Chapter 87

After the check-up, the wound on my forehead had healed, leaving only a faint scar. I stared at the reflection of a haggard woman in the mirror. The vibrant, youthful version of myself at 18 had become a distant memory, and I'd come to accept who I was now. But there was still a deep ache in my chest. Seven years of my youth, and all the love I gave, led me to this miserable end. I wiped the fog from the mirror with a harsh stroke and began applying makeup meticulously. No one would laugh at me. I won't allow it. No one! So, when I appeared in front of Mr. Webb, I was a completely new person—fresh and radiant. I used my bangs to cover the scar on my forehead, and for the first time in a long while, I felt alive again. When Teri saw me, her eyes lit up. "Ari!" I gave a bitter smile. "Do I look okay?" Her eyes sparkled with amazement. "More than okay! Ari, you're stunning! "I've always said that when you dress up, you can wipe the floor with all those fake girls a million times