I wake up, my heart pounding in my chest. As I blink my eyes open, confusion washes over me. The room is foreign, with lavish decorations and a sense of opulence that feels entirely out of place. My long black hair spills around my shoulders, brushing against my face, and I can't help but reach up to tuck it behind my ear. The silky strands feel strange against my skin. Just moments ago, I was Seira Fallon—a girl with a short bob cut and bangs. Now, my hair is long, flowing down my back in a cascade of darkness.
"What's happening?" I murmur to myself, a shiver of fear coursing through me. The memories of my last moments flash before my eyes: the rooftop, the pain, the betrayal. I was murdered in a horrible way, crumpled on the ground like a discarded doll. I can still recall the chilling sensation of cold metal piercing through me, the weight of life slipping away.
I take a deep breath, trying to calm the storm brewing inside me. This can't be real. I push myself up from the bed, my legs unsteady as I stand. I glance around, the room slowly coming into focus. Everything feels surreal—the elegant furnishings, the intricately designed wallpaper, the sunlight streaming through the tall windows. I instinctively reach for my neck, the memory of the wound fresh in my mind, but my skin is smooth and unmarked.
"Where am I?" I whisper, my voice trembling. The fear deepens as I move toward a large mirror on the wall. I need to see myself, to confirm that I am still me. I gaze into the mirror, and my breath hitches. It's still me. Same face, same dark eyes—but the reflection feels different. The hair that once framed my face in a bob now flows long and sleek. I look like a stranger in my own skin.
I feel a rush of confusion. This isn't my house. This is... a mansion? I step away from the mirror, my heart racing. I turn, moving through an ornate doorway, and find myself in a richly furnished office. The scent of polished wood fills the air, and there, sitting at a massive desk, is a stranger—a man with dark hair and a serious expression.
"Ah, you're awake," he says, his tone formal, almost condescending. "We need to discuss your marriage to Ezra Everhart."
The name sends a jolt through me. Ezra Everhart? It sounds familiar, but I can't place it. Confusion swirls in my mind as I force myself to remain calm. "Excuse me?" I reply, my voice trembling. "I think you have the wrong person. Do you have a phone? I need to call my father—I forgot to tell him I canceled my plans with friends after graduation."
The man's expression shifts from confusion to offense. "What is a phone?" he demands, rising from his seat. "I am your father!" He glares at me, eyes narrowing in anger. "Are you sick or something Irina?"
My heart sinks as reality crashes down upon me. This isn't a dream; it's real. I'm not Seira Fallon anymore. I've reincarnated as Irina Helgrave, the villainess of a novel I never finished reading—Unyielding Heart.
Irina Helgrave has always been a spoiled brat, rude and cruel, especially to Celine Becky. Celine, a maid in the Everhart household, captured the heart of Noah Everhart, the noble male lead whom everyone adored. Noah is incredibly handsome and charming, and he's perfect in every way, especially towards Celine, who had lived at the Everhart mansion since she was seven. Her father was a loyal farmer to the Everhart family, but Celine's mother died during childbirth.
Noah loved Celine from the moment they met, but tragedy struck when her father died when she was fifteen. After his death, Celine took a position as a maid, always trying to honor his memory. But now, I realize I'm living in a world filled with jealousy and rivalry.
Noah's cousin, Ezra, is another part of this twisted tale. He's handsome but cold, never showing his emotions to anyone except for Celine. Although they are the same age, Ezra harbors deep insecurities about Noah's charm and popularity. He was never able to express his feelings for Celine, which made Noah even more jealous.
And then there's me, Irina, always in love with Noah but despised for her cruelty towards Celine. Irina jealousy of Celine's beauty and kindness has driven her to be heartless. The worst part? she have been arranged to marry Ezra, a situation accepted by both families, except for Ezra and Irina. She never loved him, and he certainly never loved her. Instead, Irina grown more cruel, especially upon realizing that Celine loves Noah and that Ezra harbors feelings for her as well.
To complicate matters further, her father, Lord Frodo Helgrave, is a ruthless and ambitious man, seeking power and influence without regard for his family's happiness. Her stepmother, Lady Anna Helgrave, is kinder than her father, but Irina treated her poorly out of jealousy and spite. Irina also have a stepbrother, the strikingly handsome yet cruel Victor Helgrave, who often takes pleasure in her misfortunes. He and her father have made her life a living hell, and now, I must navigate this treacherous world where enemies lurk at every corner.
At the climax of the story, both Ezra and Noah join forces to kill Irina. The thought sends chills down my spine, but I can't ignore the truth: I am now Irina Helgrave, and I must find a way to survive this narrative, where everyone is out for their own interests.
I need to figure out how to escape the path that has been laid out for me.