LOGINJELENAThe thought of virginity suddenly crosses my mind.That is... if the owner of this body is still a virgin.The realization instantly sends a wave of heat rushing to my cheeks and my face blooms with embarrassment, and I fight the urge to bury it in my hands.I cannot believe I am standing in a room filled with so many people while my thoughts wander in this direction.Jelena, get yourself together already.I force myself to breathe normally, silently praying that no one can somehow read the ridiculous thoughts racing through my head and not long after, we finish eating.Calhoun abruptly rises from his chair, and the entire room follows suit almost immediately, everyone standing and the synchronized movement startles me for a second before I notice him extending his hand toward me.Without hesitation, I slip my hand into his and his fingers close around mine, firm but neither warm nor comforting. They simply hold me because they have to.Without saying a single word, he leads me
JELENAIt is finally time for dinner, and we are all ushered into a massive banquet hall unlike anything I have ever seen. Crystal chandeliers hang from the impossibly high ceiling, casting warm golden light across polished marble floors and long tables stretch across the room, covered in luxurious fabrics embroidered with silver and gold threads. Every place setting is flawless, from the sparkling crystal glasses to the gleaming silver cutlery.The entire hall radiates wealth, power, and authority, I am grateful for one thing, I haven't had to run into any more members of my family.Aside from exchanging polite greetings with a few people I assume are powerful Dukes and nobles, the guards have made sure no one approaches our section. They stand like statues around us, silently ensuring that no guest crosses the invisible boundary surrounding the bride and groom.I'm thankful for that, the last thing I need tonight is another confrontation with the people who abandoned me so easily.W
JELENA“I-I'm sorry, but I have to use the bathroom,” I say immediately, having absolutely no idea how to answer her question.The words leave my mouth before I can think them through.Without waiting for a response, I excuse myself and make my way toward the restroom, desperate for a few moments alone. My mind is already spinning from everything that has happened since waking up in this strange body and every conversation only raises more questions than answers, and pretending to be someone I'm not is proving far more exhausting than I imagined.As soon as the bathroom door closes behind me, I grip the edge of the sink and stare at my reflection, a face that still isn't mine stares back.I splash cold water on my face, hoping it will somehow steady the storm inside me.Who exactly am I now?Who poisoned this woman?How long have I truly been asleep?Most importantly...Why was I brought back?None of it makes sense but after taking a slow breath, I straighten my dress and force my ex
JELENAThe moment I step out of the bathroom, the room erupts into controlled chaos at least ten women are waiting inside.Some stand beside racks of dresses and others arrange jewelry on velvet-covered tables.A few carry trays filled with flowers that glow with faint silver light and the moment they see me, they immediately bow."My Lady."I freeze for half a second.Right.Apparently, I am important here, Andrea quickly moves beside me."Everyone, my Lady is ready."Ready is certainly not the word I would use, maybe a little touvh of onfused, lost but mostly terrified.Those seem far more accurate yet somehow, the women begin working around me with incredible efficiency.One starts brushing my hair and another examines my skin.A third carefully measures my wrist before fastening a bracelet made from white crystals that seem to contain tiny stars, I keep quiet observing and
JELENA"My lady, what's wrong?"The strange woman from earlier comes rushing into the bathroom and I am currently standing in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection in complete disbelief."My lady, what's going on?" she asks again.I slowly turn to look at her, my mind still struggling to process what I am seeingz the woman standing in the mirror looks nothing like the person I remember.The eyes are mine and the feeling inside my chest is mine but the face staring back at me isn't."I'm sorry, my lady, but we have to get you ready before the team arrives for your makeup and final fitting."I force myself to clear every trace of emotion from my face, I have no idea what is happening right now, I don't know where I am, I don't know why I look different and I don't even know if I am alive but one thing I know for certain is that I cannot give myself away at least not yet, until I'm sure of what's happening herQuestions flood my mind one after another.Am I still supposed to be m
JELENA“My lady, my lady, please wake up!”The voice reaches me through a thick haze, distant and muffled, as though I am submerged beneath deep water like something shaking my shoulder insistently, dragging me toward consciousness.“My lady!”I jolt awake with a gasp and the first thing that assaults me is sunlight.A brilliant golden beam streams through enormous windows, striking directly across my face, I squint immediately, raising a hand to shield my eyes, my head pounds faintly, and for a moment everything feels wrong.The bed beneath me is far too soft, the room is far too warm and the scent in the air is definitely not mine.“What's going on?” I croak, my voice rough and barely audible.“My lady, we need to get you ready. It is almost time for the wedding.”Wedding?The unfamiliar woman standing beside the bed looks close to tears, her hands are clasped nervously in front of her apron as she stares at me with obvious panic, I blink repeatedly, trying to gather my thoughts.Th
JELENA“Open it,” I snap, my voice sharper than I intend, but I don’t take it back.“Miss Jelena,” he says carefully, stepping forward as if to intercept me. “Master Aaron is currently unavailable.”Unavailable, the word grates.“I didn’t ask,” I reply, already pushing past him.His hand comes up n
JELENAWith my mind made up to spend the day with Aaron, I head straight to my closet, already scanning through my dresses as I try to decide what to wear.I don’t know where this excitement is coming from.Maybe it’s because it has been so long since I last saw him or maybe it’s because he has bee
JELENA“Ma, you sent for me?” I say as I step into the room and come face to face with my stepmother, Vanessa.Her room or should I say their room has always been large, almost unnecessarily so. It carries a kind of quiet luxury that feels cold rather than comforting, the heavy curtains are drawn h
JelenaThe urge to keep running is the only thing keeping me moving.Even though I can’t see where I’m going, I keep running.Branches lash against my arms as I force my way through the thick wild bush, my feet barely finding stable ground beneath me and my lungs burn with every breath I drag in, e







