson of an old friend of mine. He just came back after studying overseas."

Stuart stood up and reached his hand out to me politely. "Hello, Miss Barnes. I've heard a lot about you."

I shook his hand. "Hello."

"Stuart studied jewelry design, and he owns his own studio in Lusten City," Bruno explained. "He's planning to open a branch in Jenlug City soon, and he needs a partner. I wanted to recommend you."

I froze for a second. "I—"

"Don't rush to say no," Stuart said with a smile. "I looked through your portfolio already, and I honestly liked your style a lot. Especially the Starlight series.

"The designs were bold, and the craftsmanship details were handled really well."

My eyes widened a little. "You looked at my portfolio?"

"Bruno showed it to me," he said with a nod. "Honestly, before I came back to the country, I was already looking for a partner. But I never found the right person. Then I saw your work, and it genuinely impressed me."

I looked carefully into his eyes, trying to find even a little pity or fake politeness there.

But there was nothing like that.

His eyes were sincere. He really admired my work.

"Mr. Windrow, you really don't mind my background?" I asked quietly.

"What background?" He tilted his head slightly. "You mean the background of a talented designer?"

My nose suddenly stung.

Before everything changed, no one had ever looked at me that way.

People only called me a bodyguard's daughter, a burden on the Bailey family, or a scheming woman who used a favor to climb into a rich family.

Nobody had ever called me a talented designer.

"If you're interested, come visit my studio tomorrow," Stuart said as he handed me his business card. "We can sit down and talk more."

I took the card from him. My fingers trembled slightly.

"Okay," I replied.

*****

Stuart's studio was tucked away in the oldest alley in Jenlug City. Even though it was in the middle of the city, the place felt quiet and peaceful.

The moment I pushed open the wooden door, the smell of sandalwood drifted toward me. Design sketches covered the walls, and the workbench was filled with gemstones and unfinished jewelry pieces.

It felt like I had stepped into a completely different world.

"What do you think?" Stuart asked with a smile as he stood behind me.

"It's beautiful," I said.

"This used to be my grandfather's studio." Stuart walked over to the workbench and picked up an unfinished ring. "He spent his whole life making jewelry. I grew up here, so every time I smell sandalwood, I feel calm."

I looked around at the designs hanging on the wall. One sketch immediately caught my attention.

It was a brooch shaped like an eagle spreading its wings. Every feather was drawn with incredible detail.

"This design..." I murmured.

"What is it?" Stuart asked, noticing my reaction.

I pointed at the sketch. "The eagle's eyes aren't supposed to use normal rubies. They should use a high-end imported stone instead."

Stuart's eyes lit up. "You can tell?"

"I can," I replied. "The color saturation is much stronger, and there's a faint blue glow underneath. If you use it for the eagle's eyes, the whole piece will feel more dangerous and intense."

Stuart smiled, clearly surprised. "Julia, you really are talented."

I felt a little embarrassed hearing that. "I just pay attention to details."

"No," he said seriously. "A lot of people notice things, but very few people truly understand them. You have real talent."

He showed me around the studio and let me see most of his designs and finished pieces. Every single one impressed me.

His style was completely different from mine. He liked elegant, classic designs, and I leaned toward modern and bold styles. But somehow, those differences made it feel like we could work really well together.

"I want to build a new brand." Stuart sat beside the window while sunlight fell across his face. "I don't want it tied to some huge corporation, and I don't want flashy marketing either.

"I just want us to quietly make every piece the best it can be."

"That sounds kind of idealistic," I said.

"Maybe it is." He smiled. "But I still believe good work will always find people who appreciate it."

I looked at him and suddenly felt something loosen inside my chest.

Before everything restarted, all my dreams had been buried by marriage. Harold hated me working. He hated me appearing in public. He hated anything that didn't match the image of Mrs. Bailey in his mind.