At the break of dawn, the piercing trill of the phone shattered the morning stillness, as though determined to rouse the entire room from its slumber. Rubbing the sleep from my bleary eyes, I reached out for the phone, the screen illuminated with the name Sophie Summers.

My voice, thick with drowsiness, croaked as I answered.

"Bring your workout gear and come over," she instructed, her tone crisp and unwavering, as if she had already been awake for hours.

"Do I really have to come today?" I mumbled groggily."Didn't you take the car?"

"I drove because I had errands to run. You drive because that's your responsibility," she replied, her tone brooking no dissent.

"But it's going to take me ages to get there!" I protested, attempting to fabricate an excuse to delay.

"Every word you waste only makes it take longer," she interjected bluntly, cutting me off without a hint of mercy.

With a sigh of resignation, I dragged myself out of bed, inwardly lamenting my fate. Reluctantly, I pulled on my workout clothes and laced up my sneakers, muttering under my breath about how everything always seemed to revolve around her whims. Just then, the phone rang again.

"How much longer are you planning to dawdle?" Sophie's impatient voice sounded again."Hurry up and take a cab."

Cursing my ill fortune, I abandoned my plan to save money by taking the bus and reluctantly hailed a taxi. The entire ride, her stern expression loomed in my mind, stirring an inexplicable sense of unease.

When I arrived at the hotel, Sophie Summers was already waiting. Clad in a sleek, tailored workout ensemble, she radiated energy and determination. Her sharp gaze swept over my outfit, and she nodded in approval.

"Don't even think about changing later," she remarked.

"I won't," I replied lazily, already scheming to minimize my effort.

"Good. Let's run," she said, beginning her warm-up with practiced ease.

I followed her reluctantly, my feet dragging in protest. The first few minutes were manageable, but it wasn't long before my chest burned, my breath quickened, and it felt as though my heart might burst through my ribcage.

"I can't… I need a break," I gasped, my voice heavy with desperation.

Sophie turned back to look at me, her eyes a mix of mild exasperation and unspoken reproach. Those clear, penetrating eyes seemed to ask, Why are you so lazy? My chest tightened—I knew I was in for another ordeal.

She jogged back toward me and, without hesitation, gave me a firm nudge with her foot."No resting. Keep running. This is what happens when you neglect exercise—you can't even manage a few minutes," she scolded, her voice tinged with playful derision but underpinned with resolute determination.

"I really can't go on. Please, just spare me," I begged, my voice betraying both defeat and exhaustion. Every step felt like treading on embers, my legs as heavy as lead.

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"Absolutely not. If you don't build your stamina now, how will you manage in the future? Come on, persistence is key," she said, her hand gently patting my back, as though willing me forward.

"Fine, you run ahead. I'll just walk," I panted, each breath a struggle as though my lungs might collapse and my heart might leap from my chest.

"Let's hurry, or we'll miss breakfast," she said, her tone softening ever so slightly, wielding the promise of food as motivation.

"Even if it were dragon liver and phoenix marrow, I couldn't care less right now," I muttered, trying to regulate my ragged breaths. The crushing fatigue robbed me of any ability to focus.

"Alright, I'll walk with you today. We'll grab breakfast and head back," she sighed, finally yielding to my sluggish pace.

"Honestly, I don't even want to walk," I grumbled under my breath, feeling like a cornered cat too weary to lift a paw.

"Look at you, gasping for air after just a few minutes," she said, shaking her head with an expression of helpless resignation.

Well, a few minutes was fine. As long as I didn't have to keep running, anything would do. Inwardly, I felt a wave of relief—I could finally escape this torment.

"Tomorrow, you'll add two more minutes," she suddenly declared, her words instantly shattering my fleeting sense of reprieve.

"Why?" I asked, puzzled and resistant. My brows furrowed tightly, and my chest felt as if it were being crushed under a heavy stone.

"Adding a few minutes each day will help you gradually adjust," she explained, her tone tinged with encouragement. Her gaze was steadfast, unwavering like an immovable mountain.

I let out a sigh of resignation, thinking to myself how endless this ordeal seemed—adding minutes every day, when would it stop? Yet, faced with her resolute determination, I couldn't bring myself to refuse. After all, she was only doing this for my sake.

After breakfast, we walked back through the narrow alleyways. Sunlight streamed through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on the ground, reflections of the mixed emotions in our hearts.

"Tomorrow, I'm returning to Virelia," she announced abruptly.

I paused for a moment, then responded absentmindedly,"Oh."

She stopped in her tracks, turning to face me."I said, I'm going back to Virelia tomorrow," she repeated, her tone more deliberate.

"Got it," I replied, still nonchalant.

Her brows knitted slightly, and her voice sharpened."Did you even hear me?"

Realizing her seriousness, I quickly clarified,"Of course I heard you."

A flicker of impatience crossed her eyes."Do you understand?"

"Understand what?" I asked, bewildered.

"You're coming with me," she said, her tone brooking no argument.

"I'm not. I'm staying with Celeste," I replied resolutely, my mind filled with the image of Celeste Harrington's innocent smile.

She let out a cold laugh."You're my assistant."

"You're doing this on purpose," I retorted, refusing to back down.

She shrugged, indifferent."Think whatever you like."

"I'm not going," I insisted, though a faint unease stirred within me.

Her expression turned grave."It's a legitimate matter."

"You're making this up," I said icily."You just can't stand seeing me and Celeste together, can you?"

Her face faltered briefly before regaining its composure."Believe what you want. Just be at the airport tomorrow morning."

I cursed her silently. Wasn't it obvious she was trying to drive a wedge between Celeste and me? Now wasn't the time to confront her—I could only let my frustration simmer within.

"Sophie, listen. Celeste has never been to Eldoria. She doesn't know anyone here. Let me stay and keep her company," I reasoned, trying to maintain a calm and logical tone.

"No. Your presence in Virelia is essential," she replied, her stance unwavering.

"What's so important?" I pressed, hoping for an excuse to challenge her.

"You'll find out when we get there," she said with a cryptic smile, as if the entire situation were under her control.

I cursed her silently again. She was maddeningly sly, always using vague words to corner me. The thought of Celeste Harrington left alone in Eldoria weighed heavily on my heart, filling me with guilt and helplessness.

"Sophie, can't you make an exception just this once?" I asked tentatively, clinging to a shred of hope.

She shook her head, her voice carrying an unyielding finality."No."

I took a deep breath, striving to quell the rising tide of anger and frustration within me. There was no way out of this. All I could do now was hope that Celeste Harrington would understand my predicament.