A Useless Star—But a Talented Toy (2/3)

David had expected him to quit.

The moment Ethan had seen himself in the mirror—his boyish features erased by the expert application of makeup, his hair smoothed and styled to frame his soft, delicate face—he should have stormed out. Any normal guy would have. Instead, he had just swallowed hard, his hands tightening into fists at his sides, and nodded. That had been the first red flag.

But fine. Maybe the initial shock hadn’t been enough. David had to make things harder for him—push him to the point where he’d finally decide it wasn’t worth it.

The next time Ethan walked into the studio, the stylists barely acknowledged him before setting to work. Gloved hands pulled his hair back, sectioning and lightening it with expert precision. When they finally stepped back, his dark locks were gone, replaced by golden-blonde waves that cascaded past his shoulders.

No protest.

Fine.

Next came the earrings—thick, gold hoops that dangled from his freshly pierced ears. They swayed with every movement, catching the light.

Still, no protest.

Then his lips. He sat still as the needle pressed into them, a slight sting before the filler settled in. When it was over, the swelling faded to reveal a fuller, poutier shape—soft, glossy, and undeniably feminine.

Still, no protest.

The nails were next. Acrylics. Long, almond-shaped, painted in soft pinks and nudes. He struggled at first—his fingers fumbling with zippers, buttons, even his phone. The weight of them changed how he held things, how he gestured when he spoke.

Still, no protest.

David was getting annoyed.

The breast forms were supposed to be the breaking point. He had been sure of it. The team worked as one, measuring, adjusting, and finally gluing the weighted forms directly to his chest. The illusion was flawless—his frame now curved, his dresses now clinging in all the right places. The added weight changed the way he moved, forced him to adjust his balance.

Still, no protest.

As David stared at Ethan practicing his new voice with one of the trainers, he was fuming. Ethan still believed he was on the path to stardom, convinced that every change—the long blonde hair, the plump lips, the manicured nails, the curves—was just another necessary step toward success. No matter what they put him through, he adapted. No matter how much they pushed, he never pushed back. He truly thought this was the price of fame, oblivious to the truth.

David had to admit, though—Ethan looked incredible now. If he had even a shred of talent, they could have made him a star looking like this. His transformation was flawless, every detail refined to perfection. But it didn’t matter. No matter how perfect he looked, it couldn’t hide the truth.

They had wasted far too much time on this lost cause, and David was done waiting.

If Ethan wasn’t going to quit after everything they’d put him through, then David would just have to push him further—personally. There had to be a breaking point.