"They say everyone's life changes in years. Mine changed in a second."
************************
"Really, Rosette? I don't wanna hear about your sloppy little novel," my friend snapped. My lips snapped shut.
I could feel everyone's judging stares burning into me.
"She's such a freak. Novels? They aren't even real!"
"Come on, be nice. It's her escape from reality. Her life's already pathetic enough." The murmur came from one of the girls. I just kept my head down, scrolling frantically away from the novel app.
I knew my life was pathetic. They didn't have to announce it to the whole office.
I sighed and switched to my messenger.
"Danny, when are you coming home to see my parents?" I read the unread message again and let out a shaky breath. My fiancé hadn't replied in days. I sucked in air, fighting the tears threatening to spill.
It's okay. He's just busy, I told myself. Then I scrolled back into the novel, my only real escape. God, I hated the villainess. She had the attention and love of four powerful male beast consorts, yet all she did was torture them. Meanwhile, I couldn't even keep one man happy. I was jealous and pathetic.
I heavy another heavy sigh.
"Work's done for the day. It's the holiday season, go spend time with your loved ones!" My boss announced, scanning the room. My eyes lit up.
Today. I was finally going to give myself to him completely. Ten years we'd been together. Ten years he'd stayed by my side through every insult, every pitying glance from patients, every time my twin sister stole the spotlight. He was the best thing that ever happened to me. Time to repay that love.
I shoved everything into my bag and bolted out of the office first.
I dropped my work bag at my bestie's place, then rushed straight to Danny's apartment wearing nothing but lingerie under a long coat.
"Dan—" The door creaked open with just a light push. Unlocked.
I licked my lips, stepped inside, and froze.
His suit, the one I had gifted him lay, crumpled on the floor. Next to it, two pairs of women's heels.
A small, broken laugh slipped out.
"Funny, Danny. Come out!" I called softly, walking deeper in.
Surely it's not what I'm thinking.
I whispered the words to myself like a prayer. Then I reached the bedroom door.
That girlish laugh floated out. "I can't believe she actually thought you loved her."
The voice was painfully familiar.
I leaned closer, my heart hammering.
"She'll make a good benefactor. Paying off all my debts… After this last payment, I'll dump her," Danny muttered.
My shoulders slumped. A crazy little chuckle escaped me.
Was I hearing things?
I reached for the knob. Then came the moan.
"Aah… harder…"
My lips trembled. No. He was the only one who ever loved me. The only one who cared.
I shoved the door open.
Her ass in the air, him thrusting into her, hard, rhythmic, lost in it. My hand flew to my mouth, muffling the scream clawing up my throat.
They didn't notice me. Not at first.
"Aaah!" she cried out again.
Tears poured down my face like a broken dam. I just stood there, watching.
Maybe I should've known. The way he always ran to my sister whenever we visited home. The way he'd buy her favorite ice cream and "forget" mine. The way his eyes lingered on her whenever we were in the same room.
"Danny!" I finally choked out.
He turned. Looked at me. Then looked away and kept going.
"Bastard," I hissed, lunging forward. My fingers twisted into his hair, yanking hard. He screamed.
But then his hands slammed into my chest. Hard.
I flew backward, crashing to the floor. The impact punched the air from my lungs. Blood filled my mouth.
My twin Rosy, stared down with vicious eyes. "Rosette… I'm really sorry. I couldn't resist. Besides, he begged me."
I just lay there, stunned, flicking my gaze between them. Cheaters.
I felt my body tremble from anger and sadness, I staggered up and charged at Rosy, reaching for her hair, but Danny got there first.
He shoved me, harder this time.
I lost my balance, sliding across the floor. I caught the satisfaction twisting across his face.
I should've known from the very start.
My head smashed into the glass coffee table. The glass shattered, the sharp edges bit deep into my skull.
Rosy screamed and everything went black.
"She's dead!" a male voice shouted.
In that instant—
"For decades, the Dominae have been ruled by powerful females, each paired with their own beast-men fierce, loyal, dangerous. In this world, women hold the power. And that's exactly where she comes in: the villainess, Raven." I heard a cat-like voice narrate.
*Gasp*
I bolted upright, coughing violently. Blood sprayed from my mouth.
"She's… Raven," the same voice said again.
I pressed a trembling palm to my cheek. "Didn't I die?"
I turned and froze.
The man staring back at me had black hair, a warrior's white shirt stretched over muscle, black fitted trousers, and a flowing cape. He looked exactly like-
"Darian!" a female voice called from behind.
My eyes widened. I knew that name. Darian: the beast-man. Half bear, half werewolf, half human. The only man Raven promised to ever love.
"I heard my sister was dea-" Elowen froze the second she saw me. Her face drained of color, like someone had driven a blade into her heart.
Where the hell am I? I muttered, staring at the woman who looked every inch royalty.
"Who are you?" I tried to ask, but everyone suddenly went rigid.
A sleek black cat appeared out of nowhere.
"Welcome. Your life has been transferred"
I stared at the cat like I had walked into a fever dream. "Is this a joke?"
I staggered to my feet and stumbled toward the full-length mirror.
I froze.
Different face, dfferent body. Plain red shorts, tight white T-shirt, a dagger tucked into the pouch at my hip.
F-rank female. Age twenty-three. Daughter of the female duke.
My breath caught.
"Who are you? Am I… in a novel?"
The cat smiled slow, deceptive with little orange streaked fur, gleaming, eyes sharp.
"Everything will be answered soon. But the original villainess is dead. Her route has been destroyed. Now it's your turn to make sure she survives until the very end of this story."
I went cold.
Villainess?
I had been thrown into the novel I read obsessively, the one I unlocked with my last hard-earned cash. Survive to the end? Raven died in the first damn chapter. Killed by the man she adored most Darian, all orchestrated by the female lead, Elowen.
"How?" I demanded.
The cat chuckled. "You've already read it. Figure it out yourself."
"Wait!" I called, but she vanished.
"Sister, are you okay?" Elowen rushed toward me, her voice dripping false concern.
Scheming. Protected. One thing I already knew about this world: the female lead never dies. Never gets punished.
I died on Earth and woke up in hell. My life was always meant to be pathetic.
I cursed under my breath.