All Chapters of Beneath the Flawless Skin: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

I woke up in Bianca's messy bedroom. The tempting smell of crispy bacon drifted in from under the door.I rushed downstairs following the scent and found Bianca's mom, Sarah, busy in the kitchen.My mouth started watering.Hearing me, Sarah turned around and gave me a gentle smile."Morning, sweetie. Why are you up so early today?""Come try these fresh buttermilk pancakes and sunny-side-up eggs."I pulled out a chair and sat down, grabbing a piece of syrup-soaked pancake with my fingers and stuffing it into my mouth.The moment I chewed, tears welled up without warning.I couldn't remember the last time I had a breakfast that actually tasted like something.My old diet was always just a few plain greens and a glass of iced celery juice.I remembered once before a shoot, I snuck a sip of soda because my blood sugar crashed.My mother locked me in a dark storage closet for a whole day right in front of my management team.Seeing me cry, Sarah dropped what she was doing and hurried over.

During my first workout, I was out of breath after just twenty jumping jacks.Sweat soaked right through my shirt. My heart pounded wildly in my chest, and my legs felt like jelly.This body was just too weak. The gym trainer told me to stop and rest, but I clenched my teeth and kept going."Just finish this set," I told myself.In my days as a top model, my mother would stand by the mirror with a tape measure during every workout, her eyes completely cold.Now, no one was staring at me with a tape measure.But I finished every single rep using my own willpower.When the whole routine was over, I collapsed on the mat, gasping for air.The girl in the mirror had a bright red face, and her sweat-soaked hair stuck to her cheeks. She looked like a total mess.But I stared into those eyes and smiled.I used to only smile for the camera, but now, I was truly smiling for myself."Day one. Done."Over the next few weeks, I ate three healthy meals a day and worked out consistently.This body's

The deafening hip-hop music and the overwhelming laughter stopped instantly.I walked right down the middle, straight into the blinding spotlight.The long silk dress hugged my brand-new curves. I was no longer that overweight girl cowering in the corner.Every step I took landed perfectly on the beat. It was the runway walk ingrained in my muscle memory. The students parted like the Red Sea.The cheer captain, Chloe, stepped out of the crowd with a fake smile."Bianca? Why are you..." Before she could finish, she stuck her foot out to trip me.I saw it perfectly. She wanted me to fall flat on my face.But I kept my eyes locked on the stage. I simply stepped over it, my heel landing firmly on the ground.As I passed, I intentionally dragged my stiletto heel hard against her shin."Ouch! You bitch!" Chloe screamed, dropping to a crouch and grabbing her leg in pain.I ignored her and walked straight to the DJ booth. The DJ was staring at me dumbfounded, his hands frozen over the soundboa

"Tighten your core! Harper, you look like a dying turkey!"Max the photographer yelled excitedly, his voice bouncing off the walls of the massive New York photo studio.Bianca, stuck in my body, clenched her jaw tightly.Two extremely thin steel wires dug mercilessly into her hips, suspending her fifteen feet in the air.The blinding studio lights shone right on her face, baking her until she felt dizzy.The humiliation from the homecoming dance three days ago was still haunting her.The brand demanded a high-fashion wire shoot.She desperately needed to nail this campaign to prove she deserved this flawless body.But her body was completely failing her.She had only been suspended for five minutes.Her slender waist was shaking uncontrollably.Her stomach muscles cramped horribly, feeling like they were being stabbed by a thousand hot needles.She used all her strength trying to straighten her back, but she had absolutely no energy left.Her body slumped forward. Her arms dropped weak

It was two months into the semester, and the chaotic night of the school's annual charity fashion show had finally arrived.The backstage air was thick with cheap hairspray, heavy perfume, and suffocating anxiety."Bring the finale dress over!" My mother's sharp voice cut through the chaos.She marched in, flanked by two stressed assistants.I leaned against the doorframe, watching the scene coldly.Sitting in front of the brightly lit vanity mirror, Bianca was curled over in obvious agony inside my body.The heavy designer dress weighed her down like a pile of bricks. She simply couldn't stand up.She clutched her chest, cold sweat sticking her loose blonde hair to her deathly pale cheeks.My mother marched up and slammed a heavy clipboard onto the table. Makeup brushes bounced and scattered across the floor."Harper, stop acting dramatic. You have ten minutes until you walk the runway. Get up and get dressed." Her tone left zero room for argument."I... I really can't breathe..." Bia