...
Days had passed since Irina finally returned to her ordinary routine, and her days were now filled with a calm that suited her well. Her greatest discomfort was dealing with the tedious bureaucracy of financial reports,nothing out of the ordinary. She felt comfortable that way.
Each day followed the same pattern: waking up, exercising, heading to the company, working until closing time, and finally returning home to rest. It was, in its own way, paradise.
During these days, she hadn't heard any news about "Unbreakable," Emil, or Bella. Irina also made every effort to avoid being recognized. She was sincerely afraid of the public's reaction, having read too many hostile messages determined to harm her or anyone associated with her.
All of that, though unpleasant, had become just another part of her life.
In fact, Emil had stopped showing up at family gatherings, and it became painfully awkward to see his parents fretting over their missing son, the beloved child of the Cerdic family, whose whereabouts or health status no one could ascertain. How deplorable.
Her last hope was the System Threads award ceremony scheduled for that very night. Irina had already asked ZDF987 to look for any information on her brother or news that might shed light on his situation. But as her Envoy liked to point out, he could barely collect more than a few scattered rumors. So now, finding him was up to Irina alone.
All she could do in the meantime was gaze at her reflection in the mirror while the final adjustments were made to her dress. There wasn't much left to tweak, just ensuring the measurements were correct and that all the necessary accents were in place.
Irina was nearly an immaculate beauty; much of her popularity stemmed from her stunning looks, which only grew more captivating alongside her passionate, emotive acting. She attracted everyone, men and women alike. Who could not be enchanted by a beautiful black rose standing out amid a white rose garden?
It was almost as if watching a plague of envy and despair slowly spread around her, yet that only made her more irresistible. Even her sometimes harsh manner was impossible to ignore. How could someone be both so beautiful and so ruthless at the same time?
As Irina gently adjusted her waist, she noted that everything was perfectly in place. There was no sense of suffocation or discomfort, only confidence. Judging by the expressions of those around her, she was sure the outfit was perfect.
Irina never feigned modesty; she had a gorgeous body and an even more striking face.
"I really am beautiful," she thought, "and there's nothing to be ashamed of, only to be admired."
Time had taught her to recognize when people were utterly captivated by her beauty, and that awareness filled her with satisfaction. For those accustomed to the presence of beauty, knowing that she still managed to draw attention, even when considering herself ordinary, was a promising sign.
She stretched her arm to pick up her cell phone and checked the time, it was nearly time for the red carpet. The awards function, like any other, was structured in three parts: red carpet arrivals, the ceremony itself, and the closing party for guests.
So far, however, she was the only major representative of "Unbreakable" confirmed for the event. That was a bit disappointing for the fans who adored the story's protagonists. Emil was missing, and Irina deliberately avoided dwelling on that to prevent headaches. Bella, too, seemed to have purposely stayed out of the media's spotlight.
She didn't know what was really happening, but she was determined to fulfill her role and put an end to any lingering issues with "Unbreakable."
Irina wore a stunning red dress with her hair tied in a loose bun, a look that radiated a lazy, piercing beauty. Tall and elegant, every pore of her being exuded grace. Paired with her high heels, the ensemble made her appear almost untouchable and unattainable, a rare beauty that would never go unnoticed.
A man approached her with a smile, clearly smitten by her charms. "Ms. Cerdic… You are simply fabulous! I truly hope you'll consider partnering with our brand as our model. I would be honored to dress you…"
Irina returned his smile. He wasn't just the owner of the luxury brand, he was its chief designer.
The red dress hugging her figure was one of his creations.
"We'll monitor today's reactions and see how the fans respond to the news. Don't worry, Mr. Moncha, if it proves profitable for both of us, there's no reason we can't work together in the future. For now, let's just enjoy the day without overthinking business."
The man nodded in agreement.
It was fair to think that way, especially since Irina had approached him about the dress, not a partnership. Yet he wasn't foolish enough to ignore her interest in one of his designs. In fact, he immediately offered her the dress and even proposed a contract that would have her represent his brand.
Although Irina felt honored, she only wanted the dress. Unable to resist his persistence, she asked him to send the proposal to her company, Astralight Entertainment, so that her team could review it thoroughly.
"Send it to them, and they'll know exactly what to do. I promise your contract will be given serious consideration," she said.
And indeed, with each passing second and every step she took, it became increasingly clear that her life was about to change. After the end of "Unbreakable," she would have to adjust her entire rhythm of life. No longer could money shield her identity as the heir to wealth; privacy and secrecy were no longer for sale.
Of course, it was possible to mitigate problems and reduce damage in many situations, but avoiding them altogether was nearly impossible, even for someone with her resources.
Astralight was born out of necessity. With the colossal demand for a dedicated marketing and public relations team, forming a company was the only viable option. Irina wasn't interested in acting as an agent or public figure in the traditional sense; she preferred to handle things on her own terms.
After "Unbreakable," she couldn't imagine participating in another system plot, acting in movies, series, or reality shows. That wasn't her style, she only longed to live her quiet millionaire life, presiding from the top floor of her family's company, which was, in many ways, truly her own.
Her parents no longer wished to intervene, especially since retirement was more appealing than risking bankruptcy after years of stagnant profit. They planned to live quietly off their amassed fortune, while Irina built her own wealth through hard work.
Yet the company had been created for both her and Emil. Even if Emil wasn't enthusiastic about it, it existed for him too; he always refused to sign contracts, even with his own family's enterprise.
"It doesn't matter, I don't want anything to do with that anymore," he often said.
Yes, Emil had become quite the headache these days.
Irina wasn't in a hurry anyway; she just wanted the dress. So if nothing truly prevented her, she wouldn't hesitate to sign a contract. While she might have gladly signed for a promising partnership in the future, at that moment all she could think about was attending the awards and enjoying herself with fans and peers.
When it was finally time to head out, Irina emerged in her gorgeous dress and impeccable makeup, willingly posing for a photo shoot. It was a fun day. As she rode the elevator down toward the car that would take her to the event, she noticed the rainy weather. The soft patter of rain made her feel a little melancholic, an important day like this shouldn't be dampened by gloom, though.
She sighed thoughtfully about recent events in her life. She never imagined she would one day be embroiled in one of those System Plots, let alone be cast as the great antagonist—or even the big star. It was still inconceivable to her that she might have to pretend to despise a girl who was both sweet and beautiful. So troublesome.
Only she knew how hard those days had been, how she'd close her eyes at night knowing she had done something to hurt Bella. Had she strictly followed every directive of the plot, she might have done even worse… Just the thought sent shivers down her spine.
ZDF987 often had to console her, keeping her from spiraling into madness. More than just an Envoy, he was a steadfast presence in her life, an anchor in a nightmare she both hated and, in a twisted way, appreciated for the tragic beauty it held.
Then, like a miracle, a happy ending emerged.