The Kiss that Sparked it All

Chapter 2711

By the time Regina lay down on the bed, the chill of the room had given way to a gentle warmth. She whispered a pep talk into the darkness, “Keep it up, Regina. Tomorrow’s got a whole new set of hurdles waiting for you.”

Come morning, Regina sprung out of bed as if the previous day’s trials had never happened. Resilience was her middle name; after all these years of grinding, a tough skin had formed. Not having to face those naysayers day in and day out was a small victory in itself.

But the reprieve was short-lived. As she walked into the newsroom, her smug colleagues were quick to chip away at her good spirits.

“Look who’s early, our very own princess Regina,” sneered one, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “What’s the use of arriving at the crack of dawn when you can’t even nab an interviewee?”

“You’re missing the point,” chided the other, smirking. “It’s about showing up, making an impression. How else would she justify her stay here if not for her noble lineage?”

laughter was like nails on

and set her bag down with a thud. She turned casually, a feigned nonchalance in her voice, “I might have trouble locking down Dahlia, but some are so busy worrying about me, they’ve yet to pen their own stories. I

I write, and I write well, with empathy that is unmatched,” she thought to herself. Yet, her last name seemed to overshadow her talents. But she was steadfast in her belief that her strengths would one

you bad-mouthing me?” snapped one of them, his pride pricked.

her eyes in feigned innocence and spun around, “I’m talking to whoever chimed in. You don’t think I’m talking about you, do you?

name already. Believe what you will!” he retorted, flustered and at a loss

irritation brought Regina a sense of vindication. She wasn’t one to be bullied into silence. However,

knew Dahlia was a calculated woman; any premature contact could backfire.

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10.12

Chapter