04
As soon as Zephyr woke up and saw me throwing up, he rushed over.
“Lyra, what’s wrong? Is your stomach bothering you? I can take you to the doctor”
I gripped his hand tightly and pushed him away.
“Just go! Don’t come to my house again. Let’s buy a place in the city and never come back!”
He touched my forehead and smiled. “You’re not even running a fever. Why are you talking like that? You said you couldn’t live without your mom.”
My mom had always treated me well, and there was a time when I couldn’t imagine being away from her. But if she were a devil, I’d be terrified
I hurried back to my room, packed up all of Zephyr’s things, and showed him outside.
“Just go for now. I’ll call you later, and I’ll come find you.”
Zephyr seemed annoyed, pushing me back and walking into the yard.
“Lyra, what’s with you? Why leave a perfectly good villa to buy an apartment?”
I looked up and saw my mom standing on the balcony, her face expressionless
I couldn’t tell Zephyr the truth because he’d think I was out of my mind.
I tried every excuse to get him to leave, but he wouldn’t budge. I was on the verge of tears when his phone rang.
He glanced at his phone, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.
“Lyra, I need to take care of something in the city I be back as soon as I can.”
I watched his car disappear down the winding mountain road, feeling a wave of relief.
My mom was on the sofa, propped up on her elbow, watching a horror movie. When she saw me, she commented, “Still not as scary as making a glamour stool
“Mom, I’m not going to turn Zephyr into a glamour stool. I love him, so much. I don’t want to inherit your craft. I’ll work hard and buy a house with Zephyr in the city. I’m not coming back. Take care of yourself.”
I said it earnestly, but my mom looked utterly unconcerned.
“He doesn’t love you. He’s with you for my money. If you had nothing, he’d definitely leave you”
Nothing annoyed me more than hearing people say Zephyr didn’t love me. Just because I wasn’t conventionally pretty didn’t mean I didn’t deserve a
great man’s lovel
“No way. Zephyr loves me deeply. He’s going to marry me. I don’t want to end up like you, stuck in this rundown mountain, hugging that stool when
bored.
Suddenly, my mom lunged across the table and slapped my face. I stared at her in disbelief as it was the first time she had hit me.
“He’s your father, not just an stool”
I collapsed to the ground, horrified, suddenly understanding why people always came in three and only one left.
I also realized why finished glamour stools were wrapped up so tightly. They were their men, hidden from others.
I returned to my room to pack my things. I was determined to find Zephyr and never be with this terrifying woman again.
Once I finished packing, I turned around to see my mom standing behind me, tears in her eyes
“Lyra, this is the fate of our profession. Women who make glamour stools are naturally devoted, but they’re destined for a life without love. This is the price we pay for greed, Only by turning him into a stool can he stay by your side forever. Do you think women come here to make glamour stools to become beautiful? No. They do it to keep their lovers. Looking beautiful is just a bonus.”
I felt my mom’s tears were insincere. I didn’t believe her at all.
As long as I treated Zephyr well, I was sure I could find the most beautiful love.
As I stepped outside, my mom called after me, “Lyra, no matter what happens, you can always come back to me. I’ll help you.”
