Lilith stood there, watching the couple squirm in blanket, and she couldn't help but roll her eyes. What was once amusing had quickly become dull. She stifled a yawn, feeling the weight of boredom settling in. This wasn't worth her energy. Without a second thought, she turned away, uninterested in their pleas, and picked up her bag that had fallen on the ground.
As she moved away from the entangled pair, bits and pieces of memories—belonging to the body she now inhabited—started to surface in her mind. According to the memories of this world's Lilith, the girl had been an orphan, left to fend for herself at a young age. She had juggled multiple jobs just to make ends meet and paid her way through school with every penny she could scrape together. Despite her hardships, she had been a top student, excelling in her studies. Her beauty had drawn attention, but it was her cold and distant aura that had left her isolated. She didn't talk to anyone, so most people assumed she was arrogant, a know-it-all. As a result, no one ever bothered to befriend her.
Lilith—the original owner—had been alone for most of her life, with only her apartment to call her own. That small but modest place had been bought with the savings of ten long years, and even then, she was still paying off the loans.
And that's where Rayan Brooks had entered her life. He hadn't appeared out of affection or admiration but rather out of a sense of duty—a duty passed down to him by his grandfather, Mr. Brooks. Decades ago, Mr. Brooks had been in a life-threatening situation, and it was Lilith's mother who had saved him. It was because of her that he had survived. Unfortunately, Lilith's mother had died shortly after, leaving her daughter an orphan. Mr. Brooks hadn't learned about Lilith's existence until much later in life, but once he did, he felt an obligation to repay the debt.
And how did he choose to repay it? By forcing his grandson, Rayan, into an engagement with her. A fiancé she never asked for.
Lilith scoffed as she recalled the situation. How convenient for them. They thought marrying her off to the wealthy grandson of an old man would somehow balance the scales of life. But Lilith, the real one, hadn't wanted that. She didn't need their pity, and she certainly didn't need their forced affection. She had worked her whole life for her independence, for her own sense of self-worth.
However, the original Lilith had a soft spot for Rayan. Despite all her struggles, her heart had weakened when he showed her kindness, being the first man to genuinely try to talk to her. He was handsome, charming even, and despite her better judgment, she had let her guard down. Rayan knew just how to exploit that crack in her armor. His persistence had eventually melted her icy aura, and she found herself attracted to him, despite everything.
Then there was Lia, her university dorm partner, who called herself Lilith's "soul sister." Lia was bubbly, sweet, and always seemed to care for her, even when Lilith didn't fully reciprocate the bond. Lia was one of the few people who ever bothered to get close to her, which is probably why the original Lilith allowed the friendship, though her heart never fully opened.
But as time passed, Lia began to secretly meet with Rayan. Behind the original Lilith's back, Lia and her "cheap fiancé," as she called him, grew closer. What started as simple flirting soon turned into a secret affair—a messy, complicated love-hate relationship that both of them were tangled in. The original Lilith didn't know the full extent of their betrayal, but deep down, she had started to sense something was wrong.
To them, Lilith was the ruthless woman standing between their so-called love. They painted her as a villain, the obstacle they had to overcome. But what they didn't realize was that Rayan was playing a game of his own. While he grew closer to Lia, he still used Lilith from time to time, knowing that her presence would make Lia jealous. He would flirt with Lilith, acting like he still cared, only to turn around and play the victim, feeding Lia's insecurities and the original Lilith had been caught in the middle of it all.
And now, as the devil Lilith stood in this new life, fully aware of the sordid mess she had inherited, she couldn't help but sneer. How pathetic, she thought. Humans and their shallow games.
Original Lilith had allowed herself to be fooled, She would not make the same mistake. She had no interest in being a pawn in their foolish love triangle.
Let them think they had won, Lilith mused. Let them think they could continue with their little secret.
She smiled darkly, her mind already plotting her next move. This world was about to get a lot more interesting
Lilith stepped out of the luxurious hotel, her eyes narrowing at the dark sight of City. The moment she left the room, she no longer cared for the drama she had just witnessed. Rayan and Lia's betrayal? Pathetic. To think that original owner had fainted from the shock, allowing her death and her rebirth as this new Lilith. How ridiculous.
The lively city streets felt foreign yet familiar, her mind absorbing the original Lilith's memories as she hailed a taxi.
According to the memories, she was supposed to be heartbroken right now because original owner deeply Loved Rayan, but that was not happening. The original Lilith might have been crushed, but the devil Lilith had seen far worse betrayals in her life. She was not going to cry over a man or a backstabbing friend.
Climbing into the taxi, she gave the address of her apartment. "Sunshine Apartments," she murmured, leaning back in the seat, recalling the story behind this place.
Sunshine apartments
The original Lilith had worked hard for it, juggling multiple jobs, freelancing gigs, and studying all at once. Despite being an orphan, she had managed to scrape together enough money to afford this place, paying the mortgage with the sweat of her brow.
It was a decent location, in a secure building with tight security.
The place had probably been original owner only safe haven, the one thing she had to show for all her hard work.
As the taxi weaved through the streets, Lilith continued sifting through the original Lilith's memories. She had graduated recently, a fresh degree in hand, and was on the lookout for a job. Her career path wasn't exactly clear, but tomorrow, she had an interview lined up at Carter Enterprises—a prestigious company, known for its high standards.