VALERIA
A YEAR LATER
I reclined on a lounge chair by the swimming pool, my body and mind completely at ease.
I was on vacation with Zane in another country—an escape he had tricked me into.
After graduation, I had taken over Treasure Media, and the relentless workload barely left me time to breathe. Yet, as much as I hated to admit it, he had been right. I needed this.
Time really flew by.
I gazed up at the clear blue sky, the events of last year playing through my mind.
My lips curled slightly as I recalled Vanessa’s spectacular downfall.
She had gone live, sobbing and claiming I had stolen her music to gain fame. She even accused me of staying mysterious out of fear—fear that she would expose me. And the netizens, ever eager for drama, took her side.
After all, between a music major at one of the country’s top conservatories and a business administration major, the former seemed like the more credible artist.
