Avery's heart pounded as Prince Adrian's shocking declaration echoed in her mind. This couldn't be happening. She had written this story herself—every line, every twist, every romance. And yet, here she was, standing in the middle of her own plotline, with everything unraveling before her. Adrian's words played on repeat: The one I wish to marry is Lady Celeste.
She couldn't breathe, her chest tight with confusion and dread. Her eyes darted from Adrian's determined face to Evelisse's shattered expression. This was the moment in the book when Celeste's jealousy should have ignited, but Avery felt no malice toward her fictional sister. In fact, guilt washed over her. This wasn't her, none of this was supposed to happen.
"I… I can't," Avery—Celeste—stammered, her voice trembling. "I can't marry you."
The room fell into a stunned silence. All eyes were on her, especially Adrian's. His brows furrowed as if he couldn't comprehend her rejection.
"You can't refuse," Duke August's voice was low, almost threatening, cutting through the tension. "This is the crown prince's proposal."
But Avery didn't care about protocol. Her instinct was to run, to escape this twisted version of her story. Without another word, she turned on her heel and stormed out of the drawing room, ignoring the shocked gasps and protests that followed her. Her feet moved of their own accord, carrying her down the corridor and up the grand staircase toward her chambers.
She slammed the door behind her and leaned against it, her breath coming in shallow gasps. Was this a joke? Was fate playing some cruel game with her? How could the story have gone so far off course? Avery had written Adrian to be in love with Evelisse, not Celeste. The prince's sudden affection for her was wrong—all wrong.
As she stood in front of the grand mirror that dominated one wall of her room, Avery forced herself to take in the reflection staring back at her. Celeste was stunningly beautiful, there was no denying it. Her fiery red hair cascaded down her back, her golden eyes sharp and dangerous, her face a perfect balance of elegance and cruelty. This was the villainess—the woman who had tormented Evelisse in the name of jealousy and spite. But now, Avery was in control of that image, and she had no desire to continue Celeste's path of destruction.
A sharp knock interrupted her thoughts. She tensed as the door creaked open, revealing Duchess Mariana, her mother in this world. There was something imposing about the way the duchess moved, her gaze steady and unyielding as she stepped inside.
"You ran out of the drawing room," Mariana said, her voice calm but carrying an edge of disapproval. "That was inappropriate."
Avery felt a wave of unease. It's time for the mother-daughter lecture, she thought, bracing herself. Her memories of how Duchess Mariana treated Celeste flashed through her mind. She was a woman of rigid expectations, and love was only shown when it served the family's reputation. Still, Avery couldn't avoid this conversation.
"I had to leave," Avery said, choosing her words carefully. "I couldn't… I couldn't stay."
Mariana's lips thinned, her gaze hardening. "You are not a child anymore, Celeste. You know very well that certain things must be accepted, even if they do not go as planned."
Avery swallowed hard. "But this isn't right, Mother. I'm not—" She hesitated, trying to find the words to explain that she wasn't Celeste at all, that she was someone else entirely trapped in this world. But she knew it would sound absurd. There was no way her mother—Celeste's mother—would understand.
"You're not what?" Mariana asked, her eyes narrowing.
"I'm not who you think I am," Avery murmured, lowering her gaze. She felt like an imposter in this life, in this role. She had created this family, these characters, and now she was forced to live among them. "This marriage—"
"—is an honor," Mariana interrupted, her tone firm. "The crown prince has chosen you, and you will not embarrass this family by refusing him."
Avery opened her mouth to protest, but Mariana raised a hand to silence her. "Celeste, listen to me. This is not about you as an individual. This is about our name, our legacy. You will marry Prince Adrian because it is what is best for the Duvernay family."
The weight of Mariana's words settled over Avery like a heavy cloak. She wasn't Celeste, but in this world, she had to act like her. Still, everything in her screamed to reject this fate. Of course , she didn't want to follow the villainess's path. She also didn't want to marry Prince Adrian or hurt Evelisse. But her mother's cold, calculating gaze told her that she had little choice.
A knock at the door interrupted their conversation, and both women turned to see Evelisse standing in the doorway, her face pale and tear-streaked. Avery's heart sank. Her sweet, innocent sister was heartbroken, just as she had written in the story. But this time, the roles had reversed. Celeste was supposed to be the one filled with jealousy, but instead, it was Evelisse who looked like her world had crumbled.
"Mother," Evelisse's voice trembled as she spoke, "may I… may I speak with you?"
Mariana glanced at Avery before nodding. "Of course, dear." She moved to her youngest daughter, offering her a soft smile—something Avery had rarely seen directed at Celeste.
As they left the room, Avery caught a glimpse of Evelisse's eyes—full of raw emotion, and worse, hatred. It was brief, but unmistakable. The look terrified Avery. It was the same look Celeste had worn in the story, right after the announcement of Evelisse's engagement. But now, the roles had reversed. The sweetness and kindness that defined Evelisse seemed to have cracked, and in its place was something far darker.
A chill ran down Avery's spine as the door closed behind them. She was trapped in a world that she had created, but everything was upside down. The prince wanted her, not Evelisse. Evelisse, who had once been the embodiment of goodness, now harbored anger and resentment. And Avery, who had simply wanted another chance at life, was caught in the middle of it all.
As she paced the room, her mind raced. She couldn't stay here. She couldn't be Celeste—this wasn't the second chance she had wished for. It felt more like a punishment, a nightmare she couldn't escape from. If she stayed, the plot of the story would spiral into chaos, and she would inevitably be drawn into Celeste's dark fate.
Avery clenched her fists. She couldn't let that happen. There had to be a way out of this world. She would find it, no matter what it took.
Her decision was made, she began to plan her escape. Tonight, under the cover of darkness, she would leave. She would disappear before any of them could pull her deeper into this twisted version of her story. She would avoid whatever fate had been redesigned for her, whatever role Celeste was meant to play.
This isn't my life, she reminded herself. I don't belong here.
As she packed a small bag with essentials, her heart pounded with a mixture of fear and determination. She glanced out the window, watching and waiting for the sun to set over the distant horizon. It wouldn't be long now before night fell. She would be gone by then—far from the castle, far from the prince, and far from the web of lies and betrayal that she knew was waiting to unfold.
I'll make my own fate.