"The Price of a Dream"

Mia's fingers hovered over the keyboard, her mind swirling with emotions. The contract was real. The opportunity was real. And yet, the words from Webnovel's editorial team echoed in her mind.

Revise your work before you apply again.

Doubt gnawed at her. She had thought she was ready, but maybe she had been too eager, too reckless. Was her story really good enough? Did she need to change more than she realized?

A knock on her apartment door jolted her from her thoughts. She stood and opened it to find Lucas leaning against the frame, two cups of coffee in hand.

"I figured you could use this," he said, handing her one.

Mia sighed and took a sip. "You have no idea."

Lucas stepped inside, glancing at her cluttered desk. "So, what's going on?"

She hesitated before showing him the email. He read it quickly, then looked up. "Okay. This isn't a rejection, Mia. They're giving you another shot—an actual chance to make your story even stronger."

"But what if I can't?" she whispered. "What if I fix things and they still say no?"

Lucas frowned. "Then you keep writing. You keep improving. But don't let fear stop you from trying."

She chewed her lip, then sighed. "I need to go through everything. Fix the pacing, make the stakes higher, add tension. I thought I was doing well, but now…"

Lucas smirked. "I've read your story, Mia. It's good. But if they want more excitement, let's give it to them."

Her eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

He grabbed a notebook from her desk. "Tell me your next chapter. What's supposed to happen?"

Mia took a deep breath. "The protagonist, Alyssa, is about to uncover a secret that could change everything. But she doesn't know who to trust."

Lucas grinned. "Great. Now raise the stakes. What happens if she chooses wrong?"

Mia's mind whirled. "She could lose everything—her family, her dream, maybe even her life."

"Exactly," Lucas said. "Now throw in a twist. What if the person she trusts the most is the one betraying her?"

A spark of excitement shot through Mia. She grabbed her laptop, her fingers flying over the keyboard. Lucas was right. This wasn't the end of her journey. This was just the beginning.

And this time, she was going to make sure her story was unforgettable.