Lina's voice barely came out. She exhaled sharply, then clenched her fists against the table as if steadying herself.
"I was tricked," she said again, her voice hoarse. "At first, it seemed normal. A guy—some talent scout—reached out to me. Said he worked with brands, that he could help me get sponsorships."
Karl's stomach twisted. He had a bad feeling about this.
Lina's gaze dropped to the table, her expression bitter. "I was excited, you know? He had connections. He promised exposure, real deals—not just cheap promo codes, but actual brand partnerships. I thought… maybe this was finally it. Maybe I was finally getting somewhere."
Karl remained silent, letting her speak.
Lina swallowed hard. "He asked me for a test shoot—something simple. Just modeling some outfits, posing for pictures. Nothing crazy." Her fingers dug into her palms. "And I did it. Of course, I did it. That's what influencers do."
