That night, I had a terrible dream.
Mimi was there, standing in the darkness, her eyes burning with rage. Her long hair floated around her like it had a life of its own. She screamed at me, her voice echoing in my ears.
"Give me back my body!" she shrieked.
Before I could run, her hands were around my throat, squeezing tight. I couldn't breathe. My heart pounded, and I clawed at her hands, trying to free myself. Her face twisted in anger, and her grip got stronger. My lungs burned. I tried to scream, but no sound came out.
Then, I woke up.
My body was covered in sweat, my heart still racing. I gasped for air and sat up in bed, looking around. The room was dark and empty. I was safe, but the dream felt too real.
I hugged myself, shaking. "I need to find a way back," I whispered. "I can't stay in this body forever."
But how?
I had no answers. No one would believe me if I told them what had happened. I was trapped.
The next morning, I decided I needed to see someone familiar. Someone from my real life.
I went to a small café, a cozy place I used to visit often. Sitting at a corner table was Clara, my old friend. My heart ached at the sight of her. She was stirring her coffee, looking at her phone. I wanted to run to her, to tell her everything, but I had to remind myself—she didn't see Bella. She saw Mimi.
I took a deep breath and walked over. "Clara," I said softly.
She looked up, and her face turned cold. "What do you want, Mimi?" she asked sharply.
The way she said my name—Mimi's name—felt like a slap.
I swallowed. "I just wanted to talk."
She scoffed. "Why would I talk to you? After everything you've done?"
I blinked. "What do you mean?"
Clara glared at me. "You think I don't know? You've been having an affair with Bella's husband! And now she's in a coma! I don't want to hear anything from you."
Pain stabbed through my chest. Clara hated me—no, she hated Mimi.
I couldn't tell her the truth. She'd never believe me.
My hands trembled as I reached into my bag and pulled out a small box. "I know you won't listen to me, but… happy birthday," I said, setting the gift on the table.
Clara stared at it, her face unreadable.
I turned and walked away, holding back tears.
I needed to learn more about Mimi's life. Maybe understanding her past would help me figure out how to fix this.
That's how I found myself in an office later that day, sitting across from a man named Mr. Peter. He was Mimi's psychologist.
He looked at me kindly, though I could tell he was trying to read my expression. "You wanted to talk, Mimi?"
I nodded. "I… I want to understand myself better," I said carefully. "Tell me about my past."
He adjusted his glasses and sighed. "Your parents divorced when you were a child. It was a messy separation, and your father remarried soon after."
I leaned forward, listening closely.
"Your stepmother never liked you," he continued. "She was cold and treated you poorly. You often told your father about it, but he didn't listen. He was too busy with his work."
I swallowed hard.
Mr. Peter looked at me with sad eyes. "You changed over the years, Mimi. You became harsh, cruel at times. You stopped trusting people. You treated men like they didn't matter because deep down, you feared being abandoned."
His words sank deep into my chest.
Mimi wasn't just a villain. She was someone who had been hurt, ignored, and left to fend for herself.
"She needed attention," I whispered.
Mr. Peter nodded. "Yes. That's why you… found comfort in someone who was already taken. Kelvin."
I clenched my fists. Kelvin. The man who had betrayed me.
I left the office with a new determination burning inside me. Mimi might have used Kelvin to fill a hole in her heart, but he had used both of us for his own gain.
I wasn't going to let him win.
I was going to destroy him.
And I knew exactly where to start.
The next day, I walked into Simon's office. He was sitting behind his desk, looking at some papers. When he saw me, he raised an eyebrow.
"Mimi," he said coolly. "What do you want?"
I sat down across from him. "I need your help."
He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "That's surprising. You never ask for help."
I took a deep breath. "I want you to stop working with Kelvin."
Simon's eyes narrowed. "And why would I do that?"
"Because he's a liar. A user. He's only out for himself," I said, my voice firm.
Simon chuckled. "And you're any different?"
I stiffened. "I'm not who you think I am."
He smirked. "Is that so? Then tell me, Mimi, why should I ruin a good business deal?"
I clenched my fists. "Because he doesn't care about you. He's using you…
Simon's face darkened. "I make my own decisions. And I don't let personal drama get in the way of business."
I exhaled sharply. "You're making a mistake."
He shrugged. "Maybe. But it's my mistake to make."
I stood up, feeling the weight of defeat. "Fine," I said, turning to leave.
As I reached the door, Simon called out, "Mimi."
I stopped.
He looked at me carefully. "You've changed
."
I didn't respond. I just walked out.
This was just the beginning. If Simon wouldn't help, I'd find another way.