Five years after moving abroad, I return to the country for the first time at the invitation of a business partner. My partner sends a reliable assistant to meet me at the company entrance.

I never expect to see my ex, Roy Henderson, who disappeared without a trace five years ago.

Back then, a car accident lands me in the hospital. I need his signature, but he is nowhere to be found. Later, I find out he has gone to celebrate his lover's birthday.

Everyone assumes I will forgive him like I always do. After all, I have forgiven him countless times before.

As soon as I get out of the hospital, I leave the country and disappear from his life completely.

Roy frowns as I walk into the company. "You actually tracked me down?"

He lets out a sigh. "Forget it. Since you've found me anyway, Ava just had a baby and is still in postpartum recovery. Go take care of her."

When I got out of the taxi, a message from our business partner came through, saying they had already arranged for someone to greet me at the company entrance.

When I walked over, I realized the person waiting there was none other than my ex-boyfriend from five years ago, Roy Henderson.

At that moment, Roy was standing at the front entrance with several subordinates, holding up a welcome sign.

As I approached, Roy and the people with him all froze.

"Roy, isn't that your ex-girlfriend, Sylvia Foster? Why is she chasing you all the way to your company now?"

A flicker of surprise crossed Roy's face before it quickly turned into smug satisfaction.

"Back then, she begged me not to break up with her. In the end, I had to leave outright just to get rid of her. It hasn't even been that long, and she still managed to track me down."

After hearing that, everyone looked at me with open disdain.

"How can a woman be this desperate? She drove Roy away, and she still won't let go. Even if you want to get married badly, this is too much."

"She probably fooled around too much when she was younger and now wants a decent man to take her in. Good thing Roy got out early."

Seeing how well dressed I was, with my makeup flawlessly done, someone stepped forward and tugged at my clothes.

"Wow, you can actually afford something this nice? Don't tell me you're pretending to be rich just to impress Roy. Did you even take out a loan for this?"

I let out a cold laugh and slapped his filthy hand away. I knew exactly why they were so shocked.

Back then, I had been nothing more than a worn-down housewife trailing behind Roy, staying home full-time to manage the household for him. I never had the energy to take care of myself.

My clothes had been unfashionable to the point of embarrassment.

When Roy cheated, the blame automatically fell on me. To them, I was a useless woman who couldn't keep a man.

However, that was long in the past.

After going abroad, I was fortunate enough to be noticed by a leading designer in the field and went on to become an internationally renowned designer.

I had countless works under my name.

Judging by their reactions, they clearly had no idea that the person they were here to welcome was me. After leaving the country, I deliberately changed my name to make a clean break from my past.

Now, my name was Sarah Foster. Sylvia Foster was gone for good, and I had nothing to do with Roy anymore.

When I remained silent for a long time, a woman who used to be close to me back then stepped forward to speak up.

"Sylvia, you disappeared for so long. Roy was actually pretty anxious over the past few years. I even heard him asking around about where you were."

At her words, the smile on Roy's face stiffened for a moment. Then, as if he had thought of something, his smug expression returned.

"You came at just the right time. Ava just had a baby and is still in postpartum recovery. Since you don't have a job, you can go over and take care of her."

Roy's self-importance was almost nauseating. I couldn't fathom how I had ever been infatuated with a man like him. I had no intention of getting dragged into their mess again.

Just as I was about to reveal my identity, Roy interrupted, "Don't feel sorry for yourself. At this point in your life, with nothing to your name, only I would even consider letting you in. Ava is easygoing. Just do your part, and she won't make things difficult."

Five years had passed, yet whenever Roy mentioned Ava Blake, his expression softened. In contrast, I would always be the one trailing behind him, taking care of everything.

Thankfully, everything had already changed. Roy and Ava had a child, and I had long since built my own career.

I had no patience to argue further, so I cut him off. "I'm the one you've been waiting for. Let's go upstairs right now."

The moment I said that, everyone around burst into laughter.

"Straight upstairs? Sylvia, who do you think you are? Did you even go to college?"

"Look at yourself. Which part of you looks like a designer?"

"You just share a last name with Sarah. You don't actually think you're the one we're here to welcome, do you?"

Even Roy smiled. "Sylvia, I know your dream was to be a designer, but the person we're here for is an internationally renowned designer. It's really not you. At your age, you shouldn't be chasing such unrealistic dreams."

I didn't even bother arguing. I pushed past the crowd, intent on going straight upstairs. Once I met the partner, everything would be cleared up.

Roy, of course, thought otherwise. He grabbed my sleeve, trying to pull me back.

Then, a delicate voice came from behind. "Roy, what are you doing?"

I turned around in surprise. It was Ava. Wasn't she supposed to be in postpartum recovery?

Before I could think further, Roy's expression turned serious. "Ava, you're still in postpartum recovery. How can you just come out like this? What if you catch a cold?"

He draped his suit jacket over her shoulders. The scene felt like a replay of the past, yet I felt no stir of emotion.

Ava, however, was anything but calm. The moment she saw me, her expression immediately darkened.

Roy, completely unaware of her reaction, carried on as if nothing had happened. "Ava, you should head home. Sylvia's here, so she can help you with your recovery. That will put my mind at ease."

"Perfect!" Ava said with a bright smile, turning to me. "Sylvia is great at taking care of people. With her here, I'm in good hands."

Even after all these years, Ava still knew exactly how to get under my skin.

"Enough," Roy said. "I'm already giving you a job, which is more than enough. It's only because Ava is weak and needs care. Otherwise, my family doesn't need another housekeeper like you."

I kept my expression cold and said firmly, "I'm the one you're here for."

"Roy, take me upstairs now. I'm the designer Mr. Lopez—"

Before I could finish, Roy lost his patience and shoved me to the ground. "Do you even understand how important today's designer is? Move! Don't just stand there!"

I fought to keep my temper in check. "Roy, I don't have time for this."

With that, I grabbed my bag and started walking toward the elevator.

Just then, Ava let out a startled gasp, pointing at my outfit with trembling hands. "Roy, her clothes look like pieces from the latest runway collection."

Roy's softened expression quickly turned cold. He studied my outfit closely and sneered. "Her outfit's from this year's collection.

"At this point, the factories probably haven't even finished producing it. Where did you get it?"

Before I could answer, Roy continued, "I know you're trying to get my attention by wearing new pieces, but do you realize how disastrous it is for a designer to wear knockoffs?"

I frowned and shook off Roy's hand from my sleeve. I knew exactly how damaging a knockoff could be for a designer, but this wasn't a knockoff.

Every piece I was wearing had been designed and made by me. Aside from being loaned out for a single runway show, there was no other piece like it in the world.

"I designed and made this outfit myself," I said firmly.

Ava immediately let out a mocking laugh. "Did you really design this, Sylvia? Don't tell me you're just Sarah under a different name."

I was about to nod when Roy slapped me across the face. "Can you stop acting insane? Look around you. Sarah is an internationally renowned designer.

"Countless major brands are fighting to work with her, but you? You don't even deserve to speak her name!"

Everyone around me looked at me with contempt.

I knew exactly what they meant. Five years ago, I had been a dull, exhausted housewife, following Roy around and handling chores. There was no way anyone would have linked me to that renowned designer.

I was Sarah, yet I refused to explain myself to them. I covered my face and glared at Roy.

Perhaps because I had never stood my ground like this before, my anger seemed to catch Roy off guard. He frowned, pulled a card from his wallet, and handed it to me.

"There's some money on this card. Use it to buy some clothes. After all, you've been with me for so many years. If you really want to meet Sarah, I'll help arrange it, but don't wear knockoffs."

I met everyone's gaze and handed the card back. "No need. We have nothing to do with each other anymore."

No matter how sour Roy's expression grew, I walked past him and headed upstairs.

I always kept my word. Since I had promised to meet the partner, I couldn't leave in such a messy way. Before I had even taken two steps, Roy's cold voice cut through the air.

"Nothing to do with me? Sylvia, you really are something."

Perhaps humiliated in front of everyone, Roy gritted his teeth in anger.