CHAPTER 883 HEART-TO-HEART TALK

The burden of expectations from her colleagues and Kevin pressed down heavily on her shoulders.

Kevin was oblivious to her true desires and never paused to consider if his offerings truly resonated with her. Perhaps his actions were shaped by past encounters with other women, leading him to believe that his gestures should automatically be embraced and cherished by any woman.

But she was unlike those women. She longed to unearth her own sense of value.

In the vastness of Capitalis, luxury cars, and glamorous, wealthy women fill the streets, leaving her feeling adrift in this bustling metropolis.

She struggled to find her path and to uncover the purpose of her existence here.

Initially, her goal was simply to earn enough money to repay her student loans. But once that was accomplished, her aspirations grew. She longed to carve out a name for herself in this city, to rise above her class…

But reality proved harsh, and it ruthlessly exposed the folly of her dreams.

Now, she felt adrift, like a ship lost at sea.

She sat in the modest confines of a pasta shop and gazed pensively at the bowl of spaghetti before her. Tears silently traced down her cheeks.

The pressure of life is just overwhelming... Even a simple bowl of vegetarian noodles, without a single piece of meat, costs over fifty bucks in Capitalis.

And here she was, stuck in L.Moon for so long, feeling like she was going nowhere that she felt worthless.

Abigail was in the middle of her dinner when she received a message from Josh.

It was a picture of Irene sitting alone in a pasta shop with tears streaming down her face as she tried to eat her noodles. She looked utterly heartbroken.

Abigail felt a pang of sympathy. She gently placed her fork and knife down and quickly replied to his message.

'Give me the address.'

She drove to the pasta shop. Upon arriving, she stepped inside and scanned the table numbers, searching for Irene.

Finally, she spotted her from behind.

Irene sat with her back to her, her slender shoulders shaking with silent sobs.

Abigail approached quietly and stood behind her for a moment before softly calling out, "Irene."

Startled, Irene turned around with tears still staining her cheeks as she looked up at Abigail.

"What's the matter?" Abigail asked as she took a seat beside her.

Irene's eyes glistened with tears as she felt a mix of embarrassment and remorse. "Miss Quinn, what brings you here?"

"Just popped in for some spaghetti. My boyfriend's got a craving," Abigail replied casually as she reached for the menu nearby.

Irene managed a faint smile but remained silent.

"Are you feeling the work stress, Irene?" Abigail asked gently while holding the menu in one hand.

"Not really, I just miss my grandparents," Irene replied as she lowered her gaze and clasped her hands tightly.

"Why not head back for Thanksgiving? Your salary is decent, and the flight home won't take long. Don't always pinch pennies unless you're saving up for something big," Abigail suggested empathetically.

She understood the emotional fragility of recent graduates, especially with the heavy workload at L.Moon and the normalcy of negative feelings. Plus, Irene took the 'Red Beauty' drama crew role so seriously that the setback hit her hard.

"Irene, opportunities at L.Moon will always arise. If this role doesn't pan out, give your all in the next one. Even if you nail the next one, you'll still need to keep pushing yourself for the one after that, giving it your all every day," Abigail spoke slowly to offer reassurance.

"I understand." Irene sniffled.

"If you want to take it easy, there are ways to lead a more relaxed life. But first, you need to find your comfort zone," Abigail added. She did not want to pressure her into overexerting herself.

Life could get pretty overwhelming, so opting for a more relaxed approach might not be such a bad idea.

"Do you know the live streamer who broadcasted our clothing line on the first day?" Abigail asked, her expression unusually serious as she set down the menu.

Irene nodded earnestly. "Yeah, Lily Kendler. She's really something."

"She's been at it for over ten years, jumped into the workforce as a teen with little education, toiled away on the factory line for years, rode the popularity wave, shut down her own little shop, and now

she's a powerful fashion live streamer. But was her success all about riding the popularity train? Nope," Abigail's voice was gentle yet firm.

Irene listened intently.

"Her decade-long stint in the fashion world laid a solid foundation. While many influencers see their popularity dwindle, she's still standing strong, all thanks to her past experiences. Popularity is like a castle in the sky, alluring but fragile. It's the strength beneath it that keeps it standing and making it last in the long run. That's her comfort zone." Abigail also liked Lily, just like those fans who liked her.

"I get it." Irene choked out.

"You're always eyeing those talented designers in the company, and naturally, you feel worn out and inferior. Talent is a rare breed; most of us are just regular folks. But does the design industry belong exclusively to the gifted few? Can't regular people make it, too? Of course, they can," Abigail reassured.

Irene's lips trembled, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"Talent just smooths out the journey. Sure, it's tougher without it, but there's no need to feel disheartened. Your talent lies elsewhere; you just need to discover it. Like your attention to detail in clothing, it's something those naturally gifted often overlook." Abigail's mouth went dry as she spoke, and she ordered a drink. Content rights by NôvelDr//ama.Org.

"I'll think about it." Irene wiped her tears away.

"Big city pressure can be crushing. It's not always about the paycheck; it's the environment's weight that wears you down. But falling behind a bit? So what? Living authentically and happily is what truly matters." Abigail smiled warmly.