In a dark, cold room, a woman stood by the window, her silhouette illuminated by the faint glow of the moon. Her olive-green eyes gleamed like precious emeralds, sharp yet filled with an unsettling storm of emotions. Her curves were to die for, her beauty so breathtaking that men bowed their heads in admiration, while women burned with envy.
This woman was Esmery Anderson.
As one of the top models under Starlight Entertainment Industry, Esmery had built a name for herself. Alongside her sister, Astrid Hale, they were considered the golden gems of the industry. Despite being only a week apart, their personalities were worlds apart—Esmery was composed, disciplined, and meticulous, while Astrid thrived on attention, excitement, and unpredictability.
But no matter their differences, they were sisters—inseparable.
Or so Esmery thought.
At ten years old, her life had already been decided for her. Her family had arranged a marriage with the prestigious Wilson family, binding her future to none other than Diego Wilson. At first, she despised the thought of an engagement with a stranger, but over time, Diego had proven to be everything she could ever want—patient, kind, loyal, and understanding.
Not only was he her fiancé, but he was also the President of Starlight Entertainment Industry—one of the richest and most influential entertainment companies in Country X.
At work, they maintained a strict Boss-Employee relationship, their interactions limited to polite exchanges and the occasional holding of hands. Esmery never liked excessive physical intimacy—it made her uneasy. Diego understood, never pressuring her, always respecting her boundaries.
To Esmery, she was the luckiest woman alive.
Until recently.
Lately, Diego and Astrid's behavior had changed.
The first red flag was when Esmery had been chosen as the face of Country X's biggest jewelry brand, a deal that would skyrocket her career. But out of nowhere, Diego changed his decision—Astrid would replace her.
When Esmery asked why, Diego simply smiled and said,
"The company requested Astrid instead. The previous announcement was a mistake. Besides, I'm just helping my future sister-in-law. It's only fair, right?"
Esmery swallowed her disappointment and forced a smile. Of course, she was happy for her sister. If Astrid could shine, she had no reason to be upset.
But then things got weirder.
Astrid stopped coming home at night.
"Diego wants me to stay at the company overnight," she explained, "so I can prepare for the upcoming endorsement without being late."
At first, Esmery didn't think much of it. But every time she visited the company the next morning, she was met with the same response from her colleagues:
"There was no practice yesterday."
A cold shiver ran down her spine.
She asked Diego directly, but instead of the usual calm and patient man she knew, he snapped at her.
"Why are you always jealous of Astrid? Can't you just be happy for her?"
Esmery flinched. The Diego she knew had never raised his voice at her before.
That night, as she lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind raced with thoughts she didn't want to believe.
Something wasn't right.
Her fiancé, her sister, the sudden changes—it all felt off.
She needed answers.
Determined, Esmery slipped out of bed, wrapped herself in a silk robe, and slid her feet into her fluffy slippers. She moved cautiously down the dimly lit hallway, her heartbeat pounding louder than her footsteps.
She stopped outside her mother's room.
Taking a deep breath, she knocked.
"Come in."
Her mother's voice was calm, yet something about it made Esmery's skin prickle.