「The next morning.」
The first thing Nina Donovan did was open her phone to see if that gorgeous high schooler had replied.
She then saw his message, saying his name was Milo Morgan.
'The name's pretty nice,' Nina thought. 'But I'm not in a hurry to reply. I need to create some distance. Can't seem too eager at the start, or we'll run out of things to talk about too quickly.'
Seeing her humming happily, Misty said, exasperated, "It's a real waste of talent making you just a villainess. Today's first mission: go to school, use your money to viciously humiliate the male protagonist, and then force him to drop out."
Nina pursed her lips. "Got it."
'This mission is way easier than just kicking him.'
Nina opened her closet and, seeing nothing but white princess dresses, fell into deep thought. "What's the deal? With all this white, are you heading to a funeral or something?"
After rummaging through the entire closet, she collapsed onto the floor, exhausted, finally accepting the reality of the situation.
'The original owner of this body wasn't just malicious; she was the ultimate love-struck fool.'
Because Leon Grant liked the color white, she had worn white dresses for thirteen whole years!
And because Leon Grant liked gardenias, the original owner was practically pickled in gardenia fragrance. The overwhelming scent that wafted out when Nina opened the closet made her face turn pale.
She resigned herself to her fate.
When she stepped out of the luxury car and arrived at Aldoria Ninth High, she looked at the students all around her in their school uniforms while she alone was dressed in a pristine white princess dress. In that moment, Nina felt like a duplicitous white lotus.
But the people around her were clearly used to her attire, and no one said a thing. However, students passing by would still make a point to give her a wide berth, not daring to get too close.
Leaning on her crutch, Nina limped her way inside.
'I was going to keep enslaving Ian and make him carry me, but that damn brat was gone first thing in the morning.'
"Nina? Oh my god, what happened to your foot!" an anxious female voice called out from behind her.
Nina stopped in her tracks. Turning her head, she was almost scared to death by the sharp, cone-shaped face that was suddenly right in front of hers.
The girl was wearing a JK uniform, but with the blue and white school uniform jacket over it. Her hair was in a topknot, and her face had clearly been surgically altered—large eyes, wide double eyelids, and a pointed chin. While not ugly, her chin was sharp enough to be a weapon. A closer look revealed she was also wearing light makeup.
This was one of the original owner's "besties," Sharon Campbell.
A bestie on the surface, but a frenemy behind her back.
'That's because the original owner was just a big-breasted, brainless bimbo who believed whatever anyone told her.'
So, after latching onto Nina, Sharon Campbell's status had risen with the tide, and Nina had even paid for her plastic surgery.
Usually, Sharon was the one who came up with the malicious ideas, but it was the original Nina who carried them out.
Most importantly, the person Sharon Campbell liked was Leon Grant. So, while she acted like a sister to Nina on the surface, behind her back, she wished she could stab her.
'In the end, when the Donovan Family went bankrupt and Nina met a miserable fate, it was inextricably linked to people like her.'
But right now, the body's original owner still trusted her dear frenemy with her whole heart.
Having processed this information, Nina slipped into character in a split second, her expression turning furious. "Sharon, you're just in time. Have you seen that bastard Jasper Sherwood? He's the reason my foot is like this. I'm definitely not letting him off the hook today."
Sharon Campbell's eyes lit up.
What a coincidence.
She had come looking for Nina to talk about this very thing.
So, she put on an indignant expression as well. "What? He dared to hurt you? He must have a death wish! Nina, you have to get revenge for this. Otherwise, that punk will think you're a pushover and be walking all over you in no time!"
Nina nodded in deep agreement. "You really are my best friend, always looking out for me. So, what should I do next?"
A flash of smug contempt crossed Sharon Campbell's eyes. 'What an idiot, this Nina.'
The emotion quickly transformed into concern for Nina.
"Something happened last night. Jasper Sherwood went to Zero Point Bar and beat up my brother, Julian Campbell. When he was leaving, he ran into Young Master Grant and even threatened him, saying he wouldn't let any of us go. His attitude was arrogant and vile. He even stole my brother's money!" Sharon twisted the truth completely.
"He dared to threaten Leon! He must have a death wish!"
On the surface, Nina was furious, but inwardly, she saw everything clearly. 'Heh, if I didn't already know the plot, I'd have actually believed her.'
'That money was supposed to be for Jasper Sherwood's family for a life-saving medical emergency, but Julian Campbell and his friends ended up squandering it all.'
'Talk about a turning point.'
'With no money to pay for his family's medical treatment, the male lead, at the end of his rope, finally accepts help from the female lead.'
'The two of them get tangled up for several years before finally getting their happy ending.'
'And as the catalyst for their relationship, it was now time for Nina to play her part.'
"So, Nina, we have to get that money back. My brother said he'd rather scatter it all on the ground than let that pauper Jasper Sherwood have it," Sharon said, her voice laced with incitement.
Nina nodded, looking at Sharon with approval. "Sharon, I'm so glad I have you. We'll go get the money back later. By the way, where's my Leon? Is he at school yet?"
Sharon suppressed the jealousy in her heart and said with a smile, "Young Master Grant was drinking last night, so he'll be coming to school late today."
"Oh, okay."
Nina had only asked casually. 'Who cares if Leon Grant shows up or not?'
She took a red banknote from her purse, and as she handed it over, the money "accidentally" slipped and fell to the floor. Nina's expression held no apology. "Oops, my hand slipped. This is a reward for you. Go buy yourself something to eat. Your poor face is so thin it's become a cone. Pick up the money yourself."
Sharon almost lost her composure. 'This is so fucking humiliating. Is she calling me ugly just to make herself look better?'
But this was just Nina's nasty personality.
An action that might seem careless of her could cause immense hurt to others.
All because she was rich and incredibly arrogant.
Swallowing her discomfort, Sharon forced a smile as she bent down to pick up the money. "Thank you, Nina. You're so good to me."
Nina beamed. "You're welcome, bestie."
With that, she walked off, leaning on her crutch.
Sharon swallowed her anger and followed behind, unable to hide the jealous hatred in her eyes.
'An idiot like that just had to be born lucky—born into wealth and surrounded by rich young masters. The pampered young lady knows nothing of the real world's hardships and treats everyone like they're disposable, to be summoned and dismissed on a whim. Even though I look like Nina's "bestie" right now, I'm really no different than a servant at her beck and call. Just like a moment ago, she tossed me some money because she was in a good mood, as if calling for a dog.'
'But I don't dare complain, because my entire financial support depends on Nina.'
'The only thing that gives me a bit of satisfaction is that even Nina hits a wall sometimes, and that wall is Leon Grant. Everyone in Aldoria knows Nina chases after him without a shred of dignity, willing to do anything for him. But a man like Leon despises clingy girls, which is why he doesn't like Nina.'
'So, as long as I stay by Nina's side, I'll have a chance to take her place.'
'The only trouble is Vivian Sterling, who's living with his family.'
Sharon gritted her teeth, her gaze fixed on Nina's retreating back. A slow smile crept onto her lips.
She then hurried forward to support Nina. "Nina, there's something else I have to tell you. You need to watch out for that bitch Vivian Sterling. Last night at Zero Point, someone saw her getting intimate with Young Master Grant."