Chapter 0048
Hannah +25 BONUS
Viona and I stepped out of the nail salon, freshly manicured and ready to conquer the world—or at least, a tedious dinner with my soon-to-be ex-husband and his prospective mistress.
“That color looks perfect on you,” Viona said, admiring her glossy pink nails as we strolled. “And they’re so long.”
I hummed in agreement, admiring my own nails. I usually kept them short with nude or pink polish, but lately, that didn't feel right. This time, I’d chosen deep crimson, almond-shaped acrylics. And I was glad I had.
As we passed a shop window, a vibrant emerald green mini dress caught my eye. It wasn't too short, nor too long, with long sleeves, a square neckline, and a fitted skirt. Perfect for dinner.
“Oh, that’s gorgeous,” Viona breathed, stopping to admire it. “You should try it on.”
“You really think so?” I frowned, biting my lip as I saw my reflection—still painfully thin, despite trying to eat more. “I doubt they’ll have my size.”
Viona shot me an incredulous look, already heading for the door. “No harm in trying, right? Besides, we came out so you could look your best tonight.”
The mention of tonight sparked a familiar dread. Dinner with Noah, Zoe, and Drake. I wasn't looking forward to it, but Viona was right. I did want to look my best.
“Alright. I’ll try it on.” Squaring my shoulders, I followed Viona into the boutique, the cheerful chime ringing in my ears.
Inside, Viona immediately grabbed the emerald dress, thrusting it toward me. I accepted it with a weary sigh, watching as she examined a rack of blue sundresses. She picked one out, holding it up to herself in the mirror.
“That blue matches your eyes,” I said, smiling as I stood behind her. I caught my own reflection and let out a small sigh of relief. My eyes looked less sunken lately. That morning, I'd had avocado toast and cream in my coffee. It wasn't much, but it was something. Though, I'd been berating myself ever since, which wasn't healthy.
Viona smiled and turned. “I think I’ll try that on. Come on.”
“Remind me again why I agreed to this?” I muttered as Viona herded me toward the dressing rooms.
She shrugged, one perfectly sculpted brow arching. “Saying no makes Nightcrest look weak—and could ruin our chances of hosting the Lunar Festival.”
I scowled as I stepped into the tiny fitting room, already shedding my clothes. Why did I always wear jeans and tight sweaters when trying on clothes? “Right. Because that’s far more important than my peace of mind, apparently,” I said with a laugh.
A humorless chuckle came from the other side of the divider. “You’ll be fine. It’s just dinner, and besides, Drake, Zoe, and Noah will argue enough for you to stay quiet and blend into the background.”
Gritting my teeth, I said nothing as I pulled the dress over my hips. The familiar tightness in my chest began to build. I shouldn’t have eaten this morning, I thought. I look…
“Well, who knows?” Viona continued, oblivious to my inner turmoil. “Maybe this dinner will convince Zoe and Drake to reconcile. Then you’d have one less thorn in your side.”
Wrong.
With the dress zipped, the clingy material hugged every curve… less than flatteringly. I froze, staring at my reflection with dread and shortness of breath. A slight swell of my belly was visible—a hint of softness that shouldn’t be there.
“You about ready in there, Hannah?” Viona’s voice startled me. “Let’s see how it looks!”
“J-Just a second,” I stammered, struggling to look away from the mirror. I tugged and adjusted the fabric, desperate to hide that small imperfection—that tiny bulge in my lower belly, something I always considered normal and beautiful on everyone except myself.