Chapter 4

After Daisy rushed out, my mom turned to me, her face full of worry. "Ellie, are you serious about James and Eliana?"

"Mom." I took her hand. "There are some things I can't share with you now, but please trust me. Calling off the engagement is the best choice."

She looked at me for a long time, then nodded. "Okay, I believe you."

That night, I logged into the private email account.

Another message from Q was waiting for me. [The team is all set and standing by. Everyone's pumped to team up with you again. When's the kickoff?]

I wrote, [Tomorrow. Get all the current files together. I want the freshest market analysis on my desk.]

After closing the inbox, I dragged an old suitcase out from the back of my closet.

I entered the combination and opened it. Inside was an ultrathin laptop and a stack of design sketches.

Three years ago, I wasn't only the Lane family's heiress; I was Nova, the design world's enigmatic new talent.

Under that name, I'd won international design competitions, collaborated with major brands on limited-edition collections, and built my own small design team.

However, during that "accident", I injured my hand, became consumed by grief and self-doubt, and cut myself off from the entire design world.

Now, it was time for Nova to make her comeback.

After powering up, I scrolled through my old designs. The clean lines and carefully thought-out concepts still looked fresh after all these years. If anything, they had aged beautifully.

The video call notification chimed, and I put on my headphones, clicking to answer.

Five familiar faces appeared on the screen. They were the core members of my team.

"Nova, is that you?" Anna, the chief designer, blurted out. "It's been three years. We thought you were gone for good."

"I took a break," I said with a smile. "I'm back now."

Mike, the marketing director, leaned in. "Boss, where have you been all this time? We were worried sick."

"Handling some personal stuff," I said, brushing it off. "Now, let's talk about the market."

For the next two hours, we went over everything in detail, from shifts in the market and emerging trends to potential opportunities.

They also filled me in on what had happened over the past three years. Even while I was gone, they had kept the studio running under the name Nova Studio, taking on smaller projects to keep things moving.

"Got some good news," Anna suddenly said. "Milavos Design Week sent us an invite. They want Nova to show at next spring's exhibition. It's the fifth time they've reached out in three years, but I never dared to reply."

My heart started pounding.

Being invited to Milavos Design Week was one of the highest honors a designer could receive.

"Tell them Nova will be there," I said. "We need to come back with something that'll blow everyone away."

After the meeting, I was totally swept up in a creative rush, sketching away as ideas poured out of me.

The feeling of moving a pen across paper was both strange and familiar, almost like reconnecting with an old friend.

Before I knew it, the first light of dawn was creeping into the sky.

I stood in front of the mirror, catching the spark in my own eyes, and smiled.

Right then, my phone rang. It was James.

I paused for a moment before answering. "What's up?"

"Ellie, it's your birthday today. Did you forget already?" His voice was as gentle as ever. "I've got a surprise for you. Meet me at our usual spot at seven tonight, okay?"

I'd almost forgotten. Every year, we'd spend my birthday together in his penthouse, with that killer view of the city.

That place was filled with memories. It was where he first told me he loved me, where he first kissed me, and where he first promised we'd be together forever.

It turned out it was all lies.

I should have turned him down, but then I changed my mind. "Okay. I'll see you at seven."

After hanging up, I picked out a black dress I'd bought three years ago but never worn. The tag was still on it.

Back then, it had been too tight and far too revealing for me to feel comfortable wearing it. Now it fit perfectly, skimming the curves that were finally beginning to show.

I went all out with my makeup, swept my hair up, and revealed the sharper lines of my face.

The woman in the mirror was both familiar and strange. She was no longer the naive, chubby heiress of the Lane family.

It was X, back on her feet and ready to start over.

*****

At exactly seven, I appeared at James's door.

The moment he opened the door, his eyes widened. For several seconds, he couldn't say a word.

"Aren't you going to invite me in?" I said, smiling.

James finally came back to his senses, stammering, "Ellie, you-you've changed so much"

The apartment had been decorated for the occasion, warm and romantic, with a candlelit dinner waiting on the table. In the middle sat an elegant chocolate cake, my favorite.

The irony almost made me laugh. He claimed he wanted to help me lose weight, yet here he was tempting me with some of the most calorie-packed food imaginable.

"Happy birthday," James said, handing me a gift box. "Go ahead, open it."

I unwrapped it to find a delicate bracelet, with a tiny charm that spelled out my name, Ellie.

"Do you like it? It's custom-made, one of a kind in the whole world," he said, watching me with anticipation.

I picked up the bracelet, turning it over in the candlelight. "It's beautiful. But—" I let the silence stretch. "Are you sure this is for 'Ellie'? Not 'Eliana'?"

James froze, his face going rigid. "W-What are you talking about?"

I set the bracelet down and met his eyes. "You know, both Eliana and I are called Ellie by people. Wouldn't it be awkward if you mixed us up when you had it made?"

His face went from red to pale. "Ellie, let me explain."

"Don't bother," I said, rising to my feet. "The only reason I came tonight was to tell you that the engagement is over. We're finished. I hope you and Eliana—"

I let the words linger, my tone dripping with irony, "Have a perfect life together."

James shot to his feet. "Did you know? Who told you? Was it Alex?"

My heart skipped a beat, but I kept my cool. "Looks like it's true. Thanks for clearing that up."

I walked to the door, then shot one last look at the candlelit dinner. "Oh, by the way, I've cut out sugar. So go ahead, enjoy the cake yourself. Or—"

I flashed him a sly smile. "Maybe you and Eliana can share it when she's back."

As the door clicked shut behind me, I heard something crash and shatter inside.

Walking through the night breeze, I felt freer than ever.

The first step had gone exactly as planned, but deep down, I knew this was only the beginning.

I was bringing Project Nova back, uncovering the truth behind the betrayal, and making sure everyone responsible faced the consequences.

The hunger hit me again, but this time, I welcomed it with a smile because I knew I wouldn't be the only one feeling the hunger.

*****

The day after I left James's apartment, I got an official invitation from Milavos Design Week.

It wasn't an email; they sent a fancy letter, hand-delivered right to my door.

My mom looked confused when she saw it. "Milavos Design Week? Why would they send you an invitation?"

I took the envelope and brushed it off. "Probably some promo stuff. These days, everyone is sending out invites for everything."

Back in my room, I carefully opened the envelope.