The goddess

Almost twelve years had passed since the day Katrien's parents had passed away. It was their anniversary today. Early in the morning, Katrien went to visit her parents' tomb. Ironically, her brother and some of their relatives were there as well, visiting them, or rather disturbing their peace. Since she didn't want to meet eyes with them, she stood at a distance and waited for them to leave.

These ten years had not been easy for Katrien, who had been left behind by her relatives. She had to fend for herself to survive. No one had cared whether she was alive or not. She was abandoned while her brother Frey, whom her relatives believed had the potential to inherit the family fortune, was well taken care of. He had been admitted to the best school in Country A, while Katrien struggled to join a state-run school that would grant her a scholarship if she stood out as the best student.

Life had been challenging for the young girl for a while, but time was like a Ferris wheel, with its ups and downs. Her time to rise had come. Though she had nothing but her beautiful appearance and sweet voice, Katrien had participated in a youth summit as a participant in a speech competition during her middle school years. She had been scouted by talent scouts from Dream Entertainment. Initially, she thought it was a scam. In her eyes, she had an ordinary body and face, appearing simple and average compared to the trending beauty standards of that time. Even Dream Entertainment, which now ruled the entertainment industry, had been a rookie company back then.

Despite her doubts, something inside her urged her to give it a try. She went for the audition and was selected without having to do much, as the one who scouted her was the company's president himself.

Katrien trained for a few months, and her debut came sooner than expected. At the age of sixteen, just six months after joining Dream Entertainment, she made her debut. She was hailed for her talent in playing the piano and was seen as the "Piano Goddess." She reached the pinnacle of her career for a year and a half. However, the relentless march of time and fate didn't allow her to savor the joys and happiness for long. Dream Entertainment faced financial turmoil and was on the brink of bankruptcy. The industry began to boycott Dream Entertainment as it refused to engage in the darker aspects of showbiz.

Katrien couldn't accept the downfall of Dream Entertainment. It was her home, and more importantly, the company's president, Ronan Miles, was like a godfather to her. He had already proposed Katrien as his heir. So, she stepped in as the heir and started her own production house. She worked tirelessly to restore Dream Entertainment's glory in just a month. She spared no effort in exposing the dark underbelly of the industry, even if it meant suffering herself as she became a scapegoat. But the result was exactly what she desired. Over time, she became the undisputed ruler of the entertainment business. She had achieved all of this by the age of eighteen. Now, no one dared to oppose her, except her godfather. Every person, except Ronan, had to kneel before her. The trials and tribulations she had faced had made her cold, tough, and ruthless. Yet, deep down, she was still the playful little girl who had loved to pull and play with her father's beard.

As Katrien looked back at the tomb, everyone who had come to offer their prayers had left. She walked to the tomb and sat down. She hadn't brought any flowers or offerings, only her love, and a few tears. Ronan knew what this tough young girl did when she was left alone at her parents' tomb, so he had asked all her subordinates to take a day off and accompany her to the graveyard. Although he wanted to go with her, he restrained himself and stood at the gate.

As expected, Katrien began to cry, though her tears flowed silently. There was no expression on her face as she looked up at the tomb. Her fingers ran up and down on the photo of Mr. & Mrs. Smith and their names.

"Dad, Mom, I came to visit you. I'm sure you are proud of me. But I haven't done anything that would make you proud. Dad, Ronan says that I'm a good child, but I don't know. I feel like I've let you down. There are only a few days left until the day I can reclaim what you left for me. I promise I will take it back," she said. After speaking those words, she stood up, bowed one last time, and began to walk toward the gate.