Sunlight streamed through the wide windows of the Grey estate as Lia walked into the dining room, the smell of fresh toast and fruit filling the air. Amy stood politely near the entrance, hands clasped.

“Oh Amy, please join us too,” Georgia offered with a warm smile. “Are you hungry?”

Before Amy could reply, Felix chimed in, smirking from across the table. “Mom, she’s a professional. She won’t join us, right Amy?”

“Yes, Master Felix is correct,” Amy responded with a polite bow. “Please enjoy your meal. I’ll just wait for Miss Lia.”

Lia gave Felix a sharp frown as she sat down, silently calling him out for being insufferable even this early in the morning.

After breakfast, Lia followed Amy upstairs to her room. Once inside, Amy handed her a tablet with several files pulled up. “A few songs have been selected for your first record,” she explained.

Lia flipped through them, but paused when Amy added, “Your debut was initially scheduled for next month… but Mr. Lucian has moved it up. He wants it as soon as possible.”

“What?” Lia blinked, stunned. “Why the sudden rush?”

“I only follow my boss’s orders,” Amy shrugged.

An hour later, Lia found herself sitting alone in Lucian’s office at the company. She tapped her fingers against the armrest of the chair, trying to calm her racing thoughts. Just as she considered stepping out, the door opened.

“Miss Lia,” Jeremy said with his usual cheerful grin.

“Hi, Jeremy,” she greeted with a small smile. “What’s going on? Where’s Lucian?”

Jeremy scratched his head. “He’ll be here in a sec. But… there's going to be a party in a few days. We're finalizing a contract with Mr. Sen Williams.”

The words hit her like a train.

“Contract… Mr. Williams?” she repeated, her voice barely a whisper.

Right then, Lucian walked in as if on cue. “You heard him right,” he said. “You’ll be facing them before your debut. It’s time.”

Jeremy sensed the tension and slipped out, leaving them alone.

Lia stood frozen. A thousand emotions stirred inside her. Fear. Rage. Anticipation.

Lucian’s gaze didn’t waver. “Are you scared?”

Her lips tightened. “It’s them who should be scared.”

A smirk tugged at his lips as he slid a file across the desk. “Sign it. It’s official now.”

She opened the folder and flipped through the pages, her heart beating in her throat. This was the moment. This was real. She signed the contract and handed it back.

Lucian leaned back. “Your revenge officially starts now.”

Lia grinned, her eyes dark with determination. “I can’t wait to see the fear in their eyes.”

Lucian watched her, captivated. There was no trace of the broken girl he’d once carried out of the water. Cordelia Grey was steel now, and he couldn’t help but admire the fire that burned behind her eyes.

—

The very next morning, a memo was sent around the company.

Official Announcement: Our newest artist, Miss Cordelia Grey, has signed under our label!

Jeremy walked her around the building, introducing her to the staff as whispers spread. Many were surprised by how someone with no prior background had climbed so high so fast—but the moment she stepped into the studio, all doubts were silenced.

Lia had reviewed the draft of her debut song but wasn’t satisfied. “It doesn’t feel like me,” she told the producer and immediately took a pencil, scribbling out verses, rearranging stanzas, and adding raw emotion to the lyrics.

The producer leaned over her shoulder, eyebrows raised. “Not bad,” he said, nodding. “Let’s go with your version.”

Lucian and Jeremy watched through the studio glass as she stepped up to the mic. After three intense takes, the room burst into praise.

“You totally rocked,” the producer beamed. “That was perfect.”

Lia smiled as she removed the headphones. “I just hope my fans will feel the same.”

—

Meanwhile, across the city, Ophelia sat with Sen in a posh hotel suite, flipping through dress options for the upcoming party.

“So this company… it’s the one causing waves in the industry?” she asked with a honeyed tone.

Sen nodded. “It wasn’t our first choice, but they agreed quickly after our proposal. The directors were confident about the collaboration.”

Ophelia smiled slyly. “You should be thankful I’m your lucky charm.”

Sen laughed, but his attention drifted to the paperwork in his hand. He didn’t notice the flicker of unease in her eyes as she recalled the moment from the mall—that face she thought she'd never see again.

—

Back at Starlight Entertainment, a notification pinged on countless phones.

@CordeliaGreyOfficial
“It’s me, guys! Excited to tell you all I’ll be releasing a song at the end of the month. I hope you all will listen! 🥰”

The image attached: her silhouette in the recording booth, mic in hand, passion in every line of her posture.

Ophelia, lounging in her suite, stared at her screen in stunned silence.

Her fingers trembled as she gripped her phone.

April was alive.

And she was coming.