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Merigold Pei grew up in the bustling city of Toronto, the youngest of two children in a family where achievement and education were highly prized. Her older brother was the golden child, the pride of their parents, while Merigold often felt overlooked, merely existing in the shadow of their expectations. From an early age, she understood her parents’ unwavering belief that academic success was the only path to a fulfilling life.

But Merigold's heart lay elsewhere. Passionate about music and fashion, she quietly nurtured dreams that she dared not share, knowing her parents would dismiss them as frivolous pursuits. With their attention predominantly on her brother, she found a peculiar kind of freedom—time to herself. She spent countless hours in her room sketching designs in a well-worn notebook and experimenting with fabrics, channeling her creativity into something that felt uniquely hers.

At fourteen, emboldened by her ambitions and eager to escape her constrained life, Merigold made a bold decision: she would leave Toronto for Seoul, South Korea, a city synonymous with opportunity in the world of music and fashion. She concocted an elaborate lie, telling her parents she had been accepted into a prestigious international school. In reality, she enrolled in an ordinary school and joined a grueling survival show in hopes of launching her idol career.

Adopting the stage name Meri, she quickly became a standout among the trainees. Her tall stature, striking beauty, and magnetic charisma made her a favorite, earning her widespread attention. Her natural talent in rap and dance, coupled with her impressive vocal ability, solidified her position as a serious contender. Merigold’s love for fashion also shone through as she took charge of designing and sewing many of the stage outfits, showcasing her meticulous eye for detail and creativity.

Although she didn’t secure a spot in the final lineup of the survival show, her perseverance paid off. Within months, she signed with a company and debuted as a member of the girl group Starlights. Her charm, talent, and tireless work ethic quickly garnered her a loyal following.

Throughout this time, Merigold kept her new life a secret from her parents, maintaining the ruse that she was simply hanging out with friends whenever she called home. Her double life continued for years until Starlights embarked on an international tour that brought her back to Toronto. There, Merigold’s secret unraveled. When her parents discovered the truth, it led to a bitter confrontation. They were outraged by her deception and disapproved of her career path, which they deemed a betrayal of their values. The fallout was devastating—Merigold found herself without a home to return to in Canada.

Despite the heartbreak, Merigold resolved to keep moving forward, using the pain as fuel for her artistic expression. The experience shaped her into a resilient and self-reliant young woman, one who continued to dream boldly and forge her path, no matter the obstacles.

Unfazed by how her parents treated her, Merigold decided to cut her family out of her life and life the life she wanted. During her time with the group, Merigold met the person who quickly became her boyfriend. She was only twenty two when they got together and she was mad for the guy as her first real relationship. At first, they kept their dating a secret from the fans, not wanting the public to know right away. People found out anyway due to some media exposing them. That person she begun was dating was none other than Kamryn Zou who was a very popular idol and someone she admired greatly.

There were a lot of fans who weren't happy about the news but she didn't care about that. Plenty were happy for her and defended her choice in dating him. Even though it was difficult for the two of them to date due to their busy schedules, they somehow made it work and became very close with each other.

It was during that time when she attended a fashion university and graduated top of her year. She was still active with the group and still dating Kamryn. During her studies, she had launched her own fashion brand called Tranquil Lux that is a mix of comfort and high class. It took off right away but the company she signed to didn't. Mostly it was because they weren't getting a cut from the brand she worked on for months. Her group mates were very happy for her and often wore pieces she designed to award shows and variety shows alike. The company had made the choice into kicking her out of the group, telling that it was because of differences in music and other things. Fans and her now former members knew that is was because of her new brand.

Merigold had dedicated eight years of her life to Starlights, pouring every ounce of her passion, energy, and creativity into the group. For nearly a decade, she endured the unrelenting pace of the idol industry, balancing rigorous schedules, constant public scrutiny, and the pressure to maintain an image that was often at odds with her true self. The group had been her second family, and her connection with her fellow members was one of the few constants in her tumultuous life as an idol. Yet, despite her loyalty and success—she was one of the group’s most popular members—the company cast her aside without warning.

The announcement of her removal hit like a thunderclap. Neither Merigold nor her groupmates had any advance notice; the decision was made behind closed doors and delivered to the public as a done deal. The official explanation was vague, citing “creative differences” and a supposed desire to focus on a new direction. But fans weren’t fooled, and neither were her former groupmates. The truth was painfully obvious: her success with Tranquil Luxe had made her a threat to the company’s control, and they saw no room for an artist who prioritized her own creative freedom.

The fallout was devastating. The group, already strained by internal pressures and an unforgiving industry, struggled to recover without her. Merigold’s absence was deeply felt—not just by the fans who adored her but by the group members who had leaned on her unwavering positivity and warmth. Within a year, Starlights disbanded, unable to regain their footing. Merigold initially wrestled with guilt, questioning if her success and departure had doomed the group. However, with time and reflection, she realized that their collapse wasn’t her fault. It was the result of a flawed system, and she refused to shoulder the blame for the company’s mismanagement.

Even amid the chaos, Merigold remained determined to move forward. She threw herself into expanding Tranquil Luxe, finding solace in her work and drawing strength from the support of those who believed in her. Her boyfriend, Kamryn, was her rock during this time. He stood by her side, offering unwavering encouragement and reminding her of her worth. Her loyal fans also played a vital role, rallying behind her and ensuring that she never felt alone. And her former groupmates, who had always been her biggest champions, celebrated her every success, wearing her designs proudly and cheering her on from the sidelines.

Three years after her departure from Starlights, Merigold decided to take a rare and much-needed break from her whirlwind career. Kamryn, ever thoughtful and attentive, surprised her with a trip to Scotland, a place she had dreamed of visiting since she was a teenager. This wasn’t just any trip—it was a chance for Merigold to experience something she had long craved: the freedom to travel as herself, not as a celebrity bound by a rigid schedule. For the first time, she could immerse herself in the beauty of a destination without worrying about appearances, interviews, or performances.

The highlight of the trip came on a warm summer day near the Ben Nevis mountains. Kamryn knew how much Merigold had longed to visit the iconic peaks, and he meticulously planned the outing to make it unforgettable. The day was filled with hiking, hill running, and quiet moments where they could simply enjoy the breathtaking views together. As the sun began to set, painting the sky with hues of gold and lavender, Kamryn knelt on one knee and proposed. The moment was perfect—intimate, heartfelt, and surrounded by the natural beauty Merigold loved. Overwhelmed with emotion, she could barely speak, but her answer was clear: yes. Her former groupmates were the first to hear the news, their cheers of excitement bridging the distance between them.

Planning their wedding became one of the happiest and most fulfilling projects of Merigold’s life. True to her creative spirit, she designed two dresses for the occasion: a stunning gown for the ceremony, inspired by her love for timeless elegance, and a second dress for the reception, lighter and designed for dancing the night away. Every detail of the wedding reflected their shared journey, from the intimate guest list of close friends and family to the personal touches that made the day uniquely theirs.

The experience of designing her wedding attire sparked a new wave of inspiration. Merging her love for fashion with the joy of celebration, Merigold launched her second fashion line, Star Hope, shortly after the wedding. This brand focused on bridal and formalwear, offering custom pieces for brides, bridesmaids, and maids of honor. The name, a heartfelt tribute to her past, carried layers of meaning: it honored her former group, Starlights, who had been her source of hope during her darkest times, and it symbolized the bright future she was determined to create.

Star Hope quickly gained acclaim, celebrated for its blend of romantic designs and meticulous craftsmanship. Merigold’s journey from idol to designer resonated with many, and her ability to turn setbacks into triumphs became an inspiration. With Kamryn by her side, her fans cheering her on, and her creativity leading the way, Merigold proved that the end of one chapter could be the start of something even more extraordinary.

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To my dearest Kamie, ...

Poly-friendly lover(s) section. Whether it is to add a new lover or delete one, just start from the div paragraph after the "lovers" paragraph, then copy until the closing div right before the paragraph above the line with the next image. (I hope I'm making sense lmao)

To my dearest Jaemin, ...

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