VIVIAN
"I... I suddenly don’t feel well."
Nerion placed a hand dramatically against his forehead, swaying from side to side.
"My head..."
"My vision is blurry..."
"I think my blood pressure is rising."
He staggered backward as though he would collapse at any moment.
"I... I need to go to the hospital."
Vivian folded her arms.
"Really?"
Nerion nodded pitifully.
"I might die if I’m late."
"...Then go."
Before anyone could react, Nerion dashed out of the mansion.
"I’ll visit you another day!"
The front door shut behind him.
Silence lingered for three seconds.
Then..
"Pfft..." Vivian burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
Arin covered her mouth as she giggled.
Even Robot Number Ninety-Nine’s eyes flashed repeatedly.
"Ha... Ha. ...Ha."
Vivian pointed toward the door.
"He really ran away!"
"I only asked him to cry a little more!"
The three of them laughed until tears formed in their eyes.
*3 hours later....
Vivian’s flying car descended toward the Astronova Estate.
She stared through the window.
The estate was enormous.
Several futuristic mansions floated around a central palace built from white crystal.
Robot workers trimmed glowing flowers with mechanical precision while human servants hurried along spotless pathways.
Hovering fountains poured streams of shimmering water that floated upward instead of falling.
"...So rich."
The flying car landed smoothly.
As soon as Vivian stepped out, dozens of servants bowed respectfully.
"Welcome home, Young Miss."
Vivian smiled politely.
"Hello."
She nodded to each of them before walking farther inside. But the servants all stared at her like she was crazy because she had never greeted them in the past.
Then...She saw her.
A young woman dressed in a flowing Tael blue gown walked through the garden.
Golden sunlight seemed to gather around her naturally.
She smiled gently at every robot she passed.
"Good morning."
The robots politely greeted her back. She waved cheerfully to the gardeners.
"Thank you for your hard work."
Every servant smiled warmly. Vivian couldn’t help staring.
She’s glowing...
No wonder she’s the heroine. A real Pure White Lotus.
Vivian just couldn’t stop staring. She was glazing the Heroine.
She’s prettier than the novel described...
She’s even smiling at the robots.
No wonder everyone loved her.
One of the gardeners accidentally dropped his tools.
Elena immediately helped him pick them up.
Vivian smiled. "The heroine really is kind..."
Elena slowly looked up.
Their eyes met.
Her beautiful smile widened.
"Sister!"
She hurried toward Vivian.
Before Vivian could react, Elena embraced her tightly.
Vivian’s heart raced.
I’m hugging my favorite female lead...
She returned the hug happily.
Then...Elena leaned close to her ear.
Her gentle smile never disappeared.
"You shouldn’t have come back."
Vivian blinked. "...What?"
Before she could ask what Elena meant, Elena stepped back.
The next second... Tears filled Elena’s eyes.
Vivian panicked. "Huh?"
"Did... did I hug you too tightly?"
Elena bit her lip. "Sister..."
"Sister What did you tell Commander Caelan during my engagement banquet?"
"My engagement was supposed to be the happiest day of my life..."
"But after speaking to you..."
"He left with you."
She lowered her head sadly. "I know people always compare us."
"I know everyone likes me more."
"But..."
"Can’t you leave Caelan to me?"
"He is my fiancé..."
Vivian’s mouth fell open.
"I..."
"I didn’t..."
She instinctively took a step backward.
Suddenly.. Her body froze.
...What?
Vivian’s eyes widened. She couldn’t move.
It felt as though invisible strings had wrapped around her limbs.
Move! Move!
Her arm slowly lifting.
"No..."
She struggled desperately.
"Stop!"
Her fingers ignored her completely.
Her fingers twitched.
"...Huh?"
Her arm lifted.
"Move!" She screamed and grabbed her own wrist. But It didn’t stop.
Slap! Her palm landed across Elena’s face.
Elena stumbled backward before collapsing onto the ground.
Vivian stared at her own hand in horror.
"I didn’t do that..." she said horrified. "My body moved by itself!"
Footsteps echoed behind them.
"Vivian!"
A sharp slap landed across Vivian’s face. So loud and with more force than her slap. The force brought her to the ground.
Her cheek burned painfully.
Emelianna rushed to Elena’s side and helped her daughter to her feet.
She turned toward Vivian with eyes filled with disappointment.
"Why?"
Her voice trembled. She sounded very sad and disappointed. "Why are you so wicked?"
"Yesterday..."
"I was happy."
"I thought my daughter had finally realized her mistakes."
"But today..."
"You’re bullying Elena again."
Tears gathered in her eyes.
"What sin did I commit..."
"...to give birth to such a vicious child?"
Vivian suddenly grabbed her chest.
"...Ah..."
Her heart hurts not physically...but emotionally.
A pain so overwhelming it almost suffocated her. It wasn’t hers. It belonged to the original Vivian.
A pain from Years of loneliness and resentment. Vivian desperately wanting to be loved by her own mother.
All of it surged through her heart.
So this...is why she hated Elena.
Elena gently held Emelianna’s arm.
"Mother..."
"Please don’t blame Sister."
"It was my fault."
"I only wanted to know what she said to Commander Caelan...that made him leave me at the altar."
"I never thought I would make her angry."
Emelianna hugged Elena protectively.
"My poor child."
Then she glared at Vivian again.
"Why can’t you learn from your younger sister?"
Vivian wanted to remain silent. She didn’t want another misunderstanding.
But suddenly... Her lips parted against her will.
"No..."
She desperately covered her mouth.
Don’t say it! Her own voice rang out anyway.
"What younger sister?"
"I don’t have a sister."
"My father only has one daughter."
"She’s just an adopted girl..."
"...who’s two years older than me."
The entire garden fell silent. The servants all cursed at Vivian with their deadly glare.
Vivian’s eyes widened in panic.
I didn’t mean to say that!
She clamped both hands over her mouth before turning around and running as fast as she could.
Only one thought echoed inside her head.
Something was terribly wrong with this body.