Chloe approached.
Do you think Liam wants this?
That question hurt me.
Not because I believed him.
But because I knew exactly where to hit.
Liam had been by my side for everything.
Visits to the hospital.
The endless medical appointments.
The nights when I couldn’t sleep because I felt my body didn’t belong to me anymore.
I’d never looked at myself with pity.
Not once.
But Chloe didn’t know that.
I only knew the version of him that everyone else saw.
The billionaire.
The businessman.
The man whose name appeared in the magazines.
And he believed that someone like him deserved a “perfect” woman.
Not someone with scars.
Not someone who had lost my hair.
Not someone who would have fought for his life.
“You’re jealous,” I said quietly.
His expression changed.
I’m trying to protect you.
“No.
I turned to her.
You’re trying to protect yourself.
Suddenly, the door opened.
My mother ran in.
My face was pale.
What happened?
Then he saw me.
His eyes wide opened.
The room was silent.
“Valeria…
I was expecting anger.
Disappointment.
Another sermon about appearances.
But he just stared at me.
Because, for the first time, he saw something he couldn’t control.
I wasn’t hiding anymore.
“Where’s your wig?” he whispered.
I looked at Chloe.
Then I looked at my mother again.
Ask your favorite daughter.
My mother’s face slowly changed.
—Chloe?
My sister looked away.
I needed to stop pretending.
Even my mother was surprised by her words.
Stop pretending?
Chloe crossed her arms.
He’s making everyone uncomfortable.
A strange calm took over me.
Because that phrase explained everything.
Not just what was happening that day.
My whole life.
They weren’t upset that I was suffering.
They were upset because my suffering interrupted the image they wanted to show the world.
