Happiness

CHAPTER ONE

The moment I stepped into Rymara, this sprawling metropolis of glamour and ambition, I knew there was no turning back. Yet, for all the glitz, for all the promises this city whispered, the knot of uncertainty in my chest tightened with every step.

The airport buzzed with energy-travelers hurried to their destinations, the rhythmic clatter of suitcases rolling on tiles, and the swirl of languages I barely understood. But I stood still, rooted to the spot, taking in my surroundings like I was a foreign object in a world too vast. Each breath reminded me of the distance from home-no, the distance I had chosen to create.

I tugged my mask down slightly, my fingers curling tighter around the suitcase handle. It was the only anchor I had to the life I left behind. A reminder of everything I had sacrificed-or perhaps, everything I had refused. This was meant to be my freedom. A fresh start. But freedom had a bitter edge, like the lingering taste of regret that followed each decision.

"Kai Yan?"

The sound of my name sliced through the haze of my thoughts, a voice sharp and professional, yet too polished. I turned to find a woman, tall and composed, her gaze scanning me with quick precision.

"I'm Jennifer," she said, offering a hand. "I've been assigned to help you get situated."

I took her hand, my voice steadier than I expected as I replied, "Thank you." I glanced around briefly, grounding myself again in the chaotic airport terminal. Jennifer's presence was no mistake; she was exactly where Mr. Lu said she'd be. But even with her standing before me, the sense of being completely untethered gnawed at my core.

She continued briskly, "Your first day at the Seraphim School of Fashion is tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. sharp. Orientation will be followed by a tour of the facilities. Be prepared; they expect punctuality."

The weight of her words settled on me. The school's exacting standards were already pressing in, and I wasn't even through the door yet. But I nodded. "I'll be ready."

Jennifer's voice softened slightly as she handed me an option that would be impossible for most to refuse. "We've arranged accommodation for you. Convenient, fully furnished, and close to campus."

Everything about the offer was logical, practical, the kind of thing I'd imagined falling into place seamlessly. But there was a part of me that resisted. I hadn't come all this way to take the easy route, to surrender control to the system I had fought so hard to break away from.

"I appreciate the offer," I said, my words more measured now. "But I'd rather find my own place."

Her raised brow signaled curiosity, though she was too professional to let it linger. "Are you sure? It would save you a lot of trouble, especially now."

For a moment, the idea tempted me. The convenience, the comfort. But I couldn't shake the feeling that relying on someone else so soon would dull the sharpness I had been honing for months. This was my journey to walk alone.

"I'm sure," I replied, my voice firmer now.

Jennifer didn't press. She simply handed me her card, sliding it into my hand with smooth efficiency. "In case you change your mind," she said, "or need anything else. I'm here to help."

I nodded, pocketing the card. It was a lifeline, but one I wasn't ready to use yet.

She glanced at her phone again, probably mentally checking off her tasks. "I'll let you go for now. Get some rest, but remember-10:00 a.m. sharp tomorrow."

I watched her disappear into the crowd, and with her departure, the reality of my situation hit me again. Alone. But that was how it had to be. It was better this way.

The evening was cooling down outside, the city unfurling before me like a living organism-its streets pulsing with ambition, lights stretching skyward in defiance of the dark. Rymara was a city on the move. But me? I was still standing on the threshold, waiting to find my place.

I wandered until I found a quiet café, tucked away between towering structures. The smell of freshly brewed coffee greeted me, the soft murmur of conversation providing a temporary refuge from the enormity of the city outside. I ordered something light, taking a seat by the window, watching life unfold on the streets as if I were merely a spectator.

I was here, in the city I had fought to reach. But I wasn't a part of it yet. The faces passing by had a rhythm to them, a routine. I was still an outsider, untethered, trying to find footing in a place where nothing felt familiar.

As I sipped my drink, my mind wandered to my uncle. I hadn't told him about Jennifer's offer, or my refusal to accept it. He wouldn't understand. He was too close to the past I was running from, too entwined with the life I had left behind. I was here to carve out my own path, on my own terms. To survive without the strings that had always held me back.

Night had fallen by the time I left the café, the city bathed in the soft glow of streetlights. I didn't have a place to stay, but exhaustion dulled the sharp edges of that reality. I would figure it out. I had to.

Then, a man bumped into me, nearly knocking my suitcase to the ground. He was quick, almost too quick, to react, his hands hovering over my belongings as if unsure whether to help or let go.

"Sorry about that," he said, his accent thick but polished, his smile disarming but guarded. "You seem new here. Got a place to stay?"

I hesitated. My instincts flared. This wasn't a man I could easily read, but the day had worn me down, and I was too tired to keep up my usual defenses. "Not yet," I admitted, the truth slipping out before I could catch it.

His smile widened slightly. "Lucien Belmont," he introduced himself, extending a hand I didn't take. Instead, he quickly pulled out his phone, showing me pictures of sleek, modern apartments. "I work at Le Jardin Noir Apartments. We've got vacancies, and I can get you a discount for tonight."

The images looked almost too good for the price, but the thought of wandering the streets all night was even less appealing. Against my better judgment, I nodded. "Let me see it first."

We walked through the quieter streets, the distant hum of the city fading into the background. I dialed Mr. Lu as we walked, but no answer came. My unease grew with each failed attempt.

Lucien noticed, his eyes sharp as they flickered in my direction. "No need to worry, Kai," he said, voice calm but unsettling. "Mr. Lu already knows where you're headed."

I froze mid-step. How did he know about Mr. Lu? The knot of unease tightened in my chest, and when I met Lucien's gaze, his smile had shifted, the warmth gone.

"What's the matter, Kai? Got any last messages for Mr. Lu?" His voice had taken on a darker edge, and the cold dread that washed over me was undeniable.