Chapter 2

Elara's POV

I'm known as the ugly woman in our circle.

Thick bangs covering half my face. Black-framed glasses thicker than bottle bottoms. Face always caked with dark foundation. Lips blurred with deep-colored lipstick. Walking down the street, no one gives me a second glance.

But no one knows I make myself ugly on purpose.

All because of my mother.

My mother was famously beautiful back in the day. My father pursued her for years before she finally married him.

But less than three years into their marriage, he started cheating constantly. My mother went from heartbroken to desperate, eventually dying of depression.

Before she died, my mother grabbed my ten-year-old hand and looked at my face, though young, already showing signs of stunning beauty.

With her last bit of strength, she said, "Elara, remember what Mom tells you. Being too beautiful, men will deceive you. Nothing good comes of it. You must protect yourself. Hide that face."

I remembered.

From then on, I started making myself ugly. My bangs got thicker, my glasses heavier, my clothes always the most unremarkable colors.

My father arranged countless blind dates for me. Every single man ran away because of my ugliness.

On my hundredth blind date, I sat in a café across from a man in a suit.

The moment he saw me, his brow furrowed.

"Miss Winters," he began, voice dripping with undisguised disgust. "The matchmaker didn't tell me... you looked like this."

I kept my head down, saying nothing.

"Honestly, looking like that... how do you even dare go on blind dates?" The man sneered. "Who would want to marry you?"

I gripped my coffee cup tighter.

The man picked up his own cup and suddenly splashed it in my face.

"Your makeup's ruined. Suits you better."

The cold liquid ran down my cheeks, washing away the foundation and revealing the fair skin underneath.

I looked up, about to stand.

"Bang!"

A long, slender hand reached over from the side and grabbed the man's wrist, twisting hard.

"Ah!" The man screamed.

"Apologize." A deep, cold voice spoke.

I turned to see a man in a custom-tailored suit.

He was tall with an upright posture, deep-set eyes, a high nose bridge, and thin lips pressed together. His whole presence radiated an air of cool elegance and nobility. Right now he was gripping that man's wrist, his eyes cold as ice.

"Who the hell are you?!" the man struggled.

"Apologize." He repeated, his voice not loud but carrying undeniable authority.

The man was intimidated by his presence and stammered out "I'm sorry" to me before scrambling away.

The man let go and pulled a handkerchief from his suit pocket, handing it to me.

"Here."

I stared, taking the handkerchief in a daze.

"Women shouldn't have to put up with that kind of treatment." He looked at me, his gaze calm. "Next time something like this happens, call the police."

With that, he turned and left.

I stood there watching his tall figure disappear through the café door, my heart pounding.

I remembered him.

After returning home, I started investigating.

His name was Ethan Sterling, the youngest heir to Sterling Enterprises. Twenty-six years old, he'd been running the family business for three years with decisive methods and outstanding ability. He was recognized in our circle as the perfect man.

Even more rare, his private life was clean. No scandals whatsoever.

I fell for him.

But before I could figure out how to approach him, Ethan Sterling came to me first.

"Miss Winters," he sat in my family's living room and got straight to the point. "I want to propose a marriage alliance with you."

I was stunned.

"Why me?" I asked. "I'm not good-looking."

Ethan looked at me, his expression very calm. "Appearance doesn't matter. I think you're very suitable."

His words weren't romantic, but coming from him, they made my heart race.

Mom said being too beautiful meant getting deceived by men.

But I made myself ugly, and he still wanted to marry me.

I thought I'd met the right person.

For three years of marriage, Ethan treated me well.

He never minded my ugliness. In fact, when others gossiped about my appearance, he would gently take my hand and say, "Elara, you're wonderful."

I loved design, so he invested in opening a studio for me.

I had a sensitive stomach, so he remembered which foods I couldn't eat. Whenever he came back from business dinners, he'd bring me oat milk.

On my birthday, no matter how busy, he'd cancel work and spend the whole day with me.

Once, I was in a car accident. The car flipped into a ditch and could explode any moment. Ethan rushed over without hesitation, pried open the deformed car door with his bare hands, and dragged me out.

Not ten meters away, the car exploded.

He shielded me with his body. The flames licked his back, leaving severe burns.

When I woke up in the hospital, the first thing I asked the nurse was, "Where's my husband?! How is he?"

"Mr. Sterling's back burns are serious, but he's not in life-threatening danger," the nurse said. "He's in the room next door."

I immediately pulled out my IV and stumbled over to the next room.

Just as I was about to push the door open, I heard Ethan's mother's voice inside.

"Ethan! You married such an ugly woman, made our entire family a laughingstock, and now you're throwing your life away for her! How long are you going to keep this up?!"

My hand stopped on the door handle.

A few seconds of silence inside, then Ethan's calm, emotionless voice without any feeling.

"Mom, you know what I want."

"I knew it! You're still doing all this for Serena!" His mother's voice shook with anger. "I'm telling you, you're the best heir in our family. Serena can never enter our household! No matter how much you love her, it's useless! Using Elara Winters to provoke us won't work either!"

I stood frozen, my whole body turning cold.

What were they just saying?

For Serena? Who's Serena?

Overwhelming panic and an ominous premonition swept over me like an icy tide, drowning me instantly.

I steadied myself against the wall and slowly backed away, retreating to my hospital room.

After several seconds, I pulled out my phone with trembling hands and sent a message to a private investigator.

"Look into every connection between Ethan Sterling and Serena. The more detailed, the better."