Hazel had never been the type to complain about life.
Complaining never put food on the table. It never paid school fees. It never bought the textbooks her sister needed.
Hard work did.
And Hazel had mastered that.
In the small neighborhood where she lived, everyone knew Hazel for one thing—her talent with clothes.
She wasn't just a seamstress.
She was an artist.
Women from different parts of the area came to her tiny workspace with pictures from magazines or ideas they struggled to explain. Somehow, Hazel always understood exactly what they meant.
And more often than not, she made it even better.
"You always go beyond what I imagine," one of her customers once said while admiring a dress Hazel had made.
Hazel only smiled politely.
But compliments didn't slow her down.
Day after day she worked. Sketching. Sewing. Adjusting fabrics late into the night. Her fingers often ached, but she never stopped.
Because there was always something more important waiting.
Abi.
Everything Hazel did was for her younger sister.
Abi had just started university, studying Medicine—one of the most demanding and respected courses anyone could take.
Hazel had nearly cried the day the admission letter arrived.
Not because it was difficult.
But because she knew how much more she would now have to sacrifice.
Tuition. Books. Accommodation. Clothes. Transportation.
Everything.
Yet Hazel never once regretted it.
Because Abi deserved the world.
And in many ways… she already had it.
At the university, Abi had quickly become someone everyone noticed.
She was breathtakingly beautiful.
Her smooth skin, confident walk, and graceful curves made her stand out effortlessly among other students. Many people assumed she came from a wealthy family.
The truth was very different.
Every dress Abi wore.
Every skincare product on her shelf.
Every little comfort she enjoyed.
All of it came from Hazel's sleepless nights and relentless work.
Even when Hazel couldn't afford simple things for herself—body lotion, new shoes, proper meals—she made sure Abi never lacked anything.
If there was only enough for one of them…
Hazel always chose Abi.
Meanwhile, life continued moving forward.
One afternoon, while Hazel worked on a new design, something unexpected happened.
A message spread through the local fashion community.
Luca Valentino Fashion House—one of the biggest fashion companies in the city—was opening a new recruitment program.
They were looking for three new designers.
Only three.
The announcement alone sent waves through the fashion world. Designers from different areas immediately began preparing portfolios and submissions.
For someone unknown to enter such a powerful company… it was almost impossible.
Most people said the positions were already decided.
Connections.
Money.
Influence.
That was how opportunities like that usually worked.
Hazel knew all of that.
And yet…
She still tried.
For three days she barely slept, perfecting her designs. Sketch after sketch filled her notebook as she carefully prepared her submission.
No connections.
No money to bribe anyone.
Only her talent.
Weeks later, the results were announced.
Hazel stood quietly among dozens of hopeful designers as the final list was revealed.
Three names.
The first.
The second.
Then the third.
"…Hazel Hart."
For a moment, Hazel thought she had heard wrong.
But the murmurs around her confirmed it.
She had been selected.
Number three.
Many whispered that if talent alone had decided the rankings… she would have easily been first.
But Hazel didn't care about that.
She had made it.
Through nothing but hard work.
For the first time in her life…
A real door had opened.
And behind that door waited a world far bigger than Hazel could imagine.
A world that belonged to one man.
Luca Valentino.