Virelle's eyes snapped open to a ceiling she didn't
recognize, soft golden light spilling across a room she
didn't own.
"System," she groaned, propping herself up, "why do I
feel like I just woke up in someone else's life?"
➢[Welcome, Host Gold. You are now inhabiting the
body of Virelle's Montclair.]
Gold blinked. "Oh… fantastic. Someone else's life.
Perfect start." She poked her cheek. "So, yes…
definitely me… but not me. Wait. WHAT?"
➢[Correct. Virelle's is the original body. Your
mission: navigate her fate without triggering
emotional disaster.]
Gold groaned. "Mission impossible. I hate this
already." She swung her legs over the edge of the bed,
noticing the silk sheets and designer slippers. "Also,
her wardrobe hates me."
➢[Emotional stability at 84%. Warning: proximity to
Male Lead may reduce stability.]
"Male lead?" Gold muttered, pacing. "Oh no. Oh no.
Oh nooooo."
Meanwhile, in the city's heart, Alistair Reed sat in his
penthouse office, reviewing quarterly reports. Every
number was perfect. Every projection solid. And yet…
the ping from his assistant's phone made his chest
tighten:
"Virelle Montclair has returned."
He froze. The name carried old wounds he'd buried
under years of success and Selindra's gentle love.
"Cancel any meetings with her," he said, voice low.
"And make sure Selindra doesn't overhear."
Back in Virelle's penthouse, Gold practiced Virelle's
smile in the mirror. "Okay, Gold. You are Virelle. She
left him once, hurt him badly… now you have to survive
the gala without causing a diplomatic incident. Easy."
➢[Recommendation: Deploy charm and subtle
honesty.]
"Charm and honesty," Gold muttered, tilting her head.
The system buzzed disapprovingly.
➢[Expression exceeds previous emotional baseline.
Caution.]
"I swear," Gold whispered, "if I break this mirror, it's
your fault."
Later, the city would sparkle with gala lights, and
Alistair would see her — Virelle, or rather, Gold in
Virelle's body — standing in silver satin, calm and
different. He would feel the old ache he thought had
died, and the complicated dance of love, betrayal, and
redemption would begin.
➢[Host emotional stability: 77%. Slight panic
detected.]
Gold exhaled, squared her shoulders, and stepped
into the night. Mission one: survive. Mission two: don't
make him hate me more.