Chapter 4 She Would No Longer Hide

The car pulled up in front of one of Draesdale's most famous buildings, the Axis Building. Claire and her friend headed straight for the top floor.

Rylie slipped her arm around Claire's shoulders and nudged her forward. "Come on, lift your head. You're finally free." A mischievous grin spread across her face. "Tonight we're celebrating properly. I'll hire ten male escorts with perfect abs and throw you the wildest party you've ever seen."

Despite herself, Claire felt the corner of her mouth lift into a faint smile.

Then Rylie suddenly reached up.

In one swift motion, she removed the thick black glasses from Claire's face. With an easy flick of her wrist, she tossed them straight into a nearby trash can.

Without those frames hiding her features, Claire's face immediately looked sharper and clearer.

Her smooth forehead and bright eyes now stood out under the lights, every detail visible without obstruction.

"Much better," Rylie said as she studied her closely, clearly pleased with the result.

Not long afterward, Claire found herself sitting upright before a vanity mirror.

The woman reflected in the glass barely resembled the dull version of herself she had shown the world for years.

Her once straight hair had been styled into soft waves that framed her face and made her look vivid and striking. Her makeup remained simple, almost natural, except for the bold touch of red lipstick.

The realization struck her like a sudden jolt. The woman staring back in the mirror was nothing like the quiet, easily ignored Claire the Willis family had grown accustomed to overlooking.

From the velvet sofa, Rylie stretched comfortably and watched with a pleased smile. "I told you," she sneered with confidence. "With a face like yours, all it takes is a little effort and you'll turn every head in the room."

Even the stylist, who worked with beautiful women every day, couldn't hide his reaction. "That's unbelievable..." he murmured under his breath.

Claire remained silent as she studied the reflection before her.

For years, she had deliberately concealed this face.

Her mind drifted back to her mother during those final moments. Martha Lloyd's frail hand had gripped hers tightly, her breath so faint it barely carried her words. "Claire... beauty invites lies. It makes people use you. Hide it. If you look plain, you'll stay safe."

Claire had believed every word.

Her mother had once been known for her beauty, yet that same beauty had drawn men who manipulated and deceived her until she was trapped in a marriage that felt like a prison. In the end, neglect and cruelty destroyed her spirit-and soon after, she passed away.

When everything fell apart, Claire had been left behind and sent to an orphanage.

From that moment on, she buried herself beneath layers meant to erase her presence. Thick bangs hid her forehead. Oversized glasses masked her eyes. Pale powder dulled her skin, and loose clothing swallowed her figure.

Piece by piece, she had transformed herself into someone ordinary enough to be ignored.

Back then, she had even convinced herself that Cade might be different. She thought he might look past appearances and appreciate who she truly was.

She had been mistaken.

Concealing who she truly was had never protected her. If anything, it had only made people more comfortable showing their contempt and cruelty.

That meant one thing. She would no longer hide.

"Claire," Rylie called out as she stepped up beside Claire, her tone suddenly serious. "From this moment on, be yourself and stop shrinking into the background. You deserve to live in the light and have the best life possible."

Slowly, Claire raised her hand and brushed her fingertips across her cheek as if testing the reality of what she saw.

"You're right. Let's go," Claire remarked as she stood up. Her voice sounded calm, yet there was a quiet determination in it that was impossible to ignore. "We have somewhere to go."

...

Meanwhile, inside a private VIP room at the hospital, Dina rested against the headboard of her bed. Her complexion looked pale, and an IV tube was taped to the back of her hand.

"Cade... I'm sorry. I made you worry again," she muttered softly, her voice trembling just enough to sound fragile. "I only felt a little dizzy. It's an old problem that comes and goes."

Sitting beside the bed, Cade took her hand gently in his. His voice carried a warmth he rarely showed anyone else. "Don't apologize. Your health matters, so you have to be careful. What did the doctor tell you?"

"It's nothing serious. I only need a little rest," Dina responded with a gentle smile, her eyes resting on his face with quiet gratitude. "Cade... being able to return to your side again makes me truly happy."

A faint warmth stirred in Cade's chest. He was just about to respond when his phone vibrated.

Lowering his gaze, he saw a message from his assistant, Nigel George. "Sir, Ms. Lloyd has already moved out. She signed the divorce agreement as well. Regarding the asset transfer and the additional fifty-million settlement, should we begin processing it now?"

That quickly?

Cade frowned. He had imagined she would hesitate. He expected tears, arguments, or even pleas.

Given her feelings for him, he assumed she would use her efforts over the past three years as leverage in some way.

For a moment, a faint and unfamiliar emotion passed through his mind. It was so slight that he did not even pause long enough to identify it.

Then Dina coughed softly beside him, and the thought disappeared completely.

"What happened?" she asked with gentle concern. "Is there a problem at the company?"

Cade locked the screen and slipped the phone back into his pocket. When he turned back to her, a calm and reassuring smile returned to his face. "It's nothing important. You should rest. I'll stay here with you."

After some time, Dina finally drifted into sleep. Once she was resting, Cade stepped out into the hospital corridor, where Nigel was already waiting. The assistant quickly handed him a tablet, barely able to hide the excitement on his face.

"Mr. Willis," Nigel said eagerly, "we just received new information about Dr. L."