Chapter 1
'It has always been your sister… I've never loved you'
Hearing those words from my husband on the night of our wedding night wasn't the worst thing that happened to me… Not even walking in on him in bed with my half-sister, but my husband and my sister drowning me in a bathtub after poisoning me, knowing that I can't swim.
My chest wrenched painfully as those moments replayed in my head. How they both laughed as they watched me take my last breath.
Those bastards! After everything I've done for them. They thought they could get away after trying to kill me? I'm going to make them pay for it now that I'm awake.
First, I need to go to the palace and tell my father, the emperor about this, and have those two beheaded for trying to kill the princess and the future empress of the Qing kingdom.
I tightened my jaw at the thought of that. I can't believe I loved and trusted those two.
Dad had that witch with his concubine, and even though my mother never allowed me to associate with her, I still did.
I'd snuck jewellery into her chamber and made sure she wore the same dress as me just so she wouldn't be left out.
And that bastard Zhu Lei… I was so desperately in love with him that I disregarded all the warnings from my dad that his bloodline was vile.
Well, I'm glad I didn't die. They're going to regret what they did.
Pain shot through my head as I tried to open my heavy eyes, and I groaned.
"Ling-Xiu!" I tried to call out to my maid, but my voice bounced back at me.
Where is this girl?
I let out a little groan as I forced myself to sit up, my eyes still closed. I noticed the soft mattress under me.
We only have this soft mattress in the palace. Have they taken me to the palace already?
I forced my eyes open, but shut them back as a bright light pierced my eyes, making them ache.
What was that sharp brightness? Wait! Am I dead and in the underworld?
No! I can't be dead. I need to make them pay for trying to kill me. I need to ascend the throne of the Qing Kingdom. I'm the only heiress, and if I die like this, that vile witch will be made the empress.
No! The kingdom will be doomed.
The door creaked open, light footsteps followed, and the next second, the sound of ceramics crashing against the floor and a loud gasp followed.
Ugh! Ling-Xiu is always clumsy. She must be shocked to see that I'm awake.
"Mrs Whitmore! You're awake?!" a strange voice different from Ling-Xiu, spoke with surprise.
Huh? Who's that?
I opened my eyes forcefully, forcing them to withstand the brightness that was about to blind my eyes.
The lights… They weren't the regular lamp that we have in the palace.
Am I really dead?
"Mrs Whitmore? Are you okay? Do you need me to call the doctor?" The same voice echoed in my head, this time, faintly.
My eyes shifted to the young lady leaning in front of me… her face was blurry at first, but once my vision was clear, I noticed her big round brown eyes, blinking with worries.
I let my eyes sweep over her. She was in her twenties. Dressed in a casual white shirt upon grey pants. Her wavy brown hair packed up tightly in a ponytail, and her big round eyes dangling in their sockets as they stared at me.
"Oh, my God! You are awake! I was scared… I thought I was going to lose you," Her eyes glistened with tears, and the next second she threw her arms around my neck, hugging me tightly.
She almost choked life out of me.
I tapped her back, and she quickly pulled back.
"Who are you?" I blinked, staring at her.
I know almost all the maids in the palace, so I could swear she wasn't one of them… And wait… What's this weird dress she's wearing?
Wait! It wasn't just her dress that was weird… My voice. What happened to my precious thin voice? Why is my voice a bit bold?
My eyes widened at that horrifying thought. I wonder what they did to my voice… That doesn't matter now anyway. I'll get my revenge on them soon.
"You don't remember me, Mrs Whitmore?"
I blinked. Wait! Was she referring to me as Mrs Whitmore earlier? What in the name is that?
"Who are you?" I was already losing my mind.
"Oh, my God! This is my fault. I shouldn't have left you alone. It's my fault that this happened to you. What do I do now?" She burst into tears.
Ugh! What's this drama? Please, save this. I've had enough to last me a lifetime already.
"Go get me Ling-Xiu… Fast!"
"What are you talking about, Mrs Whitmore? Oh, God! What is happening? I need to go get Mr. Whitmore," She stood and dashed towards the door.
"Hey… Never mind. Just go tell my guards to get the palanquin. I'm going to the palace to meet the emperor right away,"
Her brows furrowed, then terror crept up her face, as if I'd just said something weird.
She's driving me crazy.
"Pa…palanquin?" She stuttered, her eyes widening.
Never mind. I'll get it myself. I'm not in for this drama. I don't have time for it.
I stood, but paused, my brows knitted together once I was conscious of my environment.
My gaze dropped to my body, and I stiffened.
My body shape… It was different. And the dress… It was the same weird dress this lady is wearing.
My eyes snapped open, sweeping over the room, and my breath caught in terror. It was different from my room and Zhu Lei's.
Spacious, a weird looking chair sitting just across the bed, and… the long light ascending from the ceiling.
Where in the world is this? Wait! Am I really dead?
"Mrs Whitmore… You're scaring me…" the lady spoke again, her voice shaky.
My eyes swept around again, and this time, I spotted a mirror, and the first thing that came to my mind was to go have a look.
I dashed towards it, and as I caught my reflection, I froze.
The mirror reflected another woman… One that I've never seen in my entire life… Tall, curvy, round face, pointed nose, blue eyes, and wavy black hair.
"Wh…what is this?" I lifted my hands, hoping I was hallucinating, and the woman in the mirror did the same.
I stepped back, and she did the same… Everything I did, she did.
What on earth is… I turned to ask the weird lady some questions, but realised she'd stepped out of the room.
"Why is my face and body different? Who is this woman?" My voice shook, chest pumping up and down as I returned my gaze to the mirror, dragging my feet back.
I need to find out what is happening.
Just as I turned toward the door, it opened, and I paused as a young man walked in.
He was tall enough to make me look short around him even though I'm also tall. Jet black hair, sharp jawlines, pointed nose, thick brows, and a pair of ocean blue eyes that were as dark as hell… Enough to intimidate anyone, but not me though. I've seen worse.
My eyes swept over him, lingering longer on his broad chest… He was wearing a weird looking grey shirt and black pants.
My breath caught at the sight of him, and a sharp pain tore through my chest. I pressed a hand against it and winced.
His face hardened as our eyes met again, and I could swear I saw those smoky hot eyes flicker with anger and disgust. He probably hates this woman to have looked at her this way.
The lady from earlier barged in, but paused and gasped when she saw this weird man.
"Mr. Whitmore… I tried to call you, but you weren't reachable. I think something is wrong with Mrs Whitmore. You have to call the doctor," she panicked.
He turned to glare at her, and just as I assumed, his gaze made her shudder, and she quickly apologized, lowering her gaze.
Judging by his name, he should be this woman's husband, though I still don't know what's happening.
But why did he glare at her like that when she only asked him to call the doctor to take care of this woman?
"Leave us, Susanne," He said, his eyes locked on me.
Susanne? Who's that?
I was confused, until the lady stepped outside. Oh… she's Susanne.
Once it was just us in the room, he tightened his jaw, his eyes dripping with fury.
"Did you pull this stunt just to get my attention from Clara?"