Eunji’s life had become a carefully calculated routine. Each day blurred into the next—perfected, refined, flawless. Her image, her body, and her soul had all been sculpted with precision. She woke up at dawn for another round of skin treatments, spent hours practicing her poses, her runway walk, and every small detail that could make her more desirable, more polished. Hiroto’s approval, once a distant hope, now felt like the only validation that mattered.

But somewhere deep inside, Eunji was beginning to break. Her eyes, once full of naive wonder, had hardened. Her smile, once genuine, was now a practiced curve of lips, something she put on like a mask before stepping out into the world.

Despite her internal struggles, the world outside saw her as nothing short of perfect. And the industry had taken notice.

It was a rainy afternoon when the call came. Eunji was in the middle of a modeling practice session, her long, glossy hair cascading around her like a black silk curtain. She had just finished her walk for the tenth time, her body drenched in sweat and exhaustion, when the assistant ran into the room, her face flushed with excitement.

"Eunji-chan! Eunji-chan! You have to take this call!" the assistant squealed, holding a phone out toward her.

Eunji wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand, still exhausted from the grueling practice. But her heart quickened. She knew this could be important. Hiroto had always told her that the next step—something big—was just around the corner, that all her sacrifices and efforts would lead to something incredible.

She reluctantly took the phone, stepping away from the mirrors, her heels clicking sharply against the floor.

“Hello?” she said, her voice calm but betraying a hint of curiosity.

"Is this Eunji Kwon?" a deep, professional voice asked.

"Yes, this is her."

"Eunji, this is Yuki Tanaka, from L'Oréal Japan. We’ve been following your progress through the agency, and we’re extremely impressed with your potential. We would like to offer you a contract to represent L'Oréal as one of our top international models."

Eunji’s breath caught in her throat. L'Oréal. The name itself was a symbol of prestige, of beauty beyond limits. She had always dreamed of being one of the faces behind such a prestigious brand, but she never thought it would happen so soon. Not like this. Not under these circumstances.

She swallowed hard. “You... you’re serious?” she asked, disbelief in her voice.

“We’ve seen the potential in you, Eunji. Your look, your style, your commitment... it’s all there. We want you to join the L'Oréal family and represent the brand globally. We believe you have the power to bring something unique to our campaigns.”

Eunji could hardly breathe. It was happening. The moment she had worked for, the moment Hiroto had pushed her toward—it was all coming true. She had become flawless enough to attract the attention of an international powerhouse. The world was her oyster now.

But as she stood there, holding the phone, something gnawed at her from within. The joy of success, the thrill of being chosen—it didn’t feel as satisfying as it should have. There was a hollow pit in her stomach, a sense of emptiness that she couldn’t shake.

She had climbed to the top of this carefully constructed world, but at what cost?

She could hear Hiroto’s voice in her mind: This is what we’ve been working toward, Eunji. This is your future. Your success.

The pressure, the expectations—they had shaped her into the perfect model, but they hadn’t fixed her broken heart. Not really.

"Eunji-chan? Are you still there?" Yuki's voice broke through her thoughts.

“Yes. Yes, I’m here,” Eunji quickly replied, shaking off the feeling of discomfort that had settled over her.

“Then we’ll have you meet with our team in Paris next week to finalize the details. Congratulations, Eunji. You’ve earned this.”

The call ended, but Eunji didn’t move. She stood there, still holding the phone in her hand, her mind racing. The excitement of success and the crushing weight of realization pressed down on her at once.

She had achieved everything Hiroto had wanted for her—everything that the industry had asked of her. She had transformed herself into the perfect model, the ideal candidate for the highest-profile campaigns. But in the process, she had lost herself.

She hadn’t done this for herself. She had done this because she had no choice.

For the first time, Eunji allowed herself to acknowledge the truth. She was trapped in a golden cage, surrounded by wealth, success, and beauty—but none of it meant anything if it came at the expense of who she truly was.

And now, she had everything the world could offer—except freedom.

That night, after the announcement settled in her mind, Eunji sat by the window of her room in Hiroto’s mansion. The lights of Tokyo stretched out before her, bright and alive, yet she felt farther from it than ever.

She stared at the city, her reflection in the glass juxtaposed against the busy, glowing skyline. She was perfect. Beautiful. Successful. And yet, all she could think about was the price she had paid to get here.

Her fingers traced the curve of her face, the sharp cheekbones, the flawless skin—features she had once wished for, now etched into her being like a permanent reminder of everything she had lost.

The next morning, Eunji began preparing for the next phase. Paris. The L'Oréal contract. The pinnacle of her career.

But with every step she took toward the world of fashion, toward the success she had earned, a part of her resisted. The weight of her own deception—the feeling that she had abandoned everything that once mattered—pressed harder than ever.

She had everything now. But was it enough? Would it ever be enough?

She didn’t have the answers. Not yet. But she would keep moving forward. Because, in this life she had created, there was no room for doubt. Only perfection.