Chapter 1242

Anastasia found the praise mocking; her nascent fondness for Lily vanished instantly. Lily, however, wasn't surprised by Anastasia's gloom. Sensitive people, she knew, reacted intensely to even simple words.

"It's a genuine compliment," Lily said sincerely. "Your figure may not fit societal standards, and you might carry extra weight, but you're still beautiful. Your skin is remarkably clear—a rare thing. If you want to lose weight, I'm sure you'll feel beautiful, too."

Anastasia saw the sincerity in Lily's words, her eyes brightening before dimming again. "The problem is, I can't lose weight."

Years of dieting, exercising, and various weight-loss programs had failed. At her lowest point, she had starved herself until collapsing, only to be rescued by servants and hospitalized. Her father, while acknowledging her weight concerns, had scolded her, emphasizing the importance of her health.

Repeated failures had eroded her confidence; self-criticism became commonplace. She avoided being seen, wrapping herself in layers to conceal her body. Without the dress and Lily's chosen meeting place, she wouldn't have ventured out.

"Maybe your approach is wrong," Lily said, extending a hand towards the blueberry mousse. "Would you like some?"

Anastasia's eyes widened, then she quickly, flustered, shook her head. Yet, her gaze remained fixed on the cake, her longing evident despite her rejection. Lily noticed; from the moment Anastasia sat down, she'd been suppressing a powerful appetite, battling internal demons. Despite ordering lemonade, it remained untouched; Lily had seen Anastasia repeatedly eyeing the cake display. "You're treating food as an enemy," Lily pointed out. "That's unnecessary."

"You don't understand!" Anastasia mumbled. "You don't understand the pain of being fat. Even water makes me gain weight, let alone dessert!"

"This is blueberry mousse," Lily explained, pushing it closer. "The yogurt base is low in fat and calories. This entire glass won't even reach a hundred calories. Based on your height and weight, your daily calorie intake should be at least sixteen hundred…" She paused, then asked, "Have you eaten anything today?"

"How did you know?!" Anastasia blurted, then quickly corrected herself. "I'm just not hungry."

Lily smiled slightly. "I heard your stomach rumbling."

Anastasia's cheeks flushed, anger resurfacing. "Are you laughing at me?"

"No, I'm just saying you should be kinder to yourself," Lily said, pushing a fork towards Anastasia. "Even if you skip meals today or tomorrow, can you do that for life? Don't treat food as an enemy. Make peace with it. Trust me, this mousse won't hurt you."

Lily's words held a certain allure, the dessert seeming even more tempting. Anastasia found herself picking up the fork.