“Is that you, Serena? Can’t an old colleague just call to catch up?” Zoe’s laughter was sickly sweet, dripping with fake warmth.

Isabella didn’t have time for games. “What do you want, Zoe?”

“Always so blunt, Serena.” Zoe’s chuckle turned smug. “I simply wanted to share my exciting news. My studio had its grand opening today.”

“I see.” Isabella’s voice was flat, utterly uninterested. Zoe’s achievements meant nothing to her.

“You don’t sound very impressed, Serena.” A hint of irritation crept into Zoe’s tone. She clearly expected a bigger reaction.

“Why would I be?” Isabella retorted, her sarcasm sharp. “Your studio’s success is your business. It has nothing to do with me.”

“Oh, but it does.” Zoe’s voice turned pointed, deliberately needling. “You’re an internationally celebrated designer, Serena. Yet your own studio remains hidden. Don’t you want the world to see it?”

Isabella instantly understood the taunt hidden within the boast.

“Save your gloating, Zoe.” Isabella’s tone turned icy. “Your victory is yours alone. My interest, or lack of it, is my own affair.”

“Don’t be like that, Serena.” Zoe’s voice softened into a false coaxing tone. “I’ve invited every major designer to the opening. Everyone is asking if you’ll be there.”

“I won’t.” Isabella shut her down without hesitation. “We move in different circles, Zoe. Please don’t contact me again.”

She ended the call and dropped her phone back into her bag.

“Hmph!” On the other end, Zoe listened to the dead line. Her face darkened, a sneer twisting her lips. Malice glittered in her eyes. “Think you can hide from what’s coming, Isabella? Just you wait. The real drama is just beginning.”

Unaware of Zoe’s plotting, Isabella felt a fresh wave of frustration. The call was an unwelcome distraction.

Her car sped on toward the city center.

Soon, Isabella arrived at her studio. She walked to her desk, sat down, and booted up her computer, ready to lose herself in work. But the moment her browser opened, a flood of headlines grabbed her attention.

“Apex Design’s Star Zoe Tremblay Launches Stunning New Studio in Jazmah.”

“Industry Titans Flock to Zoe Tremblay’s Dazzling Studio Opening.”

“Zoe Tremblay’s Studio Inundated with Orders on Day One, Future Looks Bright.”

Every headline, every glamorous photo, screamed of Zoe’s triumph.

Isabella clicked on an article, scanning it quickly. It featured Zoe in a breathtaking gown, surrounded by flowers and adulation, her face a mask of supreme confidence. She addressed reporters with polished ease, her words full of ambition.

“My studio is poised to become Jazmah’s premier design destination, offering clients an unparalleled experience…”

“I envision this studio as a trendsetter, defining the future of design…”

“I am confident we will soon be recognized among the elite design houses, both domestically and internationally…”

The article’s comment section was buzzing.

“Zoe’s studio is open, but where is Serena?”