I woke up as the villainess in a classic billionaire romance novel – the kind of villainess who falls desperately in love with the male lead and spirals into madness for him.
In order to win the male lead’s heart, I used every means possible, even going as far as marrying his mentally challenged younger brother.
1
I found myself trapped in an over-the-top drama about the wealthy elite, reborn as the manipulative side character who once had a shot with the male lead, Ethan Shaw.
Ethan had been pressured by his grandfather to abandon his true love, Elizabeth Miller, and marry the orphaned heiress of the Monroe family, Delia Monroe.
Elizabeth, desperate to win Ethan over, resorted to every trick imaginable, weaving a web of misunderstandings and driving a wedge between Ethan and Delia. Her schemes led to Delia’s physical and emotional suffering.
But the story took a turn. Elizabeth’s plans backfired, and in a twist of fate, she ended up in bed with Ethan’s mentally challenged younger brother, Henry Shaw, eventually being forced into a loveless marriage with him.
Of course, the drama didn’t end there.
Ethan pursued Delia in an intense “chase the runaway bride” arc, and they ultimately reconciled, ending the story with a blissful, happy-ever-after.
As for Elizabeth? She descended into madness from jealousy, abusing her husband and attempting to kidnap Delia. Her wicked actions finally led to her spending the rest of her life behind bars.
The moment I took over Elizabeth’s body, I was standing in front of Ethan’s bedroom, dressed in a delicate white dress that reached my knees, holding a cup of “hangover tea” I’d prepared for him.
I realized I’d jumped into the story at a pivotal moment – right in the latter half of the book.
Ethan had just returned from a business trip and had coincidentally seen Delia having dinner with another man, their gestures intimate. Misunderstanding the situation, Ethan was consumed by jealousy. He and Delia had a huge argument, leaving things on a sour note.
Ethan was now locked in his room, drowning his sorrows with alcohol, probably wallowing in misery.
In the original story, Elizabeth seized this opportunity to comfort him, using the hangover tea as an excuse to enter his room.
With her gentle demeanor and sweet words, she coaxed him into bed, and under the influence of alcohol, Ethan gave in. They spent the night together, and the next morning, Delia walked in, catching them in the act.
Heartbroken, Delia fled in tears, and this incident created an insurmountable chasm between her and Ethan.
Recalling Delia’s original actions, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. “Seriously, what kind of delusional, lovesick logic is that? Here she was, a rich, beautiful, and intelligent heiress – why obsess over some womanizing CEO? Is she out of her mind?”
Without a second thought, I lifted the cup of tea and downed it myself, quickly turning to leave.
But as I reached the second floor, I felt something was off.
My face grew hot, and my entire body felt like it was burning. It was as if a fiery blaze was igniting from within.
I froze, staring down at the empty cup in my hand, suddenly realizing what had happened.
Damn it.
Turns out, Elizabeth really was as devious as they came. She’d laced the hangover tea with some potent drugs!
Why hadn’t the book mentioned this crucial detail?
Feeling dizzy and feverish, I staggered down the stairs, clutching the wall, hoping to find a housekeeper who could help me get to the hospital.
But I could barely manage a few steps before my legs gave out.
I stumbled into an open doorway, and just as I was about to collapse, I saw him.
A man stood with his back to me, shirtless, towel-drying his hair.
Sweat dripped down my forehead, and as the effects of the drug intensified, my vision became increasingly blurred.
I couldn’t make out the man’s features, but just before I lost consciousness, I charged forward and tackled him to the ground…
Chapter 2 You Betrayed Me2
When I woke up again, it was already the next morning.
I blinked in confusion for a moment, then quickly shrank back into the blanket, checking over my body.
Bruises and marks covered my skin, silently proving how intense things had been in this room last night.
Still wrapped in the blanket, I sat up and immediately lashed out, kicking the person lying next to me, exposing a conspicuous red stain on the bed sheet.
My legs trembled uncontrollably. On the verge of tears, I turned to look at the person on the floor, only to be met with a pair of sleepy, puppy-like eyes.
He looked young, his pale face almost translucent, carrying a hint of fragility.
The marks on his body were even more severe than mine, as if he’d been ruthlessly tormented.
Rubbing his sore bottom, the boy’s eyes turned slightly red, and his lips pouted in a pitiful frown. His amber eyes were full of grievance.
“Morning, Miss…” he whimpered in a soft, kitten-like voice, the tone sticky with clear hurt that made my heart itch.
My own thoughts went rogue, and I almost reached out to help him up, but I nearly exposed myself in the process.
Clearing my throat, I adjusted the blanket to cover myself better and stared at his extraordinarily beautiful face. “What’s… your name?” I asked tentatively.
The boy, with his disheveled black hair sticking up in odd angles, looked adorably confused. “I’m Charles Shaw.”
“What? You’re Charles?”
My eyes widened, and I clutched the blanket to my chest, nearly shouting in disbelief.
What a coincidence!
The male lead Ethan’s half-brother, the one I’d never met, was named Charles, and he was supposed to be mentally impaired.
According to the story, he had just been brought back from some remote countryside yesterday.
And on his very first day home, I somehow ended up being the one to stumble upon him.
Not only that, but I’d somehow ended up… with him.
“Oh, great…” I groaned, covering my face in embarrassment as I sank deeper into the blanket.
In the novel, Ethan cared deeply for his younger brother. If I’ve slept with him, would I really be forced, just like in the story, to marry this pitiful guy?
But I had my own grand ambitions of living a carefree, noncommittal life! This wasn’t in my plan!
Just as that thought crossed my mind, there was a sudden knock at the door.
Ethan’s deep, pleasant voice carried a hint of tension. “Elizabeth, are you in there?”
Crap, speak of the devil!
3
“You two… slept together?”
As he took in the bruises on my skin, Ethan’s expression darkened, his face twisted with anger.
Barely restraining his fury, he pushed past me, clad in nothing but a knee-length shirt that showed off my long legs, and stormed inside the room.
Grabbing Charles off the floor by the collar, he landed a heavy punch on him. “What did you do to her?”
Charles blinked in shock, blood trickling from his lip as his cheek swelled. Tears filled his eyes, and he turned to look at me, pitifully crying, “Oww, Miss, it hurts…”
Fearing Ethan might strike him again, I rushed to intervene. “It wasn’t his fault; it was all me!”
Ethan turned to me in disbelief, hurt flashing in his eyes. “Elizabeth, how could you betray me?”
Taking advantage of the moment, I pulled Charles over and hid the fragile boy behind me, protecting him from further harm.
Then something caught my eye.
I sneered, rolling my eyes dramatically, and pointed to a woman upstairs. “Oh, spare me! And who was the one who swore he didn’t love her but still ended up in bed with her?”
Ethan and Charles both froze, turning their heads in unison to where I pointed.
Delia sat silently on the third-floor railing, her red dress torn from the night before, tears streaming down her face.
She gazed at Ethan with heartbreak, sobbing uncontrollably.
Ethan had once promised me, or rather, the original Elizabeth, that marrying Delia was purely a necessity and that he would never touch her.
He’d said that once he took full control of the family business, he would divorce her and give Elizabeth a grand wedding.
Now, seeing the barely hidden tenderness in his eyes for Delia, I didn’t bother hiding my disdain.
“Hah!”
Before you start pointing fingers at others, maybe take a good look at yourself first.
Those obvious marks are all over you, especially those scratch marks on your chest – who wouldn’t be able to guess what happened?
Acting all devoted when you clearly can’t keep it in your pants?
Please, you’re just a two-faced player.
Ugh, what a pathetic jerk!
I spat in disgust. “From now on, there’s nothing between us.”
Throwing down those parting words, I grabbed my shoes off the floor and prepared to leave Ethan’s mansion.
Just as I reached the doorway, I paused, as if struck by a thought.
Turning back, I gently poked Charles’s chest and asked softly, “Do you… want to come with me?”
After all, he was my responsibility now. If he stayed, who knows if Ethan might continue to bully him?
There was no way this soft, clueless puppy would stand a chance against Ethan’s ruthless temper.
I’d hate to see him get torn apart.
The boy, still teary-eyed, blinked up at me, his thick lashes wet with tears. “Huh?”
Realizing what I meant, he quickly wiped his eyes and grabbed my hand, as if terrified I’d change my mind. Taking tiny, shuffling steps, he hid behind me, looking so helpless and fragile.
He clung to my arm, his wide eyes shining with uncertainty, just like a puppy testing his boundaries. “Will you... feed me?” he asked hesitantly.
“Of course!” I replied confidently, giving him a reassuring smile.
His eyes brightened, and after a moment, with an almost hidden sense of resolve, he pressed on. “Then... will you marry me?”
Chapter 3 Who Dares to Lay a Hand on Him4
“I... I’m not ready to get married,” I muttered, avoiding his hopeful gaze and feeling more uncertain with every word.
Charles’s eyes dimmed with disappointment. He loosened his grip on me, lowering his head as an air of sadness enveloped him. “Oh, I see…”
In the end, Charles chose to stay behind at the Shaw mansion, silently retreating to his room, while I returned to the Miller household alone.
The moment I stepped into the living room, my brother, Brandon, with his bright red hair sprawled across the couch, glanced over at me.
Seeing my defeated expression, he casually tossed aside his gaming console, propped his feet on the coffee table, and crossed his arms, ready to unleash his mockery.
“What now? Tried wrecking that jerk’s marriage again and failed?” he snorted.
The Millers were one of the most powerful families in the country, with influence that far surpassed the Shaw family. As the youngest daughter and the heiress, I was the apple of my family’s eye, protected by three older brothers who doted on me endlessly.
The original Elizabeth Miller always prided herself on being a refined lady from a prestigious family. Naturally, she never got along with her rebellious third brother, Brandon, who never cared about maintaining appearances.
Their relationship soured even more after Elizabeth became fixated on her childhood friend, Ethan, to the point of interfering in his marriage.
Ever since Brandon discovered that, he never missed a chance to ridicule her.
Ignoring his usual scolding tone, I slumped onto the couch beside him, reflecting on my choices.
The image of Charles retreating to his little room with tear-streaked cheeks haunted me, making my heart ache with guilt.
“Ugh…”
Noticing my uncharacteristic silence and repeated sighing, my brother frowned, his eyebrows knitting together like two fuzzy caterpillars. He reached out to feel my forehead, his expression turning into one of disbelief. “Did you get possessed or something?”
For once, I hadn’t called him a useless good-for-nothing or defended Ethan like Elizabeth usually did.
I swatted his hand away, glaring at him with watery eyes. “You’re the one who’s possessed! I just lost my phone and didn’t have any cash on me, so I had to walk all the way back. My feet are killing me!” I whimpered, rubbing my swollen ankle.
Brandon groaned dramatically, tossing a few tissues my way. “You’re such an idiot.”
Then, as if trying to rub salt in the wound, he added, “Serves you right for clinging to Ethan. Didn’t he always claim you were the one for him? So why’d he let you walk home on your own?”
“Okay, okay, I admit it. I was blind before, but I don’t like him anymore,” I retorted, pouting.
He raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical of my sudden change of heart. “You finally saw through that jerk Ethan’s opportunistic nature?”
Without waiting for my response, Brandon crossed his arms smugly. “I told you your taste in men was terrible.”
“Oh, and yours is any better?” I shot back, rolling my eyes before dragging his past into the conversation. “Who was it again that fell head over heels for a girl just because she did one dance during the high school assembly?
“You were bragging to everyone about that ‘sweet little angel’ of yours,” I mimicked his cocky posture. “And how long did it last? Barely three days before she ditched you!”
5
The next time I saw Charles was at his official family introduction party at the Shaw mansion.
He had been cornered in the garden, with red wine poured over his clothes and cake smeared across his face.
My brows furrowed, and I was about to rush over when Brandon grabbed my arm.
Dressed to the nines and holding a wine glass, Brandon nodded toward the figures watching from the third-floor balcony. “This is their family’s mess. Stay out of it. He’s being targeted on purpose.”
I followed his gaze.
On the balcony was Ethan’s father in his wheelchair, with Ethan behind him, pushing the chair. Beside them stood a middle-aged woman in an elegant silk evening gown, watching the scene unfold with an almost cruel indifference.
“It’s all part of their plan?” I asked, bewildered.
Brandon took a sip of his wine and grimaced. “Ugh, awful stuff,” he muttered before continuing.
He ruffled my hair, smirking as he explained, “You really don’t get it, do you?”
“That new young man they just brought back? He’s actually an illegitimate child. His mother has recently passed away, and their father, Philip, has forcibly brought Charles back, something the Shaw family would’ve never accepted otherwise.
Philip Nelson, father of Ethan and Charles, turned out to be quite the schemer.
Based on what my brother revealed next, I finally pieced together some details that I had previously overlooked and that weren’t mentioned in the original story.
It turned out that Philip had married into the Shaw family, becoming the live-in son-in-law in his youth when he married Ethan Shaw’s mother, Vivian Shaw. Hence, their children took on the Shaw surname.
However, Philip had always held a torch for his first love.
Even after marriage, he continued his secret affair, which eventually led to the birth of his son, Charles.
A few months ago, Charles’s mother passed away from illness, and fearing that his intellectually challenged son wouldn’t have anyone to care for him, Philip used his influence to bring Charles into the Shaw family.
While outsiders rarely knew these details, the Shaw family was painfully aware of the situation, seeing it as an unspoken blemish on their reputation. They would never truly accept Charles.
The only reason they tolerated his presence was because of Philip’s cunning maneuvering, which had allowed him to gradually seize control of the Shaw Corporation.
Once Ethan grew up and fully took over the Shaw family business, returning it to its rightful owners, Charles’s fate was bound to be grim.
“A pretty face, almost like a pop idol, but such a pity he’s a bit slow,” Brandon sighed, shaking his head. He seemed oddly sympathetic about it.
My gaze returned to the balcony, where Ethan’s mother was smiling triumphantly. I clenched my fists.
It wasn’t an uncommon tale in the circles of the wealthy, but what had Charles done to deserve this? He was just a boy, innocent and slow to understand the world around him.
Why should he suffer for the sins of those who came before him?
My frustration reached a boiling point, and I flung my skirt behind me, charging toward the bullies harassing Charles.