---
Maria entered her room and locked the door behind her. She took a deep breath.
Normally, she would have waited for her parents to return, hoping for even a little approval, but tonight she realized it was pointless. They always mocked her, saying she wasted food, that her efforts were useless, even acting as if punishing her was a normal thing.
So why should she keep caring?
Taking another deep breath, Maria headed straight to the bathroom, took a quick shower, and slipped into her soft nightgown. She sat down in front of her dressing mirror, staring at her reflection.
A sneer curled her lips.
"Ivy said Chris doesn't like girls with beautiful faces," Maria muttered to herself. "So I tried to make myself ugly... just for him."
She had learned makeup just to dull her beauty. How pathetic.
Ivy hated her simply because Mike liked her — not that Maria ever understood why Mike even cared.
She didn't know Mike personally back then. She only knew him from rumors... until the day she sold herself for her family's sake.
The memory made her chest tighten.
The night she agreed to sacrifice herself for her family they told her it was for the good for the family to make them happy for once she did she spend a disgusting night with the stranger, Mike had burst through the door like a storm, his men beating the scoundrel she had sold herself to until he was barely breathing.
Mike took her away and locked her up in his house.
For a week... she couldn't even remember how many times he touched her.
She had been disgusted — because back then, she was foolish enough to still love Chris.
When Mike finally released her, he did so by marrying her.
But instead of gratitude, more rumors swallowed her whole.
The man she sold herself to spread lies, saying she had been with many men. Her name was dragged through the mud, her family's reputation ruined.
In the end, it wasn't Maria who saved the family — it was Oliver, her twin sister, who stepped forward, and helped to clear her name and family she took over the company, and became the golden child she always was.
Maria was thrown away like trash, disowned, expelled from school, and left to rot in shame.
Her hatred for Mike burned brighter with every passing day, even though — foolishly — he kept defending her.
It was only in death, when Ivy smugly revealed the truth, that Maria found out:
Mike had been saving her from the shadows all along.
He had protected her, funded her family, cleaned up her messes — even when she stabbed him, even when she stole and almost destroyed him.
He still loved her.
He had loved her since middle school.
And what did she do?
Everything for Chris — Chris, who was secretly laughing at her with Ivy the entire time.
Maria clenched her fists in front of the mirror.
Not this time.
This time, she would stay away from everyone — including Mike.
She appreciated what he had done... but she didn't want it.
She didn't want any of them.
With one last calming breath, she lay down and fell into a deep sleep.
---
The next morning, Maria woke up, feeling strangely calm.
She took a quick bath and put on her school uniform: a black skirt, a crisp white short-sleeve shirt, a black and white vest, thigh-high stockings, and polished black shoes.
Today, she decided to curl her long black hair into soft waves.
A touch of lip gloss shimmered on her pink lips.
When she looked in the mirror, even Maria had to pause.
Her pink lips looked soft and kissable, her siren-shaped blue eyes glowed mysteriously, her long silky black hair shimmered like silk, and her beauty was both innocent and dangerously sexy — the little mole under her eye only enhanced her fatal charm.
"This time," she whispered to her reflection, "I'll let my light shine."
When she went downstairs for breakfast, her parents were already seated.
Their reaction was immediate — stunned silence.
Her mother was the first to break it, sneering.
"So young, already putting on makeup? Tsk," she said sharply, her words stabbing like knives.
Maria's hands trembled for a second, but she lifted her chin proudly.
"I'm not wearing makeup," she said calmly. "This is my natural beauty. Sometimes, when someone is too beautiful, others like to call it 'makeup' just to feel better about themselves."
She smiled sweetly.
"I only put on lip gloss."
Her mother's face twisted with rage as she slammed her hand against the table.
"How dare you talk to me like that?! Apologize!"
Maria blinked at her slowly.
"I'm not insulting you. I'm praising you," she said, her voice like silk. "I took after your genes... unless you're saying I'm not your daughter?"
Her mother stood up glaring at her ready to spit fire at her when Maria beat her to eat.
" Do you eat something spicy need some water don't tell me you are mad cause if what I said you will not go that low right "
Her mother turned red with fury.
"Enough," her father said lazily, waving his hand. "Just eat."
The rest of breakfast was tense and silent.
Maria ate peacefully, her heart strangely light.
Afterward, she left for school, riding in the family car.
---
The moment she stepped out of the car at the school gate, Ivy was there, fake smile ready.
"Maria! I heard you're participating in the school's art festival?" Ivy said, pretending to be surprised.
It was more like she was trying to confirm it.
Maria just nodded coolly and walked past her.
Ivy grabbed her wrist tightly, nails digging into her skin.
"Maria, why are you doing this? I told you... Chris doesn't like girls who perform."
Maria yanked her hand free, pushing Ivy back lightly.
"So what if Chris doesn't like it? What's it got to do with me?" she said coldly.
Ivy's eyes widened, but she quickly recovered, putting on a pitiful act.
"I'm doing this for you!" she whispered tearfully. "I'm trying to help you win over Chris! Can't you see? I'm your best friend!"
Maria folded her arms, staring at Ivy like she was something disgusting.
"If Chris doesn't like talented girls, then I'll make sure to act better and shine even more then he will start liking them," Maria said sweetly, the sarcasm dripping from every word.
Ivy stared at Maria and but her lip and hold Maria hand tightly this time drawing blood Maria push her away hard making her hit the locker and fell down
Gasps filled the hallway.
Students started whispering.
"Maria's bullying Ivy!" someone shouted.
" How could she ivy was just trying to help her so violent if I was uvy I will stay away from her tsk " a voice said
" And here I thought it was a beauty but turn out to be Maria a snake disgusting " someone mock
"Tsk, Ivy's such a kind goddess, and Maria's just an ugly creature inside," someone else said.
Ivy sat down in the ground sobbing,Maria raise her hand that ivy holding that was now bleeding.
Everyone went silent,ivy look up her eyes wide ," maybe ivy did it my mistake she won't purposely do it " someone mutter
Maria turned to the loudmouth who spoke, her gaze cool and sharp.
She walked towards them slowly.
Up close, the girl's cheeks turned pink, embarrassed by Maria's flawless, makeup-free face.
"What do you want?" the girl stammered, trying to be tough.
Maria tilted her head slightly.
"You're blocking my path," she said simply, and then softly pushed the girl aside and walked away, leaving everyone stunned.
They turned and stared at Ivy, who now looked pathetic crying alone.
Some students pitied her.
Some chuckled.
Some whispered.
But one thing was clear — Ivy's performance had backfired spectacularly.
---
At break time, Ivy shamelessly sat down next to Maria in the cafeteria.
"Maria, I'm sorry," she said softly. "Maybe I came out wrong... I just don't want you to embarrass yourself."
Maria snorted inwardly.
Soft tactics now, huh?
She smiled sweetly at Ivy.
"Don't worry. I'm used to embarrassment. Participating in a talent show can't be worse."
Ivy look at her stunned the Maria she knows hate people mocking her cause of her self-esteem is low but this one have she changed she thought to herself.
"And besides," Maria added softly, her voice like velvet, "after reading my songbook, my sketchbooks, and my novel and manga ideas... do you really think I'll embarrass myself?"
Ivy's lips trembled.
"N-No... you won't..." she managed to choke out.
The words tasted like poison to her why did she bring it up she look around to see if someone was paying attention to them then look at her now pale as she force a smile.
Maria leaned closer, her voice mocking.
" And anyway beautiful people are mock less don't you know .ivy look at her and gasp she didn't pay attention to Maria face sinceas she has been trying to find way for her to quit From the school talent show now she noticed she was stunning.
You are not wearing makeup today you have changed normally you don't like to beautify yourself cause Chris doesn't like girls like that don't you want to win him again she asked trying to gauge a reaction
", I realized something today. I look better natural. Unlike you — you wouldn't understand."
Ivy's forced smile cracked. Her hands trembled with fury under the table.
Still, Ivy pushed forward, changing the topic.
"Do you want to visit Mike in the hospital? He'd be happy to see you."
Maria didn't even blink.
"I don't want to. He'll come back to school when he's better. No need for me to visit."
Ivy tried again.
"Should I at least send something to him on your behalf?"
Maria stood up calmly.
"No."
Without sparing Ivy another glance, Maria walked back to class.
Ivy sat frozen, her face twisted with barely concealed rage.
The fork in her hand snapped clean in half.
---
Later, after school, they all gathered in the gym for the art festival preparation.
The teacher asked everyone to write what they wanted to perform.
Most students wrote down their talents immediately.
When it was Maria's turn, she said,
"I'll write what I want to perform on the day of the festival."
Whispers broke out instantly.
"She doesn't even know what to perform!" someone mocked loudly. "Tsk, a toad trying to act like a swan."
Everyone laughed — until Ivy suddenly spoke up.
"I also want to decide on the day of the festival," she said sweetly, clinging to Maria's arm.
Students immediately began comparing them.
"No matter how much Maria tries, Ivy will always be the swan and Maria the toad."
Maria only smiled at them — calm, mocking, devastating.
The bullies froze, stunned by her overwhelming natural beauty.
Maria just tilted her head slightly, letting her soft hair fall over her shoulder, her smile light and untouchable.
Ivy's face twisted in envy.
The more she tried to "save" Maria, the more Maria shined.
And it was only the beginning.
---