Just then, her mother's voice echoed up the stairs.
"Beauty, breakfast is ready! Come down before it gets cold!"
Beauty blinked and glanced at herself in the mirror one last time before turning away.
She walked out of the bathroom and made her way downstairs.
The scent of bacon and eggs wafted through the air, and her stomach growled in response, momentarily distracting her from her worries.
Entering the kitchen, Beauty saw her father sitting at the head of the dining table, hidden behind the morning newspaper, and her mother bustling around, setting down plates of food.
The kitchen was filled with the warmth of morning sunlight streaming through the windows, making the room feel warm and bright.
"Morning, sweetheart," her father greeted, looking up from his newspaper with a smile.
"Did you sleep well?"
Beauty nodded, taking her seat at the table.
"You are not going to work today?"
Her father asked again.
"Yeah, I took a day off, to focus on an important design."
Luckily, her father asked no further questions.
She glanced over at her mother, who was pouring coffee into three mugs.
"Smells good, Mom."
She smiled weakly.
Her mother beamed, setting a mug in front of her.
"I made your favorite. Eggs with crispy bacon and toast."
She sat down across from Beauty, her mug of coffee in hand.
"Mom, I am dieting".
"Just this once, it won't cause you anything".
She persisted.
Beauty well not like she has seen any progress from the diet anyway.
She can't reject her favorite, especially when it comes from her Mother!
"Fine, just this once".
She replied.
Her mother smiled back and settled on her seat.
"Your father and I were just talking about your grandparents. We visited home after our anniversary."
Beauty nodded, taking a sip of her coffee.
"How are they doing? I've been meaning to call them."
Her father folded his newspaper and set it aside, reaching for his fork.
"They're doing well, all things considered. Your grandfather is still getting around, though a bit slower these days. And your grandmother, well, she's still as sharp as ever."
He chuckled.
"She beat your father at chess, again."
Mrs. Hill announced.
Beauty smiled at the thought of her grandmother, a fierce competitor in everything, especially chess.
"What an announcement!"
Mr. Hill replied.
"I knew it was over before it even started, it was a waste of time".
His wife laughed with an eye roll.
"Whose side are you on?"
Her husband snapped.
They all laughed.
"I'll have to visit them soon," Beauty replied, "It's been too long."
Her mother nodded, taking a bite of her eggs.
"They'd love that, dear. They always ask about you."
She paused, her expression changed to excitement.
"Oh, and also your cousin Lisa got engaged last Friday."
Beauty's eyebrows raised in surprise.
"Lisa engaged?"
"You didn't know?"
Mrs. Hill asked in surprise.
Beauty picked at her bacon sadly.
"I guess I missed the invitation."
"I can't believe she didn't invite you!
I thought you just didn't want to attend the engagement party."
Her mother replied.
"Don't feel bad about its sweetie. I am sure she will invite you during the wedding".
Her father added.
Beauty nodded and forced a smile.
"Yeah right. Like she would actually invite me to her wedding. She will be ashamed to invite me or even ask me to be a part of her bridal train".
Beauty said to herself.
Her father glanced at her as he took a sip of his coffee.
"You seem quiet this morning, Beauty. Is everything alright?"
Beauty blinked and looked up at him that instant.
Their eyes met, and her father raised a suspicious brow.
She forced a smile and nodded quickly.
"Yeah, just thinking about some stuff. Nothing much."
She didn't want to worry them with her insecurities.
"Is this about your company?"
Her father asked again, unsatisfied.
Beauty knew better, so she should make it be because of work than anything else.
"Yes, we have a big project coming up, I was picked by the team to lead so it's really been a bit of a burden you know, that's why I took a day off today".
His father smiled with pride.
"Well, it's good that they are finally appreciating your efforts and made you the lead but don't be so hard on yourself".
He advised.
Beauty forced a smile in guilt.
"Thanks dad".
She just lied to her father.
Again...
Still the same reason to cover up her emotional breakdown due to her insecurities.
Her father seems to worry a lot about her and relate to her more than her mother with a perfect body.
An Hourglass as a young unmarried woman and now a perfect pear shape as a middle-aged mother.
"Oh, Beauty, you should have seen Lia's engagement party! It was absolutely magical".
Beauty's mom snapped, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Oh Lord not again!"
Beauty groaned inside, but she was nodding and faking excitement to her mother.
"Wow, tell me all about it!"
Beauty replied with a fake interest.
Beauty knew that her mother loved to recount events in detail.
Lisa's engagement party will be a great opportunity for her to express that side of her again.
"The party was held at this beautiful country club just outside our hometown".
Mrs. Hill started, her voice filled with excitement.
"It was such a stunning location right honey?"
She turned to her husband who simply nodded.
She continued.
"They had set up a large white tent, with twinkling fairy lights hanging from the ceiling and elegant white and gold decorations everywhere.
The whole place looked like it was straight out of a fairy tale. They took it to the next level. Now imagine what the wedding will be like! Young couple and flashy weddings these days is like a trend and your cousin Lisa is like the Queen of trends".
"Yeah, Lisa is something else".
Beauty said in agreement.
Her mother continued, barely pausing for breath.
"Your Aunt, Lisa's mother, was the event planner. It was impressive how she went all out with the decorations. It was quite the sight. And the food! Oh, Beauty, the food was exquisite.
They also had a whole buffet with everything you could imagine.
Little canapés, a carving station, fresh seafood, and the desserts! There was a whole table just for desserts, with cupcakes, macarons, and a chocolate fountain... It was heaven!".
"Chocolate? Well, now I feel bad for not attending".
Beauty joked.
Her parents laughed.
Beauty joined them however it was only a cover for real emotions.