Elwin Cole's breath hitched.
His head throbbed.
His stomach twisted in a way he'd never felt before. The pain was sharp, raw, unbearable.
He was confused, frustrated. He had no idea what was going on. How did he appear in Poppy's body?
His first instinct was to roar, to demand someone fix whatever was happening. But when he opened his mouth, all that came out was a soft, pained gasp.
"Elwin," the voice came from the bed.
His voice.
But it wasn't him.
Across the room sat his body, his tall, commanding form, staring at him with wide, teary eyes. No. Not him.
It was Poppy.
"What the hell did you do?" he rasped, clutching his stomach. The pain flared again, cruel and relentless.
Poppy, wearing his face, raised a brow. "Oh, don't start blaming me. I should be blaming you for this too. What did you do?"
"I did?" Elwins asked staring at her. "Do you think I would want your body?" He raised his voice a bit, pain surging through him and he sipped the air.
He could feel something heavy dripping down there. It was hot and it scared him. How can something that big sip out?
Was it...? Elwins closed his eyes his fingers coming to press his temples. His wife was on her period and he could feel everything.
"I'm bleeding," Elwin said, voice shaking. "Why am I bleeding? What is this... this... pain?"
"Cramps," Poppy said, arms crossed and then an idea popped into her head. "You'll live through it." She said. "Every woman does." She added and Elwin shit her a look.
Maybe this was Elwins punishment for all the bad things he's done to her. Maybe this is nature's way of avenging her.
She had no idea why fate was doing this. All she wanted was to leave. She wanted to stay as far away from Elwins as possible. But if this is what fate wants, then she was in for a long ride. She will make both he and his family pay for everything they've done.
She will destroy them all.
"This can't be real." Elwins staggered toward the window, trying to catch his reflection. He refuse to believe anything he was seeing.
Maybe this is a dream.
Maybe his mind was playing tricks on him.
Maybe he had too much to drink the night before.
As he stared at his reflection, all colours drained from his face. He was staring back at his wife. Her innocent pitiful face stared back at him.
"Heh." Elwins staggered backwards again. He couldn't believe his eyes.
This had to be a dream.
Some kind of sick, twisted nightmare.
He pinched himself to be sure he was awake and the pain reverberated around his fragile body again.
But how is this possible?
This was only possible in books and movies. How did this get to real life?
"Stop panicking like a child," Elwin snapped. "You're Elwin Cole. Think." He said to himself.
He inhaled shakily. Panic won't fix this. He pressed his fingers to his temples. His head pounded like it would crack open. His cold logic tried to kick in, but the pain kept fogging it up.
He turned back to himself. "I need my body back. Let's lie back down and switch back quickly." He dragged himself over to the bed.
"I don't think that would work." Poppy said staring at him.
"Why wouldn't it. Do you have a better plan?"
They lay side by side, in silence. Poppy closed her eyes, taking a deep breath as she waited for the exchange. She tried to be focused.
Minutes ticked by.
Nothing happened.
Both people where still laid back when a knock came at the door.
Before Elwin could react, a maid strolled in, holding a silver tray. "Your coffee, Master Elwin." He opened one eye only to see he was still in his wife's body.
"I don't think this is working." Poppy opened her eyes.
"Don't you dare move from where you are." Elwins warned as he rose to grab the coffee.
Finally, something familiar. His routine. His sanity. He rushed forward, barefoot, determined to grab the mug.
But the maid pulled it back.
"What do you think you're doing?" she snapped. "This isn't for you."
Elwin blinked, caught off guard. "What..."
Poppy cleared her throat behind him. "You just had a miscarriag, you can't drink that."
The maid scoffed. "You shouldn't even be standing."
Elwin's jaw clenched. The humiliation burned hotter than the cramps now.
"You always let them talk to you like that?" he muttered, glaring at Poppy.
Poppy shrugged. "You always ignored it when I complained. It's stated that I have no right in this family until I bare a child." She smiled.
The maid was confused as to why her master was speaking in such way. Was this some acting?
The maid straightened and said flatly, "Sir, your assistant is waiting in the study. He says it's urgent."
Poppy blinked. Then turned to Elwin.
"Oh no," she said, eyes wide with mock innocence. "Looks like it's time for you to run the company, Mr. Cole."
Elwin didn't move.
"Don't worry," she added, smug. "You've always said I do nothing. This should be easy."
She patted his shoulder like a child and walked toward the bathroom, humming.
Elwin stared at the door.
The cramps hit again.
And reality set in.