Chapter 2
Molly's POV
The tropical breeze at Honolulu airport hit my face, carrying scents of coconut and sea salt. I dragged my suitcase, each step feeling like an escape. Three days after throwing away that cake in the rain, I'd been walking around like a zombie. Mom, worried sick, forced me to come to Hawaii to clear my head. She said Aunt Caroline could help me start fresh.
Start fresh? I was too exhausted to even exist.
Albert's messages kept flashing on my phone:
"Molly, where are you?"
"Why won't you answer my calls?"
"We need to talk."
Talk about what? About how you called me a pathetic DOG?
I didn't reply.
Some people didn't deserve to be in my world anymore.
"Molly Baker!"
A voice boomed across the terminal. I turned to see a woman striding toward me—silver-gray bob, sunglasses perched on her head, radiating serious boss energy.
"Aunt Caroline?"
She grabbed me in a bear hug that nearly suffocated me, then pushed me back to look me over.
"Jesus, you're even worse than in the photos!" She yanked off my glasses, studying my face up close. "But... OH MY GOD! You're a diamond covered in dust!"
"What?"
"Perfect bone structure! Amazing skin foundation! These eyes are a gift from GOD!" She waved her hands excitedly. "We're going to make you BLIND everyone!"
People started staring. I turned red to my ears. "Aunt Caroline..."
"Call me Caroline! Your rebirth starts NOW!"
Caroline's studio blew my mind.
An entire wall covered with before-and-after photos of stars—Oscar winners, Victoria's Secret Angels, pop sensations. Every single transformation from ordinary to absolutely stunning.
"You did all these?" I couldn't believe it.
"Of course!" Caroline grinned proudly. "A-list actresses in Hollywood—all my masterpieces."
I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my pathetic reflection. Thick glasses, gray sweater, messy hair. Compared to those goddesses on the wall, I was a different species.
"Could I... could I really become like that?"
Caroline stepped behind me, hands on my shoulders. "Sweetheart, beauty isn't about pleasing others—it's about becoming the most powerful version of yourself."
She sketched rapidly on her iPad. "Three-month plan! First month, basic transformation. Second month, body sculpting. Third month, confidence training."
"But I..."
"No buts!" Caroline cut me off. "Albert's an IDIOT who doesn't know quality when he sees it. That's his loss. Now, you live for YOURSELF!"
Hearing that name made my chest tighten. But then, an anger I'd never felt before surged up.
YES! Why should I suffer because of his words? Why should I live in the shadows?
"I want to change!" I suddenly shouted. "I want to become someone who'll make them all REGRET IT!"
Caroline's eyes flashed with approval. "THAT'S the attitude I want!"
The next three weeks were boot camp from hell.
My skin slowly turned a healthy golden tan under the beach sun. My body developed curves under a professional trainer's guidance. My hair got styled into trendy layered waves by a top stylist.
Every drop of sweat, every moment of persistence, was reshaping me.
But the real change wasn't just in the mirror—I could feel this unprecedented power awakening inside me. I wasn't that pathetic, people-pleasing Molly anymore.
However, recovery from laser surgery meant wearing heavy protective glasses that made me look like an alien. My hair was in that awkward transition phase, sticking up weird. My face still had red, swollen marks from sunburn.
"I look like a monster," I sighed at my reflection.
"It's called the transformation phase. Every swan goes through this ugly duckling period." Caroline consoled me. "Go to the coffee shop and relax. You need to get used to being in public."
At the beachside café in Maui, I could barely see anything through my protective glasses. In the corner, a tall figure sat reading, radiating this quiet, magnetic energy.
I carefully walked over carrying my iced latte.
Then—
My foot slipped!
"Ahh!"
The entire coffee splashed directly onto the guy!
"Oh my God! I'm so sorry!" I rushed over, panicking.
He shot up, his white T-shirt completely coffee-stained. I grabbed napkins and started wiping frantically.
"It's fine, I can..." His voice was amazing—that New York accent with this magnetic quality that made my heart race.
I was too nervous, fumbling as I wiped from his chest down. Through the thin, wet shirt, I could feel his solid muscle definition.
When my hand moved lower—
I touched somewhere I definitely shouldn't have.
The air froze.
His body went rigid instantly. I could feel his breathing get heavy. A faint scent of male pheromones mixed with coffee hit me, making me dizzy.
"Sorry... sorry..." My face exploded red, but my fingers trembled uncontrollably.
His Adam's apple bobbed, voice getting husky. "It's okay."
I stepped back quickly, heart pounding. "I'll pay for dry cleaning!"
"Don't worry about it." He chuckled softly, that sound making my ears burn. "It's just coffee."
I noticed the book on his table—"One Hundred Years of Solitude."
"You like magical realism?"
"Márquez's words are like poetry." He sat back down. "You into literature too?"
I excitedly sat across from him. "His narrative structure is GENIUS! That cyclical sense of fate..."
"Exactly! The Buendía family curse—repeating through generations but always different."
Oh my God! Finally someone who understood me!
We talked for an hour. From Márquez to Borges, from magical realism to postmodern literature. He wasn't just gorgeous-voiced—his intellectual depth fascinated me even more.
And every time he spoke, I could feel him watching me with this focused intensity that made my whole body heat up. Even wearing these ridiculous protective glasses, he never looked disgusted.
"I still don't know your name."
"Molly. You?"
"Ryan."
That name sent ripples through my heart.
"You're from New York?"
"Yeah." He paused. "Are you... starting over?"
"Something like that."
"Sometimes we all need fresh starts." His voice held this gentle understanding.
The sun started setting, golden light streaming through the windows. I knew I should leave but couldn't bear ending this conversation.
"I should go," I stood up. "Thank you... thank you for talking about all this with me. It's been forever since anyone understood my passion for literature."
"Same here," he said, something wistful in his voice. "Maybe... maybe we could meet again?"
My heart hammered. "Maybe."
Walking out, I glanced back. Through my blurred vision, I saw him still sitting there, seemingly watching my direction.
Back at the studio, Caroline immediately noticed something. "What happened? You're red as a tomato, and... are you HAPPY?"
"I... I met a guy."
"WHAT?!" Caroline shrieked. "Tell me EVERYTHING! What happened?"
I recounted the whole thing, including the awkward touching incident. Caroline burst out laughing.
"Jesus, Molly! You conquered a literary god looking like THAT? This guy must be a treasure!"
"I didn't conquer anyone!" I protested. "We just talked about literature... and I look like an alien!"
"But he still talked to you for an HOUR!" Caroline grinned wickedly. "That means he values your inner beauty. THAT'S a real man!"
"Really?"
"Of course! Jerks only care about faces. Good men see souls." Caroline got serious. "Tomorrow you can remove those glasses. Then you'll know if you met Prince Charming!"
That night I lay in bed thinking about Ryan's voice, our literature discussion. This was the first time I'd had such deep conversation with a guy, the first time I felt real intellectual connection.
My phone started buzzing again—Albert texting.
But this time, I didn't even look. I blocked his number.
