Viellas Pov

I don’t even know how long it’s been.

Minutes? Hours? Days?

All I know is-this room is hell.

Cold, damp, and depressing. This hard metal bed is slowly killing my spine.

Funny thing is... I only had bed this bad back in my original world.

My original world...

Damn. Suddenly I miss my parents. My friends. My crappy part-time job. Even the broken vending machine outside my dorm.

Then- flashbacks hit.

That conversation between Alina and that Mr. Writer.

I sit up straight

Okay... so the original book do exist in this world.

And according to them, it was writing itself.

Which means-what? The plot changed, and now Viella became the main character?

So Alina is the villainess now? And I’m the "female lead"?

But no..if that was the case, I looked down at my legs Dante’s bite marks still visible.

"Uh yah..these wouldn’t be attached to my body right now."

"What will happen if I destroy the book instead..." I mutter, tapping my chin. "Would everything just- stop?"

Would I go back to my world? Would time reset? Or would I just... poof?

Ugh.

They also mentioned changing the timeline, right?

Does that mean that creepy writer knows how to send me back?

But then there’s Alina.

Her voice echoes in my head-

A chill runs down my spine. She was looking like some crazy maniac.

Great. I’m trapped between a jealous "heroine" and an obsessive psycho mafia

One wants to erase me, the other wants to cage me.

What a lovely love triangle.

"Tsk..." I rub my temples. "If I go out there, Alina might actually send me straight to God. But if I stay here... I have to deal with that obsessive psycho."

My cheeks heat up instantly.

Not because I like him or anything-NO. It’s just... that damn book did have some spicy Chapters, okay?!

I clear my throat, pretending I didn’t just think that.

"What are you even thinking, Viella?!" I whisper-yell at myself.

But still-something’s bugging me.

In the original plot, Dante fell for Alina because of her innocence.

Since this time she’s not even close to being innocent..she used those stupid love potions.

It was even working then what happened all of sudden that it’s not working anymore?

"Damn, too many mysteries..." I mumble, flopping back on the bed.

If this were a real novel, I swear-two arcs wouldn’t be enough to untangle this mess.

I start laughing like an idiot in the dark, clutching my blanket

And then I stop.

Because, honestly?

By the end of this book, I’m either going to solve the plot...

or end up in a mental asylum.

Probably both.

---

Pressure.

So much pressure around my throat.

I gasped, trying to breathe, but something was squeezing tighter- hot, angry, suffocating. My eyes flew open and-

Alina.

Her face hovered above mine, eyes wild, hands wrapped around my neck.

"Disappear," she hissed, fingers digging into my skin.

I clawed at her wrists, panic rising-

And just when I thought I was really about to die in this godforsaken story-

I jolted awake.

"Ah-!"

My body shot up, breath coming in sharp gasps. Cold sweat clung to my neck. I looked around,

Still here.

Same cold, dark room.

Same uncomfortable metal bed trying to murder my spine.

Tsk. What a nightmare.

"Guess even in dreams people wanna kill me," I muttered, rubbing my neck. "How nice."

Just then, the heavy door creaked open.

Two maids stepped inside - their faces blank, their eyes empty. Each carried trays; one with food, another with first aid supplies and folded clothes.

I squinted.

Yup. No emotions. Just like their boss.

"Like master, like workers," I muttered under my breath.

One of them bowed slightly.

"Miss Viella, please eat up and change into these clothes. It’s Lord Dante’s order."

My eyebrow twitched.

"Excuse me, and who does he think he is to order me around?"

"Your fiancé," came a calm, low voice from the doorway.

The maids instantly stepped aside.

And there he was- Dante.

Perfectly dressed, looking at me up and down.

He walked over without a word and sat down on the edge of the bed, the soft scent of his cologne hit my nostrils.

I glared at him. "Don’t glare at me like that, piccola mia," he said with a small smirk, leaning closer. "It makes me wanna kiss you more."

"Don’t you think you’re becoming way too bossy and perverted nowadays, Dante?"

He chuckled deeply as he looked down on the marks

That made goosebumps crawl up my neck.

"Is that so?"

"Yeah!"

"Hmm... Remember when you also used to order me around like, ’Don’t be with that bitch,’ or ’Don’t look at that witch!’"

I mentally slapped original Viellas face.

"Well," I coughed, awkwardly waving a hand, "I’m not that old Viella anymore, you already know that. So maybe stop taking revenge for the past and just- let me out of this room."

No response.

He ignored me completely.

Instead, Dante picked up the first aid kit, grabbed my legs, and gently pulled them onto his thighs.

"Wha- hey! What do you think you’re doing?!"

Without looking up, he began unwrapping and redoing the bandages around my ankle, his touch precise, silent, and frustratingly gentle.

"Hello? Are you hearing me?!" I snapped.

Still no response.

Just that quiet focus

I threw my hands in the air. "Unbelievable! First he kidnaps me, then he locks me inside this crappy room now he’s ignoring me like I’m some sort of YouTube ad-"

"Stop moving," he said finally, voice low and commanding as he pressed down the wound.

Instant silence.

My brain shut down on instinct.

Because the way he said it-

Yeah, that wasn’t a request.

---

He finally finished cleaning my wound. His fingers brushed my skin one last time before he stood up, wiped his hands, and reached for the tray.

"Now eat," he said, calm but sharp. "Or should I feed you myself?"

I crossed my arms, glaring at him. "I won’t eat till you leave me alone!"

Silence.

"Don’t make me force you to eat, Viella."

"Then let me leave this room!" I shot back.

Big mistake.

Because the next second, he stepped closer. Too close. His shadow swallowed me whole. My lungs forgot how to function.

"I’m telling you again," he said softly, breath brushing my cheek, "eat before I have to force you to."

One look at the maids, and they bowed, silently slipping out.

"Don’t gooo! Don’t leave me with this maniac!" I mentally screamed, watching the door click shut behind them.

Perfect. Just me... and the walking red flag.

I swallowed and forced a laugh. "O-Okay! Fine! I’m eating! Okay...But you- leave me alone!"

After a long pause, he finally straightened, eyes softening just a fraction.

"Get used to me watching you eat from now on," he murmured, hand on the doorknob. "But for now... I’ll give you space."

And with that, he left.

I slumped back against the bed, exhaling shakily.

The maids locked the door behind him.

I let out a shaky, evil laugh, holding up my hand that had snagged the keys.

Hehe.

I took them the moment he got close enough. Since the maids locked the door, I was pretty sure he wouldn’t notice... but that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t notice forever.

This is mine. A little bit of freedom, just for me.

Before making a run for it, my eyes flicked back to the tray.

...Uh, should I finish it first?

I mean, it’s food. And leaving it behind? Total disrespect. Right? Hehe.

I sighed dramatically, grabbing a piece.

"Fine... I’ll eat. But just because I’m polite, not because He said so!"

---

After finishing the food, I peered outside. No one. Is luck on my side today? I tiptoed to the door, and with a quiet click, it opened.

Finally, some freedom. I peeked around...still no one. Where is everyone? Whatever. None of my business.

I darted down the hallway, hugging the walls, hiding behind pillars,

Where was this path again...tsk...

Suddenly, the faint sound of footsteps. A maid, carrying a tray, moving my way.

I froze, pressing myself into the shadows.

"Miss Viella is so lucky that Lord Dante loves her...ugh, she’s so ungrateful," one whispered.

"Shh! What if someone hears you?" the other hissed.

Yes, I did. I definitely heard that.

I narrowed my eyes and muttered under my breath

I will make sure your job is gone the moment I get outta this mess.

The maids passed without noticing, muttering among themselves.

She’s so lucky...my foot. Imagine getting kidnapped and treated like a dog.

I rolled my eyes, muttering sarcastically.

Shaking my head, I refocused.

I crept further down the hall...then froze.

Gunshots.

Uh-uh-uh...

I peered out of a window just in time to see Dante standing straight with a gun on his hand. His back facing me as his men holding someone down.

Oh shii- my brain stopped working

That man...he looks familiar. Wait- isn’t that the guy I knocked out yesterday? Alina’s man?

"What’s going on..." I whispered, heart hammering.

I can’t hear what they saying but I definitely can see Dante having his evil smirk as he points the gun at that guys forehead.

Oh uh... someone’s about to join God.

One more sound of gunshot...

And that man fell numb, sprawled on the floor. Blood Everywhere

Dante wiped his hands clean calmly

My stomach dropped.

He turned suddenly.

I shoved behind a pillar, holding my breath, eyes wide.

Please...please don’t see me...please don’t see me...

And like that, I ran. Fast. Silently.

---

I couldn’t even make a run for the front door, because, guess what? They were right outside. Probably getting inside by now.

Shit, shit, shit- what do I do?!

My heart pounded as I scanned the hall. Then I spotted a door slightly open. Without thinking, I bolted for it, slipped inside, and ducked under a huge desk.

I crouched there, barely breathing. The sound of boots echoed somewhere nearby.

Then-

Crack.

The door creaked. My eyes widened. Oh no... oh no don’t tell me someone’s coming in!

But instead... click.

They locked it.

"WHATTTT?" I mouthed silently, staring at the door.

I scrambled out from under the desk, rushing to the handle and twisting it like a maniac. Nothing. It didn’t budge.

"Fuckkkkkk!" I hissed under my breath, slamming my forehead lightly against the door.

After Five minutes of frustration later, I finally gave up, breathing hard. My brain scrambled for ideas - window? vent?

Then my eyes drifted around the room.

Dark shelves. Expensive liquor bottles. A single black jacket hanging on the chair. Papers stacked neatly, not a single speck of dust.

I froze.

Wait.

"This..." I whispered slowly, realization hit me, "is Dante’s office."

My jaw dropped.

"Oh. Great." I laughed shakily, running a hand through my hair. "So unknowingly, I just ran straight into the devil’s den. Perfect. Fantastic. Ten out of ten, Viella."

I flopped into the chair behind the desk, glaring at the ceiling.

Since I’m here anyway... let’s see what kind of shady business a mafia boss actually does other than killing people.

I start flipping through his files and papers-ugh, numbers, deals, guns, blah blah blah-when something catches my eye.

A small black box tucked inside the drawer.

"Huh? What’s this supposed to be?" I mutter, pulling it out.

I open it-

And saw something unexpected that shouldn’t be here

"This...bracelet...?" I whisper, my eyes widening. "Wait- how the hell does he have this?!"

I stare at it blankly

"I told my man to destroy it completely! How- how did it end up here?!"

My brain starts to panic

Okay okay, calm down Viella... or not-

If he has the bracelet, that means he knew. He knew Viella, the original one, was the one who tried to erase Alina.

"Wait... if he already knew everything... then why hasn’t he done anything to me?" I mumble, clutching my head.

"So basically knowing all the truth, he decided to ignore it?"

I blink, then whisper to myself, "No way... that’s impossible... right?"

But the more I think, the worse it gets.

"Oh great," I groan quietly, running a hand through my hair.

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TO BE CONTINUED