Chapter 004: The Heroine's Role? Mine Now.

The gust from me slamming the door hit Ethan and Winnie dead in the face.

Ethan stepped back half a step. A blistering, fiery pain seared his cheek, spreading all the way to his ears.

His fist clenched midair, knuckles white with restraint. He held back, but the rage simmering in his veins was hard to miss.

A hoarse growl rumbled in his throat:

"Lisa, you really think you're something now."

Ethan gritted his teeth, a bitter helplessness gnawing at him. He was furious, utterly helpless to stop me.

"Ethan..."

Winnie covered her face and leaned in, her eyes rimmed red.

"Lisa's plastered tonight. Don't waste your breath arguing with her."

Ethan's gaze dropped to her. The venom in his eyes softened, if only for a split second.

He reached out, his thumb brushing her slightly swollen cheek, slow and deliberate. His voice dropped to a low murmur, unconsciously gentle.

"Does it hurt?"

Winnie shook her head, her lashes fluttering, looking fragile and sweetly compliant.

"I'm fine."

She bit her lip, her voice catching.

"Today's her birthday too. It's my fault I didn't think. I get why she's lashing out."

Ethan scoffed coldly, the chill in his eyes turning icy. "She treats you like this, and you're still making excuses for her?"

"Winnie, you're too pure—too untainted."

"Not everyone lives as transparently as you do. The world is full of dark, dirty corners."

"That slap she gave you? I'll get it back for you."

"I don't want you two to fall out because of me."

"Let me go talk to her. She was just acting on a drunk impulse."

Ethan's brows furrowed, his voice harsh.

"No need."

"If she wants a fight, I'll make sure she's the one on her knees begging for forgiveness."

Winnie glanced at the closed door, hesitation lacing her voice.

"Her attitude changed so much tonight."

She paused, as if choosing her words carefully.

"Do you think she's got someone backing her now?"

Ethan's eyes darkened.

The top-floor suites at Nebula were reserved for the elite—people who held power in their hands. The rules were brutal, no exceptions.

Surveillance? Off-limits. Asking questions? A violation.

The Cloud Pavilion suite I was in was his adoptive father Alexander's private suite.

And Alexander was indeed at Nebula tonight.

But how could Lisa possibly be involved with him?

Everyone in high society knew Alexander—the Knight family's self-restrained tycoon. A man of few words and bound by celibacy, he commanded unshakable authority in the business world. Even his mere presence demanded quiet respect.

For years, he'd ruled the business world with calm resolve, never once indulging in romantic entanglements. No one dared cross his unspoken boundaries.

Countless socialites had thrown themselves at him over the years. All left with their pride shattered.

Lisa?

That woman couldn't even handle him. What made her think she could make Alexander break his vows? It was laughable.

Seeing the change in his expression, Winnie sighed softly at the right moment.

"Ethan, I was just guessing. Don't overthink it..."

She reached out and pulled at his sleeve, her voice gentle.

"Don't be angry. Let's go back first."

Ethan didn't move.

He stared at the door, a storm brewing in his eyes. Climbing the social ladder?

He wanted to see just how high she could climb.

……

I brushed off the whole scene without a second thought.

I tore open the garment bag.

The Dior Pre-Fall couture dress inside made my breath catch.

Damn. That's six figures, easy.

No wonder Alexander was the male lead. He led with his wallet, not just his... intentions. A man who knew the game.

A man who knew the game, radiating a dangerous, restrained allure.

They say you can tell everything by how a man handles intimacy. This one? He was a keeper.

Way more reliable than Ethan, the spineless scumbag.

I flopped onto the bed, staring at the ceiling as I dissected the plot.

In the original story, I wasn't even a proper supporting character.

My name—Lisa—screamed "doormat," like the author wanted everyone to know I was easy to walk all over. Pathetic.

The author stuck me with the ultimate pure-and-sexy face, then matched it with a one-track mind for love.

With a face that could stop traffic, I'd acted like a brainless cannon fodder, nothing but a pawn for Winnie to manipulate.

Ethan, that idiot, had fallen for Winnie hook, line, and sinker, even ended up as her rebound. Pathetic.

And me? I'd been set up by Winnie time and time again to frame the original female lead, ending up with a tragic fate.

Thinking about it, I let out a bitter laugh.

Did the author write this garbage while drunk?

If God had closed every door and window on me, I'd break out through the ceiling. No more being a pawn. From now on, I make my own rules.

That's why I'd kissed Alexander in the elevator—drunk, bold, and unapologetic.

To change my fate, I needed the male lead. And I was here to take the heroine's throne.

Unfortunately, that phone call from Ethan had ruined my plans...

But it didn't matter. I knew Alexander's weaknesses like the back of my hand.

To bring this self-restrained tycoon—this man who seemed untouchable, who held power like it was second nature—to his knees, I first needed to find his weakness. And Alexander's stepmother Linda was the perfect weapon.

In the original plot, this wealthy stepmother was already plotting to sabotage Alexander's engagement to her niece Elena. Perfect timing.

……

Linda showed up here every afternoon at three sharp, without fail.

Sure enough, at three past three, a tea master in a linen robe bowed and led a noblewoman inside.

Linda wore a moon-white silk maxi dress, a pearl hairpin in her hair. Her aura was icy enough to freeze the room.

I watched her climb the wooden stairs, then flipped my wrist in a deliberate gesture, spilling half a cup of Earl Grey tea.

Three minutes later, I knocked on the door of Cedar Hall.

Inside, cedarwood incense curled in the air. Linda's wrist paused as she held the teapot.

"Miss, the lobby is that way."

Her voice was clear but distant.

I didn't move. I stood my ground, my back straight and unyielding.

"Mrs. Voss, sorry for the intrusion."

My voice was clear, laced with apology.

"The snacks in the lobby are terrible. I thought I'd come learn from the best."

Linda slowly poured hot water, not even lifting her eyes.

"Young lady, some teas are too hot to handle."

I smiled, my voice steady and unwavering. I didn't look the least bit intimidated.

"You're right, Mrs. Voss. Some teas are indeed too hot to handle."

I paused, my gaze locking onto Linda's.

"Just like the Knight family's 'tea.' Your niece Elena can't stomach it—and you'd never let her, would you?"

Linda's eyes lifted slightly, tinged with wariness.

"What are you playing at?"

My expression was calm.

"Years ago, Mr. Voss used you to plug a hole in the Knight family's power play. Now you're stuck in a marriage that never truly began."

Linda suddenly laughed, pouring boiling water into the Meissen porcelain teacups as the fragrance of tea filled the air.

"Does the young lady believe she has fathomed some great truth?"

I leaned forward suddenly, my eyes sharp as a blade and impossible to ignore.

"Now, Mr. Knight Sr. is pressuring you again, wanting the Voss family to send another daughter into the marriage."

"You don't want your niece to end up like you. You're planning a trap to break the Knight family's hold on the Vosses once and for all. And you need a wild card—someone who can get close to Alexander without raising suspicion. That's me."

In the original plot, the original female lead Lila had appeared a year later and shattered Alexander's long-held vows.

He'd broken his principles for her time and time again, even defying his grandfather Gerald.

When Linda found out, she'd secretly contacted Lila, using her to ruin Alexander's engagement to Elena.

That's why I was certain Linda would cooperate with me.

After hearing my words, a ripple of something, surprise or perhaps calculation, finally disturbed the icy surface of Linda's eyes.

"What makes you think you're capable?"

"Countless women have tried to climb Alexander's ladder. All left with their pride in shambles."

At this, a sneer tugged at Linda's lips.

"Do you think you're smarter than a Columbia grad? More graceful than a ballet prima ballerina?"

I flipped my finger. A single, deep red sandalwood prayer bead rolled across the polished tea table, coming to a stop right before Linda.

"But did any of them," my voice dropped to a whisper, "ever walk away with a piece of him?"