He had once moved mountains for the woman he worshipped.

For her, he shattered every boundary and defied every expectation. But fate had other plans—my boyfriend was in a devastating accident, and in an instant, he lost his sight.

At his lowest moment, his goddess abandoned him. She left the country without hesitation, leaving him broken and alone.

The trauma of blindness, paired with her betrayal, shattered him completely. He spiraled into despair, even attempting to take his own life.

But I stayed.

I nursed him back to health, whispered words of hope when he had none, and refused to let him drown in his sorrow.

That was when we became more than just friends.

Three years ago, after countless treatments, his vision finally returned.

Last year, he reclaimed his place at the helm of his family’s empire.

And this year… she came back.

Isabella Whitmore told her story plainly, without embellishment or self-pity.

She wasn’t seeking sympathy—she just wanted Amy and Samantha to understand why she was so desperate to prove herself.

She had wasted too many years already. She wouldn’t waste another.

For months, she had sent out applications, attended interviews, only to face rejection after rejection.

Finally, one sympathetic recruiter took her aside and revealed the truth.

She had angered the wrong person.

No one in Westmoor would dare hire her.

Isabella knew exactly who was behind it.

She realized she had to leave.

So she came to Newhaven, hoping for a fresh start.

She was painfully aware that her résumé, though impressive on paper, couldn’t hide the years she had spent away from the industry.

"Alright."

Amy’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

Isabella’s eyes brightened. "Ms. Sinclair… does that mean I have the job?"

Amy smiled and nodded.

Samantha hesitated, then sighed quietly.

When they agreed Isabella would start on Monday, her joy was palpable.

For the first time in years, hope flickered in her eyes.

After she left, Samantha finally spoke up.

"Amy, she’s clearly running from something—or someone. The way she’s desperate for work… it’s obvious someone made sure she couldn’t get hired back home."

As a talent agent, Samantha’s instincts were sharp.

"And she mentioned her ex took over his family’s company. If he’s the one pulling strings, we could be inviting trouble."

She shook her head in frustration.

"Good people suffer while the rotten ones thrive. The world’s full of ungrateful snakes."

She pitied Isabella, but reality was harsh. Without connections, they were vulnerable.

Amy met her gaze. "I know the risks. But I want to give her a chance. Besides, this is Newhaven, not Westmoor. He doesn’t control things here."

Samantha studied her. "Is this because you see yourself in her?"

"Partly," Amy admitted with a faint smile. "But I’m not running a charity. If she doesn’t deliver, she’s out."

Samantha considered it, then relented.

How bad could this ex really be?

After dealing with Alexander and Nathan, one more schemer hardly mattered.

Monday morning, Amy had just dropped Oliver Kingsley off at Royal Oaks Academy when her phone rang.

Samantha’s voice was urgent.

"Amy—someone vandalized the studio! They threw paint everywhere!"