Kiss her ass

Helena’s P.O.V 

My eyes snapped open to see eyes staring back at me. A crowd filled the large hall, and I couldn't recognize any faces.

They stood far away yet close enough to see the situation play out. They all wore luxurious dresses and suits, and it made me wonder what exactly was happening. 

I still scanned the room. 

A large chandelier hung above us, glistening in the light. 

It took my breath away. I hadn't seen anything like it. 

Wait. 

Blood. 

My head dropped and my hand shot to my dress. My eyes widened as I realized I was no longer wearing the thrifted jeans and bloodied shirt I had on, but a black long gown with a dangerous slit that stopped at my thigh. The jewelry looked perfect with the gown, and I couldn't imagine anything better. 

The only problem was this wasn't something I could afford. 

“Helena!” A voice called, but not in a sweet tone. Hate gripped the words so tightly my head shut up. I had never heard so much anger squished in a sentence so much. “Apologize right now?” 

“To who?” I questioned with a bewildered expression. 

Before me was a girl with a ripped silver dress, seated on the floor, her hands pressed against the floor and her makeup smeared across her face. Her hair fell perfectly over her shoulders, and her expression even made me feel a bit of sympathy. 

“To her!” 

My gaze shot back to the guy with the voice. He was dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit and black tie. His hair was ruffled, and he had a frown on his face. “You hurt her, and you dare pretend to be innocent—” he went on and on, and my ears got bored. 

I glanced away from him and to the girl. I stepped forward to get a good view. 

There were still two guys beside her. One knelt right before her like a puppy as he grilled her arm. Another knelt on one knee behind her and gripped her shoulders, whispering words I couldn't make out. 

She trembled. 

“Lilith has always been so kind—”

“Lilith,” my lips spread into a faint smile, which didn't help my case at all.

Was I- 

I gasped. 

Was I in the book?

I was and I was exactly where I stopped so I would decide how the plot goes. 

“Lucien,” Lilith called in a gentle voice. 

He turned to her with an expression completely different from the one he had when he looked at me. It was a mix of gentle and relaxed, like he wanted her to know she was safe with him and a villain like me wouldn't hurt her. 

I won't hurt her physically, but I will definitely make her regret it. 

“Don't mind her. She has been this way for a long time,” Lilith said. “She probably doesn't even know she's doing something wrong”. 

“She's not five,” Lucien scoffed as he got closer to her. 

“And she's not five either,” I chimed in. 

Her gaze shot to me, and for a few seconds I could see the resentment in her eyes. 

My smile grew wider. 

There it was. 

I knew she wasn't the innocent, gentle feather she pretended to be to me, so it would make this even more enjoyable. Breaking her facade would be my pleasure. 

Lilith switched her expression back to a sad one and returned her gaze to Lucien. “She must still hate me. It's not that there was a time she didn't, but I deserve it”. 

“You don't deserve it; don't say that,” Tristain, Lilith’s male lover, countered.

He was the one I pitied most because he was free to run as far as possible, but he insisted on sticking by her side. Was sleeping with her that enjoyable? 

I rolled my eyes.  

Pathetic. 

“But I do.” She looked up to face Elias. “She has loved Elias ever since we were kids, and I doubt he loved her back, but still, he wouldn't ever get over him. It's a shame that she wasn't able to get the boy of her dreams, but she can't force someone to love her. Elias loves me—” 

She turned to face me. “Elias loves me,” she emphasized the word ‘me’ as if to rub it in my face that I was an unlovable villain. 

“I'm sorry that he doesn't love you, but even if I didn't agree to this marriage, there's no way he would actually choose you.” Her gaze trailed over my body with a scrunched nose. 

“As if,” I scoffed. “You really think he's something special, huh? It's a good thing you're getting married to him and not me”. 

Elias shut to his feet. “How dare you?” 

I stepped forward. 

He stepped back. 

It almost made me chuckle. 

“Children, Elias. A child would declare love to anyone who hands them a chocolate bar,” I replied. 

“You were throwing yourself at me just yesterday”. 

I burst into laughter. “Wow, you're a really good storyteller. First, it's how I was so in love with you as a child; now I was throwing myself at you yesterday. Pick one”. 

He clenched his jaw. 

“If you have nothing better to say, shut up”. 

He glared at me. 

“What? Don't act too surprised. You’re not even worth a second glance. I'm afraid if I look away, it would be too hard to glance back at you. What an eyesore,” I hissed through gritted teeth. 

Gasps filled the room. 

Lucien had made his way to my side and gripped my wrist. “You're making a scene”. 

“I'm making a scene?” I chuckled. “And what is she doing? She's not even putting on that good of a performance. It's either I have terrible sight, or you're all just stupid”. 

Lucien tightened his grip on my wrist. 

With one swift move, I snatched my hand back. “Don't touch me,” I warned and leaned forward. I held his gaze to make sure he knew I meant those words. 

He gulped and stepped back. 

It seemed he had understood my words clearly. 

I glanced at Lilith. “You spill a drink on me, then drop to the ground, and I'm meant to feel sorry for you?”

“Apologize,” Lucien ordered. “Apologize, or I will call our engagement off”. 

“I am not—” 

A hand smacked against my cheek, knocking my head to the side with force. 

The room went silent. 

I clenched my jaw, then smacked him back, harder. “Don't you dare touch me,” I warned. “You may be Lilith’s puppet, but that doesn't mean I would let you do whatever you want to so you can look good in front of her”. 

His hand met his cheek. 

“It hurts, right?”

He huffed, but that was a good enough response. 

“And the engagement? I dare you to break it off”. 

“Helena—”

“You suddenly think you're better than me because I agreed to marry you? You're the one that needs my help, not the other way around”. 

He shot me a look. 

“Your family is on the verge of bankruptcy, and you need me, so you don't tell me what to do”. 

He clenched his jaw. 

I could see how furious he was. He was practically turning red. 

“You know what?” I raised my eyebrows, then held up the finger that held the engagement ring. I reached for the ring, then slipped it off. “Here,” I threw it towards Lilith. “Have fun kissing her ass; maybe you could marry it while you do that”. 

[Original Plot Disruption Detected

Target: Original Heroine

Event: Public exposure of heroine's lies.

Impact: Significant damage to credibility.

+20 Points

Points added to Sanctuary Account.]

I frowned. 

What is that? 

[System activated] 

System? 

I shook my head. 

I couldn’t ruin this now; after all, I had them where I wanted them. 

I turned swiftly, then walked away as my heels cracked against the tiles, breaking the silence. 

I'm a whole different person now. Literally. And I will be the villain they wanted.