Chapter 15: Surrendering Control

Lexie spent the rest of the afternoon staring at the envelope Carly had left behind, the money mocking her in its crisp, pristine folds. It wasn’t enough to erase what had happened, and it certainly wasn’t enough to build a new life. Yet, for Lexie, it was the closest thing to power she’d felt in months.

But what could she do with it? She had no friends left, no family who would even answer her calls. Her phone buzzed occasionally with anonymous texts from strangers—cruel comments, degrading propositions. She had no one.

When Carly came back downstairs that evening, her usual smirk plastered on her face, Lexie was sitting on the bed, the envelope untouched beside her.

“Made a decision yet?” Carly asked, folding her arms and leaning against the doorframe.

Lexie swallowed hard, her throat dry. “I’ll stay.”

Carly’s grin widened. “Smart choice. I knew you’d see it my way.”

“But I want to talk about the ... enhancements,” Lexie added, her voice small but steady.

Carly raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“I’ll do it,” Lexie said, forcing the words out before she could change her mind. “But I want to choose—”

Carly held up a hand, cutting her off. “Stop right there. Did you really think this was negotiable?”

Lexie froze, her stomach sinking.

“If I’m footing the bill, then I’m calling the shots,” Carly said matter-of-factly. “And trust me, I have big plans for you. Literally.”

Lexie’s heart pounded in her chest as Carly pulled out her phone, scrolling through images. She turned the screen toward Lexie, showing a model with an exaggerated, unnaturally enhanced figure.

“Something like this,” Carly said, tapping the screen. “It’ll turn heads, trust me.”

Lexie’s breath hitched. “That’s ... that’s too much. I wouldn’t look—”

“Like you?” Carly interrupted. “Good. That’s the point.”

Lexie stared at the floor, her cheeks burning with humiliation. She wanted to argue, to push back, but the weight of her circumstances crushed any resistance. She nodded mutely.

“Great,” Carly said, clapping her hands together. “I’ll set up the consultation. Don’t worry about a thing. You’ll thank me when you see the results.”

As Carly ascended the stairs, Lexie felt a crushing sense of defeat. She had just handed over the last shred of control she had over her own body.

She curled up on the bed, hugging her knees to her chest. She tried not to think about what Carly would turn her into, or what her life would look like in the weeks and months to come. But deep down, she knew there was no escaping it. Carly owned her now, body and soul.