Sammy didn't wait for a reply, and Olivia wasn't in the mood to give one.
If Sammy wanted to come after her, then she would be waiting. Right now, there was a more pressing matter to deal with.
How could the system do this to her?
How could her pure, untainted body be exchanged for one so messy and used?
How dare you do this to me! Olivia screamed at Darling in her head.
Her legs gave out, and she sank into the chair. Her face looked drained, her expression hollow. She felt deeply hurt, almost betrayed, and for a fleeting moment, she wished she could just die instead.
Sammy had already left the room after making her statement. She had her own big, luxurious dressing room, personalized down to the scent of the candles, yet she had chosen to come here, just to humiliate herself.
Seeing Olivia's expression now, Charlotte thought she was simply putting on a brave front after forcing Sammy to leave earlier. She had no idea that Olivia's sadness had nothing to do with that exchange.
But one thing was certain: this girl had created a storm.
Sammy wouldn't let this go. She would try everything possible to ruin her. Olivia had called for trouble, and Sammy would deliver it in abundance.
Charlotte approached carefully, ready to speak, but Olivia lifted her left hand weakly.
"I want to be alone," she said softly, her voice carrying a quiet ache.
For the first time since the swap, the full weight of everything hit her.
How could fate play such a cruel trick on her?
She had been an idol. People envied her. She had walked through life untouchable, admired and now she was stuck in a body that wasn't clean.
It wasn't just about Emma not being a virgin anymore. It was how she lost it that shattered her. Olivia's throat tightened. Tears burned behind her eyes.
Kill me, she whispered inside her mind.
I don't want to do this. I want to die.
Charlotte gave her space. She always behaved like the perfect manager in public, but behind closed doors, she was careless and blunt. For now, she understood that Olivia or rather, Emma needed time.
Darling stayed silent for a moment before finally speaking.
"You're taking this too far, Olivia. This body belongs to Emma Williams."
Olivia's eyes lifted slightly, but she didn't speak.
"You said you don't plan to fully accept this world," Darling continued. "And Emma said the same thing. But before you both switched, you gave her rules. You told her not to touch certain things, and even listed the people you wanted her to deal with. She didn't argue. She agreed to help you."
Darling's voice softened, but her words hit hard.
"That doesn't make her a fool, like you always claim. It shows she's kind and respectful. She's taking care of what you left behind, the same way you should respect what belongs to her.
You're only borrowing her body, Olivia. What she did with it was her decision, and you have no right to judge her for it if you're not planning on keeping it anyways. She had her reasons and pains of her own."
Darling paused, as if allowing the words to sink in.
"The memories you saw were clear to me too. She didn't want this. And just like you want a better life, she did too. She and Honey will help you fix this, but only if you do your part and return home.
And please," she added firmly, "don't call me Bunny. My name is Darling."
Olivia said nothing which was unusual.
For once, silence felt easier. Everything Darling said pierced straight through her pride. Her life, her death, her fate, it was all slipping beyond her control.
Darling's words were true, but they still stung. No one had the right to lecture Olivia Smith. No one.
Yet the truth had steadied her a little. The system was right, she only had to endure until the mission was complete. Once Brian fell for her, she could go back home.
That was the goal. That was all that mattered.
"Emma, you're wasting too much time," Charlotte said suddenly.
Olivia bit her lower lip, forcing herself to focus. "Fine," she muttered, gesturing to the makeup artist. "Finish the lipstick and whatever's left."
When the woman finished her work, Olivia rose from her seat and followed Charlotte out toward the photo studio.
As they passed a dressing room labeled Sammy, Charlotte sighed. "Emma, you were brave earlier, but you've made things worse for yourself. Sammy was supposed to get this role. Now it looks like you stole it from her. That's fine, we were faster, smarter. But slapping her assistant? That was too much."
Olivia wanted to lash out, to tell Charlotte
exactly what she thought of her, but Darling's earlier words echoed in her head. Emma's body wasn't hers to mistreat. She had to hold back.
Still, that didn't mean she'd let Charlotte walk all over her.
"What part of 'poisoned water' did you not understand?" Olivia asked, her tone cool. "I'm sure you're not deaf."
Charlotte stopped walking. "Hey! What's gotten into you? How dare you talk to me like that?"
Olivia exhaled, her patience wearing thin. "Enough, woman. I'm not in the mood. Keep talking, and you'll keep getting similar answers."
Then she walked ahead, shoulders straight, eyes forward.
She was proud of herself for holding back. If not for the exhaustion weighing her down after everything she'd learned, she might have torn into Charlotte completely.
Charlotte stared after her, unsettled.
Something about the girl had changed. Her eyes, once soft and full of quiet emotion, were now distant, sharp and cold.
Still, she knew better than to argue.
Sammy's spies were everywhere.
As they continued down the hall, Charlotte took a deep breath. "We should get you an assistant," she said at last. "A hardworking girl who can handle multiple tasks at once."
Olivia rolled her eyes. "And are you going to pay her from your own pocket? Why waste money when you're already here? You're hardworking, you can juggle both roles."
"What?" Charlotte stopped in front of her.
"Who are you?" she demanded, staring into those black eyes that had once held such timid sadness. Now, they reflected nothing but quiet authority.
Olivia didn't blink. She didn't flinch.
'Host,' Darling sighed wearily. 'You can't keep going out of character.'