It had been Hayley's dream ever since she was a child to have her own clothing line.
Her father's family had clothing shops, and so she was introduced to clothes from a young age.
In the past, she had wanted to create designs in order to help her father's business prosper, but right now, she wanted to do it in order to make all those who left them and mocked them regret ever doing so.
The mother and daughter who were talking about Hayley's dream were then joined by another voice.
"Then I shall do my best in hotel management to help Aunt out while you design those clothes. But do remember I should be your first model."
It was Alissa Coleman.
She was the daughter of Elloise's only sibling, her older brother. She had decided to come here from the countryside to help her aunt and cousin in the hotel. For they never forgot their family when they were still rich.
At the age of sixteen, she already reached the height of 5'7", and at her age, she still has time for improvement. The proportion of her body was also perfect.
Alissa indeed has the body of a model. Her humble appearance is the only downside, but overall, she could be a sought-after model. Even while working at a convenience store, some people would ask her if she was a model.
Both she and Hayley have black hair.
Hers reached her waist while Hayley's reached her armpit. Both have wavy hair, matched with their brown, almost black eyes. Their complexion was fair, and their facial features were enough to make a few turn around to look back at them.
It is visible that Coleman's blood is stronger than Phillips, for most of Hayley's features came from her mother. And people would say that she was the carbon copy of her mother back when Elloise was young.
"Hmmm..."
Hayley looked at Alissa from top to bottom as she circled her as if scrutinizing her.
Alissa laughed as she slapped Hayley's arm.
"Stop that, will you? As if you still don't know my proportion. You've been doing most of my clothes."
They would buy pre-loved clothes, and Hayley would alter everything to their sizes. So they don't need to look for clothes in their sizes, but instead for clothes with good design.
"Geez, will you let me be a professional designer just for a bit?" Hayley touched her arm as she pouted.
"With your eyes, one look, and you'll know the sizes of those around you. That is professional enough already," Alissa replied with a smile.
Being surrounded by clothes, it became natural for Hayley to watch people daily and try to measure them with only her eyes. Doing this for so long, she somehow developed her eyes.
"And how about the girl upstairs? Have you checked?"
Alissa asked. She had heard about the person who was now staying in the penthouse. She was referring to what Hayley must have observed after seeing Amber when she brought up her food.
"Hmmm, more or less. But I think she hasn't really eaten for a day or two. She looked like she had lost weight. Her clothes became a little loose. I think that when that was bought, it must have fitted her perfectly."
Without batting an eye, Hayley started describing what she saw.
"So you really did check her out?"
Alissa turned agape.
She was just saying it on the passing. Who would have thought that Hayley indeed checked her out?
"My eyes are used to it, without intending that I would always end up noticing those things," Hayley defended.
Elloise couldn't help but shake her head. She just felt so lucky that no matter what had happened to her family, she had these two who helped her overcome all those hardships.
As the three of them chat happily, Amber finishes her bath and is currently looking at the remaining clothes in front of her.
Most of her clothes were thrown out to make space for the things she truly needed. Their house before coming here was already cleaned out as well, since they came here to fulfill a promise, and after that, they plan on staying in this country.
But she also knew that this promise wasn't something that simple. Her parents must have another thought or plan about it. She'll only find out once she meets the people whom her parents made an appointment with.
The only problem is that her parents were unable to tell her where she should start looking. Because of how things unfolded, she was unable to ask, and her father was unable to tell.
She could only start in the city they were heading to, which is this city.
"I just hope this city won't be too big. This is the third year. If I don't meet them, then the promise would be for naught."
She can just forget it if she wouldn't be able to find them, but knowing what the promise was, she couldn't just abandon them. And she knew how important this promise was to her parents.
As she picked a cloth and breathed deeply on the fabric, the scent of her mother, who helped her pack, was still there.
Her tears that had stopped coming out ever since she buried their bodies came rushing out as she sat on the floor, burying her face in the clothes. Of course, it was painful.
It was so painful to be the one to bury your own parents' bodies.
And in a place that is secluded from everything. In that cold place, she had to bury them.
She cried to her heart's content, not worrying whether someone might come and hear her.
~Don't forget to take care of yourself. Eat and sleep properly. When it's cold, wear warmer clothes. When it's hot, just try not to wear too short clothing. Just please take care of yourself. We love you, always.~
Her mother's last words resounded in her mind after a long while of crying. She wiped her eyes and nose, then changed into a set of clothes.
She then walked to the kitchen and reheated the food that had arrived more than an hour ago.
She then played songs on her phone to make the place a little bit livelier, as she ate. Still, tears flow from her eyes.
This is the first time she is eating alone in a new place. Whenever she sets foot in a new place, she is with her parents, together with the bodyguards loyal to her father.
But they all slowly died one after another. The last ones died in the last country before they came here.
Who would have thought that her parents would follow soon after, leaving her all on her own?
After cleaning the dishes, she went to sleep. To be more precise, cried herself to sleep.
~Be strong, sweetheart. Remember that, even if we're not around, you have to be strong and don't let others look down on or bully you. You are a proud daughter of ours after all. I'm not telling you to do it now, maybe 5 years later or so. But do find a man who will love you more than we do. Someone who will cherish you for who you are and not because of your background. Live happily. We love you.~
Her dream was filled with her father's last words.
...
For the next few days, she had ordered food but never came out of the room.
Elloise, Hayley, and Alissa, of course, noticed her pale complexion.
But it was not their business to ask her or anything. Just that, since she was their benefactor, they couldn't help but feel bad. So they would sometimes add herbal porridge to her order, saying that it was on the house.
"She looks like a broken doll," one time, Hayley couldn't help but say.
Of course, they have seen her true countenance and have noticed not just her pale complexion but her numb eyes as well.
And now, after a week.
After she finished the porridge and felt her energy rising, Amber couldn't help but smile at this concern of theirs.
Over the past week, she started creating a plan.
A plan for how she will take her revenge.
Right now, she has nothing.
She may have the money, but that is far from enough. In her plan, it was still a grain of sand.
So, she needs to do something about it first, and she wants to do this without touching her parents' money that they left her.
Her revenge, she will take it all on her own.
That is why the first step she took was to donate all their remaining assets to orphanages and other organizations.
It may seem stupid, but this is the step she wants to take.
This is the first step of the rise of Amber Wood.
After cleaning up, she fixed her appearance, and for the first time since her arrival, she finally went down. Today is a weekend, and so Hayley and Alissa are in there.
Their part-time job was only during the weekdays.
"Oh, good morning."
They were at the reception when they saw her come out of the elevator.
Though shocked, they couldn't help but stare at her. After fixing herself, she looks even more beautiful.
Amber smiled and walked towards them.
Looking around, there are still a few customers coming in and out. Summing it up with what she had heard from Elloise on the first day of her arrival, these people must have come from other cities and couldn't truly afford the Fire Empire Hotel's cost.
"Good morning, are you free right now? I have some inquiries," she asked warmly as she smiled at the two of them.
Hayley, who was first curious, called for Kristina, one of the employees of Snow Fall Hotel, who still chose to stay, to stand in the reception.
She then guided Amber to the coffee shop of their hotel. A bartender is still there, upon seeing the three of them, he smiled and asked for their order. He then left to make the coffee of their choice.
Amber looked at him and the very few customers around, one or two.
"Well, we really are at the bottom already, and so the bartender is also the waiter of the shop. Yet in the past, this coffee shop was flourishing for its coffee and pastries. We found a gem after all, but money is all he wants, so when the Fire Empire Hotel invited him. Of course, he instantly went there."
Hayley said bitterly upon seeing the look on Amber's face.
Amber only smiled, not commenting. It was not her place to do so. Maybe in the future, but now, she is just a customer of theirs.
Upon receiving the coffee, she went straight to the point of what she wanted to inquire about.
"I wish to enter a university. What place allows a scholar with some benefits? Can you recommend some?"