All Chapters of UGLY? No More!: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Behind her, an older woman, later identified in the comments as Vivian Shaw, added something about “training children like pets.”The video was under two minutes.But by the time it hit 7:15 PM, it had been reposted on five major fashion gossip accounts.By 7:43 PM, it was trending on Twitter under:#GlitterShoesGirl#ShawScandal#SaySorryLilaBy 8:00 PM, it was on TikTok, with people duetting it to express their outrage, disbelief, and heartbreak.People were enraged.Not just by the coldness, but by the contrast. The sweetness of the child. Her innocent little dance. The joy. The fall. And then, the sheer meanness from two immaculately dressed, clearly privileged women who didn’t care.The narrative formed instantly.“Who shoves a toddler and doesn’t even apologize?!”“That child was LITERALLY showing off her glitter shoes and got pushed like she was trash.”“If I ever see someone treat a child like that in public, it’s on sight.”“The mother needs to sue. Immediately.”“Wait… is th

Elara’s fingers tightened on the edge of the table, her throat suddenly dry.“…What?”“She’s all over the internet right now,” Julian said, stepping toward her. “The mall. The video. People are saying she’s yours. That.. she’s his too.”Her lips parted, but nothing came out.The rush of blood in her ears was deafening.She’d built her life with precision, every boundary, every layer of protection around her little girl like armor. No photos. No tagged posts. No interviews that went too personal. Nothing that would ever link her daughter to the past she clawed her way out of.And now...Now, her daughter’s cry was trending.And Julian, sweet, steady Julian, was looking at her like the ground had just shifted beneath him.“Is it true?” he asked again, quieter now.Elara backed up a step, pressing her hands flat on the table.“How… how did you know it was her?”Julian’s voice softened. “I didn’t. Not at first. But after I saw the video, I knew.”She swallowed hard.She could lie.She cou

Elara smiled faintly. It felt fragile but real. “Her name is Mira.”“Mira,” Julian repeated softly, like it was a name he’d carry in his pocket from now on. “It suits her.”“She’s…” Elara blinked back emotion. “She’s calm. And observant. Sometimes a little too observant for her age. My mother says she has my eyes but my father’s soul. But truthfully, she has her own.”Julian’s hand was still holding hers, thumb grazing over her knuckles. “Tell me more.”Elara let out a small breath of laughter, like the very thought of her daughter could lighten the darkest part of her. “She hates loud noises but loves music. She always wants to sit beside me while I sketch, and she gets mad if I don’t give her a pencil too. Her lines are terrible,” she said with a tiny smile, “but she says she’s making dresses for dragons.”Julian smiled, warm and soft. “Sounds like she got your creativity.”“She likes stories where the princess saves herself. Or saves the prince. Or both.” Her smile widened. “And sh

Elara stepped out, her heels clicking against the driveway stones, and rushed up the front steps. Her heart was in her throat. She wasn’t sure what kind of scene she was walking into.Was Mira still crying?Was Lydia furious?Had the nanny already packed a bag, thinking Elara would come home in flames?But as she pushed the door open and stepped into the airy foyer, all those fears dissolved in an instant.“Mama!”The sound was sharp, high pitched, and full of joy.Tiny footsteps came pounding from the hallway, and in the next breath, her daughter launched herself into Elara’s arms.Elara dropped her purse right there on the floor and crouched just in time, wrapping her arms tightly around the small, squirming bundle that barreled into her chest.“Mira,” she breathed, her voice cracking as she pressed her face into her daughter’s curls. “Baby, are you okay?”“I missed you!” Mira squealed, nuzzling her cheek against her mother’s collarbone. “You said you’d be back before dark!”“I’m so

“Your Majesty,” Julian said in the deepest, most dramatic voice he could muster, “I bring you today’s finest potion: lukewarm strawberry tea with a hint of imaginary sugar.”Mira clapped in delight. “Owlie says you may have cake!”“An honor,” he said gravely, reaching for the wooden cupcake and pretending to nibble.From the doorway, Lydia covered her mouth to stifle a laugh.Elara said nothing at all.She just stood still, her heart caught in the most delicate of knots.Julian looked up at that moment, catching her eye. For a split second, something passed between them...Elara’s smile came slow. Soft.Mira turned and saw them then. “Mommy! Look! He’s part of the royal tea squad now!”“I see that,” Elara said, stepping in and crouching beside her daughter. “Looks like he’s doing a very good job.”Mira beamed. “He even said Owlie’s scary powers were cooler than dragons!”Julian leaned over and whispered conspiratorially, “Which I stand by.”Lydia finally spoke, stepping closer and eye