Destiny's love

Part- 48

Author's POV

Rohan had always been patient when it came to his moves. He understood people better than they understood themselves — especially when it came to their ambitions.
And Hayoung's ambition was his golden ticket.

She was already respected in the modeling industry, her name circulating in both India and Korea. All it would take was the right words, the right "opportunities," and she'd throw herself so deep into work that everything else in her life would fall away.

Her friends, her relationships... all just "sacrifices" for the sake of success.

Rohan's POV

It started small.
A back-to-back shoot here, an urgent brand meeting there.
"Hayoung, the director for this campaign flew in just for you. We can't miss this window."

"You're the only one the client trusts to carry this concept. It's a huge deal — maybe the biggest of your career."

Always with a smile. Always with the tone that made it sound like I was on her side, cheering for her.

The truth? I was building her a cage. A cage she'd willingly step into, thinking it was a stage.

I added late-night rehearsals for runway walks, "unexpected" last-minute changes that required extra hours of styling and shooting. The more exhausted she was, the easier it would be to keep her exactly where I wanted her — here, with me, away from them.

And when she started sleeping in the office lounge because it was "more convenient," I knew the plan was working.

Hayoung's POV

At first, I didn't think much of it. This was the busiest season for everyone in the industry. If I wanted to keep my place at the top, I had to be available — flexible, reliable. That's how I'd made it this far.
Besides, Rohan always framed it like a favor to me. "This is your moment, Hayoung." "If you nail these shoots, the doors this will open... you have no idea."

And he wasn't wrong. The clients I'd been working with lately were some of the biggest names in fashion. I told myself I could rest later.

Days started blending together. I'd leave a shoot past midnight only to be back in makeup at 6 a.m. Sometimes it just made sense to crash at the lounge — going home would mean losing sleep in traffic.

I didn't realize until a week had passed that I hadn't had a proper meal outside of set in days. Or that I hadn't seen Nayoung at all.

Every time I thought of calling her, I convinced myself I'd do it after the next shoot... and then the next... and then I'd be too tired to talk.

Jungkook called, of course. Sometimes I answered. Sometimes I let it ring while I was in the middle of a fitting or between takes. I hated the edge in his voice when he said I was overworking myself — he didn't understand this industry like I did.

This was my job. My dream.

Nayoung's POV

Two weeks.
Two whole weeks and the only times I'd seen Hayoung were in glossy social media posts from brand accounts.
I told myself not to overthink. She was a model, she had busy seasons. But something about the way she'd been avoiding me — and not just me, but even Jungkook — made my stomach twist.

When I texted her to grab coffee, she replied, "Can't, shoot."
When I called, she'd answer breathless, whispering that she was "in the middle of something."