章 80: I’ll be here, waiting

A week had passed, and Sydney continued her relentless bullying. Her sneers and snide remarks were constant, but I had learned to tune them out. What bothered me more was Carmen's absence.

She was swamped with work, rarely home, and when she was, I was already asleep. Life was becoming increasingly difficult, and I felt the weight of it pressing down on me.

In a few hours, I would be on a plane to New York for my modeling school. The thought was bittersweet. On one hand, it was a relief to get away from Sydney's torment, but on the other, it meant leaving without a proper goodbye from Carmen. She had her own work to deal with, and I couldn't blame her for that. Still, it stung.

Isabel was helping me pack my suitcase, her presence a soothing balm to my frayed nerves. She held up a sleek black dress, one of my favorites. "This one for the gala, right?"

I nodded. "Definitely. And the red one for the cocktail event. I want to make a good impression."