Ugly Duckling Becomes National Beauty

I was the ultimate glow-up story. My parents were both obsessed with looks and voices, yet when I was born, I looked like an underdeveloped monkey. Even my cries sounded like a frog, croaking so loudly that the entire hospital ward found me annoying. My parents named me Blob and dumped me at Grandma's house far away from them. I only earned the right to return home when I made it into a national top university. My father, a movie star, merely glanced at me before his brows knitted together. "Hat, sunglasses and mask? Why are you wrapping yourself up like that? What, are you ashamed to show your face?" My mother, a chart-topping singer, scoffed. "She probably saw us take Vivian on that show and is afraid she'll be completely outshone by Vivian's looks the moment we meet. She may be ugly, but she sure has a lot of tricks up her sleeve." My younger sister, Vivian Sterling, ran up to me and took my hand. "Looks aren't everything, Blob. You don't have to feel inferior around me." My hand, which was about to take off my mask, froze in midair. Grandma had written to them every month in the last two years. "Hurry up and come pick Blob up! The older she gets, the more irresistible she becomes. We have more than a dozen dogs guarding the yard, yet we still can't stop people from scaling the walls just to sneak a peek at her!" So not a single person in this family had ever looked at the photos Grandma sent them every year? Chapter 1 When I stood rooted to the spot without saying a word, my younger sister, Vivian Sterling, shot Mom and Dad a reproving look. "Blob's super self-conscious about her appearance as it is, Mom and Dad. Instead of triggering her, you should compliment her!" Dad knitted his brows as he gazed at me. "Take off your mask and let me see if there's anything that can still be done." Before I could make a move, Mom sneered. "Beauty comes from within. Vivian's gorgeous and kind-hearted, unlike a certain uncultured swine who doesn't even know how to greet us after walking through the door. Let's not waste our time. I'd hate to lose my appetite for dinner." I had manners, but I couldn't bring myself to call these strangers I was meeting for the first time in 18 years "Mom and Dad". I tightened my grip on my duffel bag. "Excuse me, where's my room?" The mask covered half of my face, but it couldn't hide my ethereal, pristine voice. Mom, who had been hostile toward me a split second ago, suddenly froze as if she had been struck by lightning. "I-It's the second room on the left on the second floor," she stammered. Noticing Dad and Vivian's bewildered gaze, Mom realized she had lost her composure. Her face flushed crimson, and she snapped, "Every room in this house has a purpose. The one you're staying in was originally Vivian's dressing room. "Vivian inherited our good looks. Even before coming of age, entertainment agencies are bending over backward to sign her. "That dressing room is crucial for her. Besides, you won't be staying for long anyway, so I hope you understand what I mean." I nodded. "I understand. I'm sorry to impose on you. I'll only be staying here for a week. I'll move into my college dormitory as soon as orientation starts." As an award-winning singer who was obsessed with voices, Mom fell under my spell yet again. "T-To be honest, there's no rush. You can stay until you graduate from college and find a job. Then, you can rent a place near your workplace." But I had already made my own plans. I nodded without saying a word and headed straight for the stairs leading to the second floor. Mom was still muttering to herself behind me, "What a waste of such a beautiful voice. Too bad she's ugly—she could never make it in public." … When I returned to my room, I closed the door and stuffed my sunglasses and mask into my pocket. My luggage was already sitting beside the bed, ready to be hauled away at a moment's notice. Aside from my daily necessities, I hadn't taken anything else out. The college administrator, Cynthia Fairchild, was organizing the dorm arrangements in the class group chat. "Students from out of town who need to move into the dorms early can sign up with me now." Without a second thought, I replied, "Ms. Fairchild, I'm Aria Sterling. I'd like to sign up to move into the dorm next Friday." Chapter 2 Ms. Fairchild replied almost instantaneously. "Got it. By the way, you have a lovely name!" I responded politely, "Thank you. My grandma picked it out for me." Mom and Dad had only given me the nickname "Blob", claiming a crude name would make me easier to raise. Then, like the trash my nickname implied, they had dumped me at Grandma's house right after I was born. When I was five, I was about to start elementary school. I needed a legal name for my official records—a full name with a last name, the name I'd be known by for the rest of my life. Grandma called Mom and Dad several times. Their answer was always the same. "Yeah, yeah, we're thinking about it. We're super busy auditioning for roles and going on nationwide tours. It's literally just a name. Why are you in such a hurry?" Months flew by, and before long, the first day of school was right around the corner. Afraid that I would miss enrollment and end up starting school a year later than the other children my age, Grandma took matters into her own hands and named me Aria Sterling. "I don't need you to be wealthy and distinguished, sweetheart. I only hope you can be as beautiful as an aria." Even as a child, I was well aware that if I remained Mom and Dad's "Blob", I would only be tossed around like garbage forever. So, I'd rather be Aria—the name that carried Grandma's love and blessings. Just then, the housekeeper knocked on my door. "Ms. Blob, dinner's ready." The housekeepers knew full well that I was also Mom and Dad's daughter. Yet, they called Vivian "Ms. Sterling" and relegated me to "Ms. Blob". I wasn't sure if this was something Mom and Dad had instructed them to do or whether the housekeepers were simply treating people according to their status. Fortunately, I had always known that this place wasn't my home, so I hadn't harbored any unrealistic expectations. However, when I went downstairs, even with my sunglasses on, I couldn't help but be dazzled by the scene before me. Countless rows of gorgeous designer dresses and high heels were neatly arranged in the living room. The housekeepers were holding up fine jewelry for Vivian to pick and choose as she pleased. Noticing me frozen on the stairs, taking it all in, Dad looked a little awkward. In a heartbeat, he began sizing me up. "Vivian's birthday party's tomorrow, so she needs to be dressed to the nines. You, on the other hand, can wear your own clothes and keep things simple. There's nothing wrong with having ordinary looks, as long as you keep a low profile and don't draw attention. But if you apply lipstick on a pig, you'll just end up making a fool of yourself." Mom and Dad had always been stingy about giving me even the slightest bit of their time, money, or companionship. Hence, I merely nodded. Noticing how quiet and unbothered I was, Dad's face tightened. "At the end of the day, you're a teenager. I'm only telling you not to overdress, not that you should look like a mess. I'll ask your sister to pick out a few simple and understated clothes she hardly wears and bring them up to you later." Chapter 3 I was about to tell Dad not to bother when a bodyguard hurried in. "Mr. Smith's here with wine from his own vineyard, Mr. Sterling. He said he'd like to have a few drinks with you." Dad immediately broke into a smile as he rose to his feet to greet him. Then, as if a thought suddenly crossed his mind, he whipped around to look at me. "I have an important friend over, so you'll have lunch in your room. The housekeeper will bring your meal up shortly. When you're done, just leave your tray at the door. "Don't come downstairs unless you have to. We'd rather not have to explain how we ended up with such a genetically mutated, ugly daughter." Vivian, twirling in her gorgeous dress, looked up at me like a proud swan. "Don't take it personally, Blob. Mom and Dad are an award-winning actor and a famous singer, after all. They need to protect their privacy and can't afford even the slightest scandal. "Please enjoy your lunch and rest up in your room in the afternoon. If no one calls for you in the evening, please have dinner in your room, too." Mom and Dad didn't utter a word, tacitly endorsing everything Vivian had just said. Everyone in this family was glamorous, dazzling, and constantly in the spotlight. I was the only stain that needed to be kept hidden. Meeting Mom's and Dad's non-negotiable stares, I responded apathetically, "For the rest of my stay here, I'll have all my meals in my room." Mom and Dad nodded in satisfaction. "You might be hideous, but at least you know your place." I kept my end of the bargain right up until the housekeeper came knocking on my door the next day. "The birthday party is almost at the cake-cutting segment. Ms. Sterling invited you downstairs to have a slice." However, by the time I went downstairs, the cake had already been completely divided up. Not only had the housekeepers and bodyguards gotten a slice, but even the family's guard dogs and companion dogs had been given pet-friendly cream. I was the only one without a slice. Mom and Dad exchanged a look and immediately put me down to defend Vivian. "You're ugly to begin with. Your figure is the only thing you have going for you. So you're better off not eating all that sugary, high-calorie cream. Vivian's doing this for your own good, too." I was about to head back upstairs when Vivian enthusiastically dragged me up to a distinguished, handsome man. "Sylvan, let me introduce you! This is my older sister, your fiancee." Sylvan Grayson narrowed his eyes when he looked at me. "Why are you wearing a mask and a baseball cap this late at night? If I didn't know any better, I'd think you're paparazzi here to sneak photos." Vivian wrapped her arm around Sylvan possessively before doubling over with laughter. "You're so mean, Sylvan! My sister is already ugly to begin with, and she's insecure about her looks. If you keep picking on her, she'll be too ashamed to ever leave her room again." Sylvan jeered. "My fiancee? Even if our families really were to forge a marriage alliance, I wouldn't take in any piece of trash. My future wife has to be a lady with both beauty and talent—someone like Vivian, at the very least." Chapter 4 Even as they watched me get compared to a piece of trash by the fiance they had chosen, Mom and Dad didn't defend me. In fact, they turned to Sylvan, flushed with shame. "When we made that arrangement before she was born, we had no idea what kind of child we were going to have. Don't worry, Sylvan. Our families go way back; of course, we'll marry off our most outstanding and beautiful daughter to you. "As for this ugly thing, we'd rather keep her at home for the rest of her life than let her ruin someone's life!" My hands balled into fists, but I kept my mouth shut, as I couldn't be bothered to defend myself. After all, I didn't want such a harsh and cruel fiance either. Sylvan, however, had no intention of letting me off the hook. He closed in on me and pressed even harder, "You're being too hard on yourselves, Mr. and Mrs. Sterling. To be honest, with the two of you as her parents, I'm sure your daughter can't be all that bad. So, I'm quite curious to see what she looks like. "Why don't you have her take off her mask and sunglasses and let everyone have a look? Everyone here comes from one of the most prominent families in the capital. If someone happens to fancy this sort of ordinary, understated beauty, perhaps it could lead to a very happy marriage." Mom and Dad exchanged an awkward glance. Neither of them dared to agree nor refuse. Because, as my biological parents, they had never bothered to even take a good look at my face. Consequently, both of them were utterly unsure of what to expect. Mom and Dad were afraid I wasn't merely taking off my mask and sunglasses, but was tearing away the metaphorical leaf that kept them from being made a laughingstock. I took a step back, refusing to let Sylvan's height intimidate me. "Since our engagement has already been called off, you don't need to be curious about what I look like. I've just been accepted into Alden College. From now on, I'll have my own studies and career to focus on, so I'm in no rush to get married. Besides, who I end up marrying is hardly the concern of an outsider like you." Having never been put in his place in public in his entire life, Sylvan narrowed his eyes dangerously. The guests around us stopped in their tracks and began whispering among themselves. "Even with the best resources at our disposal, only a handful of our children manage to get into Alden College." "I heard she was raised by her grandmother in the countryside, neglected by her parents." "Regardless of what she looks like, she must be an exceptionally bright student." After hearing everyone sing my praises, Mom's and Dad's expressions softened, and the corners of their lips curled. Vivian and Sylvan were the sole exceptions, each looking more furious than the other. Vivian closed the distance between us before clamping her fingers around my wrist like a pair of iron pincers. "Blob, besides education and capabilities, a woman's looks are just as much of a ticket through the door. If you seriously didn't care about your appearance, you wouldn't cover yourself up so thoroughly. There happen to be several top cosmetic surgeons here tonight. "Why don't you take off your mask and let everyone see your face? They can give you a bit of a touch-up to add to your charm." Even though she sounded as if she were asking for my permission, her hand had already shot toward my face. I instinctively dodged, but that played right into her hands. "Ugly duckling, wash that face of yours clean and let everyone see your true colors!" Vivian whispered sarcastically into my ear before using the momentum to hurl me into the swimming pool behind me. The moment I plunged into the body of water, the tremendous impact washed away all my disguises. I flailed wildly, bobbing up and down in the pool. It took a great deal of effort to grab the edge of the pool and pull myself up. Instinctively, I wiped away the water droplets from my eyes and nose. The entire venue fell dead silent, save for the collective gasp. Then, someone broke the silence. "There's a ghost!"