Cora bolted upright, gasping for breath. The rhythmic drone of a standing ovation still pulsed in her ears, a haunting echo from another life. Her stomach churned, a hollow pit where the thrill of victory should have been. This wasn't the first time. Since abandoning the ruthless domain of high finance, these dreams had morphed into a nocturnal torment. Vivid flashes of blinding spotlights, glittering ballrooms filled with distant faces, and the weight of a thousand-dollar gown pressing down on her – all culminating in a hollow victory that left her feeling utterly alone.