From then on, she searched for her daughter
and pursued her dreams.
Her parents tried to set her up with other
men, but she refused.
She grew stronger, living life on her own
She never stopped looking for her daughter.
She knew it was probably a lost cause, but it
was a mother’s way of holding on.
My professor took me to a famous bread
bowl restaurant.
It was the first time I’d seen anything like it.
Soup served in a hollowed–out loaf of bread.
The flavor was incredible.
She turned and smiled at me. “There’s a
fashion show in a couple of days. You’re not
going to ditch me this time, right?”
I grinned. “Of course not.”
the
I wasn’t expecting to meet any other
Americans here.
At the show, I saw a pregnant woman with
shining eyes staring at the models.
Something about her made me want to talk to
her.
After the show, I found her backstage.
She looked nervous, like she was searching
for someone.
I wondered what she was doing. Then, she
saw me and her eyes lit up.
“Do you know Professor Zhou? I saw you
standing next to her. Don’t worry, I’m not a
Livet love her work and wanted to
<
stalker. I just love her work and wanted to
meet her.”
Some people in the industry had a bad
impression of her.
They called her a nitpicker, demanding, and
bossy.
I’d seen people try to talk to her before, but
this girl seemed so genuine.
I thought my professor would like her.
I asked her name. It was Grace Hsu.
She even had her design portfolio with her.
I’d never seen my professor be so nice to
anyone. I was a little jealous.
く
But then, I started looking at the sketches.
When I asked about her designs, she blushed.
“I found out my ex–husband was cheating on
- me. I quit my job to be a housewife and put
him first. I was so desperate, I thought about
staying with him for a while. After I left him, I
realized that I’d been sacrificing my own
dreams for him all along. That’s why my
designs are about having the courage to
stand up for yourself.”
One dress stood out. It looked like a wrapped
package. You had to tear it open to see the
dress underneath.
It fit her story perfectly.
My professor nodded in approval.
She agreed to work with her.
As I walked her to the door, I pointed to her
stomach. “So, this baby is…?”
She laughed. “This is my husband’s baby.
He’s a great designer, too.”
A man walked up and took her arm.
He smiled at me. “Thank you for being so
kind.”
Grace turned to me. “This is my husband,
Dave Cook.”
Cook, Hsu… Something about the names
sounded familiar.
く
Then, it hit me. “Aren’t you the designers
behind Cook + Hsu magazine? The one for
women empowerment?”
They laughed and nodded, then hurried away.
Seeing them support each other, I knew that
Ethan and I could never be.
From the start, we weren’t equal. Ethan was
the one in charge, and I was just trying to
please him.
Even if there was no Chloe, it wouldn’t have
lasted.
We were trapped in an unhealthy relationship.
Three months later, my professor and Grace’s
show was a hit.
And I showed my own collection, too.
I was grateful for the opportunity.
My collection was called “Healthy Love.”
Two models were connected by a band. If one
pulled, the other felt it. Only by working
together could they find balance.
I watched the excitement online, all the
conversations about the show. It was worth
all the hard work.
Three years passed quickly.
I even started my own magazine called
“Unbound.”
Every issue, I secretly published information
about my professor’s daughter.
It was a long shot, but I wanted to help her.
I kept my phone on all the time, so I wouldn’t
miss a call.
Then, one day, after a show, I got a call from
a girl.
I didn’t tell my professor. She’d been through
too much.
As I drove to meet her, I wondered how I’d
know if she was the right person. I even took
a strand of my professor’s hair, just in case.
But as soon as I saw her, I knew.
く
She looked just like my professor, her eyes,
her face, even the same birthmark.
She seemed nervous.
Finally, she said, “Did they not want me?”
She told me her name was Patty Lee. But I
knew my professor’s daughter’s name was
Betty Zhou.
Betty, a treasure, my professor’s treasure.
I told her about what happened. The girl cried
in my arms, telling me how she’d grown up on
her own.
Finally, she wiped her eyes and looked at me.
“I want to meet my mom.”
L
Without hesitation, I booked the next flight.
When my professor saw her daughter, her
face froze.
Then, she reached out and touched her face,
tears streaming down her cheeks.
They hugged.
Holding my necklace, I wanted my mom.
If she knew what I’d been through, I knew
she’d cry, too.
After finding my professor’s daughter, I
turned a section of my magazine into a
missing persons column.
Г
Then, one day, I got a message.
The person said he was looking for his sister,
who’d run away three years ago. He even sent
a picture.
It was me.
I deleted the message and posted another
one.
But he kept sending messages, harassing me.
Then, one day, I got a call. There was silence
on the other end. I was about to hang up
when I heard a hoarse voice.
“Lily?”
L
I didn’t think anything of it. But three days
later, I was getting ready for a show.
A security guard rushed in.
“Lily, there’s someone here who’s trying to
get in to see you.”
I frowned.
That’s when Ethan broke through the crowd.
He looked older, but still handsome. His eyes
were filled with tears.
“Lily, I finally found you.”
Compared to his excitement, I was calm.
“What do you want? If you don’t have
“What do you want? If you don’t have
business here, please leave. Only staff is
allowed inside.”
He looked hurt.
“I’m sorry. I’ll come back later.”
He took a step back, then turned around, his
voice hopeful.
“Lily, it’s good to see you again. And I missed
you.”
Holding my notebook, I took a sip of coffee,
ignoring him.
His expression fell.
Ethan thought I’d run into his arms, crying.
Г
But I’d changed.
I was independent, strong, and I didn’t need
him anymore.
He sat in the audience, watching me. But I
never looked at him.
I knew he was there, but it didn’t matter.
He was just a memory.
I was about to leave when I saw Ethan waiting
for me.
He looked nervous. “Lily, can we talk?”
I thought about the past, when I’d followed
him everywhere.
