Later that night,

Hawke Manor,

Lily sat alone in her luxurious bedrooms, her fingers tapping nervously against the edge of the desk. The contract she had signed was burning a hole in her mind. 

Three years. 

She had agreed to it without hesitation, blinded by the rage that had consumed her for months. But now, as she stared at the cold, sterile walls of the room, she wondered just how much she had actually sacrificed in the pursuit of vengeance. 

Was she still herself, or was she just a pawn in Damien Hawke’s dangerous game?

A knock at the door broke her thoughts. She quickly shoved the contract into the drawer, her pulse picking up at the sudden intrusion. 

“Come in,” she called, trying to steady her breathing.

PA Jin stepped into the room with his usual composed air, as though he were walking into a meeting rather than a volatile situation. His cool eyes flicked over her for a moment, assessing, before he spoke in his clipped, efficient tone.

“Mr. Hawke would like to know if you’ve had time to reflect on the agreement,” he said.

Lily narrowed her eyes, the last remnants of her defiance surfacing.

“I’ve reflected. But it doesn’t change anything. I’ve signed it, haven’t I?”

Her voice was sharper than she intended, and she didn’t care. Jin didn’t flinch. He never did.

“Understood. But there are more pressing matters at hand,” Jin replied. “Mr. Hawke trusts you’re prepared for what’s next.”

Lily stood up, pushing the chair back with a loud scrape. 

“And what’s next?” 

She could barely hide the frustration in her voice. “You think that because I signed some paper, I’m suddenly okay with everything that’s happened?”

Jin didn’t seem to take offense. He was used to people like her — people who believed they could take back control once they entered his world. 

“I’m asking what you want,” he said quietly, as if it were the simplest question in the world. “What is it that you truly want?”

Lily hesitated. She hadn’t even thought about that. The only thing she had cared about for so long was revenge. But now, with a sense of emptiness settling in, something else was beginning to surface.

“I want... to build something,” she said, the words feeling strange in her mouth. “I want to create. I want to design again. I want to feel... alive. Not just as a puppet in someone’s scheme.”

Jin studied her for a moment, then gave the smallest of nods, as if he understood exactly what she meant. 

“Good,” he said, his voice surprisingly warm. “You’ll get your chance. There’s a competition coming up in ACE, a design contest that could put you on the map. A real opportunity. I’ll help you apply.”

Lily stared at him, her eyes widening.

“You’re serious?”

“Serious enough,” he replied. “You’re talented, Miss Carrington. But the world needs to see it, and you need a way in.

Her heart skipped a beat. A design competition. 

This was her shot. Her chance to carve out her own path, separate from Damien’s control, and maybe — even just maybe - reclaim the piece of her life that she thought had been lost forever.

When she had been in the thick of her emotional turmoil, she had nearly forgotten who she was. 

Fashion. 

Her passion. 

The only thing that had truly kept her grounded. And now, this was the doorway.

But there was a catch. There was always a catch when dealing with someone like Damien.

“Why are you helping me?” she asked, suspicious. "What’s in it for you?”

Jin’s lips curled into a small, enigmatic smile. 

“Let’s just say I like to see potential realized. I wouldn’t bother with someone who wasn’t worth the effort.”

Before Lily could say anything more, Jin stepped closer, his expression hardening as he gave her a meaningful look. 

“There’s something you need to know. You’re not the only one with eyes on this competition. Others will be vying for the same prize, and some of them play dirty.”

Lily’s chest tightened. “What does that mean?”

“It means you need to be prepared. This isn’t just a contest for the best designs. It’s a battleground. And you - ” He paused, staring at her with cold, calculating eyes. “You’ll need to be ruthless.”

Lily’s breath caught in her throat. She had never thought about it that way. The stakes were much higher than she’d imagined. 

It wasn’t just about creating beautiful designs anymore; it was about survival.

“I’m not afraid of competition,” she said, more to herself than to him.

Jin gave a short nod. 

"Good. I’ll arrange everything. We don’t have much time.” He turned to leave but stopped at the door. 

“And one more thing, Miss Carrington. Mr. Hawke expects results. And if you fail...” He let the words hang in the air, unfinished.

Lily swallowed hard, watching Jin walk out of the room without another word.

The hours that followed were a blur. Lily tried to focus on her sketches, but the weight of her situation was suffocating. Every line she drew felt tainted by the knowledge that she was bound to Damien’s world now, a world where promises meant nothing, and survival was the only currency that mattered.

A sudden knock on her door pulled her out of her thoughts.

Lily quickly straightened up, wiping her hands on her jeans, trying to act like she hadn’t just spent the last few minutes questioning every decision she’d made.

“Miss Carrington?” a voice called from the other side.

It was a woman’s voice. Her heart skipped in anticipation as she opened the door.

Standing there was a woman in her late twenties, with dark, intelligent eyes and an air of authority. Her hair was pulled back in a neat ponytail, and she wore a simple black suit that screamed ‘business.’

“Hello, Miss Carrington,” the woman said with a tight smile. “I’m Nadia, your new personal assistant. Mr. Hawke has instructed me to give you a brief introduction to the competition.”

Lily blinked, trying to read her face. “What’s this about?”

Nadia stepped inside the room without waiting for an invitation. 

“This contest is more than just a stepping stone for you. It’s a declaration. Damien’s not someone who leaves anything to chance, and neither should you. You need to come out on top.”

Lily’s mind raced. She had been prepared for competition, but the stakes seemed to be escalating with every passing second.

“What exactly do you want from me?” Lily asked, keeping her voice steady.

“I want you to be ready,” Nadia said, her tone clipped and focused. “And I'm here to make sure you are.”