Chapter 2

I traveled into the world of a novel five years earlier.

I ended up inside this story about a true and fake heiress, where everyone dotes on the real one.

I became the fake heiress who had occupied the real one's place for over a decade.

In the story, the fake heiress was a scheming, manipulative person. At first, everyone was fooled by her and misunderstood the real heiress.

Later, when the fake heiress's true face was revealed, she was despised by all and died a miserable death.

Then, the real heiress became the beloved center of attention.

From the moment I crossed over, I understood my position. I never intended to compete with the real heiress.

Instead, I suggested a paternity test, eagerly helped the Hughes family find the real heiress who was being mistreated by her foster parents, and voluntarily gave up my childhood engagement to the male lead.

I cut ties with the Hughes family completely and chased after Archie, my own happiness

He was this novel's rich, charming second male lead, who would willingly be used by the female lead and die for her in the end.

I helped Archie turn his life around and get back to the top.

And while I was at it, I even saved Curtis, the villain, from clashing with the female lead and getting himself killed.

But I forgot that Archie's heart ultimately belonged to the female lead.

I forgot that the reason Curtis opposed the female lead was because he loved her but couldn't have her, and that love turned to hate.

No matter what, both of them were unwaveringly devoted to the female lead.

And me? I was just cannon fodder in their story.

*****

Curtis stood by my body for who knows how long.

I tried to spot even a trace of guilt or regret on his face but found nothing at all.

After about an hour, he finally moved.

He closed the door as if nothing had happened, turned, and left, his steps as steady as usual.

Then he went to the hospital, standing guard outside Daisy's room.

In the original story, he was Daisy's bodyguard, always quietly watching over her, protecting that fierce, innocent love he kept hidden in his heart.

As the night deepened, the Hughes family left one by one, but Archie stayed behind to keep watch.

Once Daisy was sound asleep, Archie finally stepped out for some air.

Spotting Curtis, he pulled out a cigarette and asked casually, "Where's Jenna?"

As he went to light up, he seemed to remember something and slipped the lighter back into his pocket, fidgeting with the cigarette between his fingers for comfort.

He could always easily change these bad habits for Daisy's sake.

Actually, I hated the smell of smoke too, but he never cared.

"She's in that windowless room," Curtis replied.

Archie nodded with a shrug, then reminded him, "Just make sure she doesn't stir up any trouble."

"She won't. Never again," Curtis said.

"What?" Archie asked.

Curtis's voice was barely more than a whisper, so quiet that Archie couldn't make it out.

Curtis seemed to snap back to attention. "She's quiet now."

This time, Archie heard him clearly, a cold, mocking smirk twisting his lips.

"She plays innocent every time she messes up. Does she really think I'll go easy on her because I used to care? No way in hell. I want her to regret ever being born," he said.

Archie stubbed out his cigarette hard on the trash can.

Curtis looked spaced out for a second.

"Have her write a hundred apology letters in three days. Then make her kneel at the hospital entrance. She doesn't get to stand up until Daisy forgives her. Got it?" Archie ordered.

After Curtis got his orders, he stood outside the hospital entrance for ages. Nobody knew what he was thinking.

Maybe he was thinking that if I were still alive, kneeling here clutching a hundred apology letters, it would've really let him vent his anger.

Back in the dark room, Curtis wiped the blood from me with a towel, placed me on the bed, and then wiped the floor clean.

His face stayed expressionless the whole time, his movements efficient and practiced, like he was cleaning up after a crime scene.

Once he was done, he pulled out a pen and paper.

He murmured, "This is a critical moment for Mr. Wilcox and Daisy. I won't let you mess up the happiness Daisy deserves.

"You robbed Daisy of more than ten years of her life. You owe her for that.

"But to make up for it, I'll write all hundred of those apology letters for you."

How generous of him. He just sat there next to my lifeless body and started writing those apology letters on my behalf.

The first time he copied my handwriting was a year ago.

Daisy went to a bar looking for the playboy male lead, Julius Alvarez, and was almost assaulted by some punks.

The Hughes family had strict rules. Their kids were never allowed to mess around in places like that.

Daisy had always been wild and hard to control, but deep down, she wanted her family's love.

To help her really become part of the Hughes family, I covered up for her countless messes.

So that time, she didn't even hesitate. She said I was the one who told her to go.

Because of Archie and Curtis, I wanted nothing to do with her anymore, so I didn't admit to it.

But Curtis pulled out a note I had written and used it to pin the blame on me.

After interrogation, those punks claimed I had bribed them.

For the first time ever, the Hughes family was disappointed and disgusted with me.

And that was also the first time Archie finally saw how ruthless I could be.

Curtis always thought Daisy would never be happy with Julius.

He believed a goddess like Daisy deserved to be spoiled, just like I was.

He always said Archie was the guy she really belonged with.

More than once, Curtis would say to our faces that if Daisy chose Archie, she'd be way better off than with Julius.

When I read this novel, I actually thought the same.

Archie's lifelong, silent love and soft spot for Daisy always tugged at my heartstrings. The female characters around him were really annoying.

But now, I was the annoying female character he would ultimately betray.

When karma came back to bite me, all I felt was a sharp, agonizing pain in my chest.

For three days and nights, Curtis worked himself to the bone. He managed to finish all one hundred apology letters himself.