A Clash of Wits

While serving drinks in the private room, I was left behind by some dubious friends to pour wine. Suddenly, my hand slipped beyond my control, spilling wine directly onto Terence's lap.

"You're intriguing," he smirked. "You're the first to flirt so openly with me." Instinctively, I slapped him across the face and said, still against my will, "Don't think you can accuse anyone you please just because you're rich. I'd never like a man like you." He instantly pulled me into his arms, whispering, "Little wildcat, you've got quite sharp claws."

Breaking free with all my strength, I reached the door and overheard his friends teasing, "You never touch anyone here. Why hold onto this one? Interested?"

"She's different. Her eyes are pure," Terence's deep voice resonated behind me.

Disgusting! I couldn't bear another second in this cliché story.

1

At the café, Isabella sat across from me, eyes brimming with tears, her sweet voice trembling as she begged for forgiveness.

Seeing her beautiful yet deceptive face, I suppressed my true feelings, barely hearing her rehearsed apologies.

From the first day at school, this girl had acted like she was possessed, relentlessly harassing and threatening me.

Every time I got close to her crush, Terence, she'd go crazy.

I lowered my eyes to hide my emotions.

She had wealth, family love, and everything she desired. Why obsessed over someone like Terence and turned herself into a criminal?

Because I was the heroine, and she was the villainess.

Terence, with his clichéd English curses and constant "Woman, you're playing with fire," was the overbearing CEO lead.

Being the heroine, naturally, I had a poor background, a single mom, and a deceased father who left massive debts.

Spilling coffee on Terence's suit pants, hearing him say, "You've successfully caught my attention," was a standard setup.

Being bullied by a spoiled rich girl who later repented and befriended the heroine was also part of the trope.

"Alina, are you listening to me?" Isabella cautiously observed my expression.

I snapped back to reality, smiling gently, "Of course, I know you're a good girl who just made mistakes in anger."

As if! Locking me in bathrooms to make me late, sabotaging my work, hiring people to beat me up, drugging me, and even preventing me from waiting outside my mom's surgery-no sane person would forgive that.

I was just being nice, not a saint.

But I smiled sweetly, my face more forgiving than Mother Teresa's.

Isabella immediately relaxed, then said, "I prepared something for you as an apology. But I left it in the car. Let's drive there."

"Really? You're so kind! What is it?"

I must have looked incredibly naive.

She clearly still saw me as gullible and easy to manipulate.

Claiming it was a surprise, she pulled me from the café to her car.

Normally preferring flashy colors, Isabella chose a low-profile black car to trap me.

Inside, instead of strong perfume, there was a faint medicinal scent, intensifying under the sun.

She might as well have put up a sign saying, "I'm here to harm you."

"Alina, sorry, I need the bathroom. Wait here for me," Isabella said apologetically.

I nodded obediently, and she returned inside.

How obvious could she get?

My phone buzzed suddenly-a text from Terence.

"Where are you, woman?"

Typical annoying style.

Staring at the screen, I recalled how he always appeared whenever I faced danger. He was practically a walking cheat code.

"Isabella came to clear up misunderstandings," I texted back.

"Her? That wicked woman?"

"Actually, she's quite innocent. We had a good talk."

Knowing Isabella wouldn't install a dashcam, I rubbed peach fuzz I'd secretly prepared onto the steering wheel.

Ignoring Terence's response, my vision blurred as Isabella returned.

Oh, Isabella, let's perfect your plan.

2

Isabella felt relieved seeing me asleep in the car.

She quickly opened doors and windows, replaced the mask soaked with medication from her bag onto my face, and drove off.

Approaching her destination, Isabella hesitated at a red light, wondering if she really should change herself for Terence.

But memories surfaced of her empty, cold home, absent parents, assistants attending school events, never tasting her mother's cooking, birthdays spent alone with her brother and impersonal gifts.

My phone vibrated.

The sound startled Isabella. She turned to see my phone.

"Text me when you're done. I'll pick you up. We have a wedding gown fitting. My woman deserves the best."

Isabella gripped the wheel tighter, resolve hardening.

Terence once treated her with affection and care; they were supposed to be together.

She couldn't fathom why he chose someone else.

All her misdeeds were for his love; losing now would drive her insane.

It was green light.

She steered the car away from crowded streets into quiet roads.

At this moment, her mind was fixated solely on Terence. It was so weird that she wanted to give up everything as soon as he appeared.

Even she also felt something was wrong, her heart was still filled with love for him.

3

The black car finally parked before an old, isolated building.

An elderly woman sat using exercise equipment outside.

"I've brought her," Isabella said nervously.

The old woman raised her head slowly, her youthful voice startlingly clear, "Remember, one, there's no going back. Two, expect side effects. Three, don't return after it's done."

"Why help me for free?" Isabella asked suspiciously.

"I'll collect payment eventually, not now though." the old woman said while getting off from the exercise equipment. "Just confirm you're certain."

Isabella recalled her lifelong obsession with Terence.

"Absolutely."

"Okay, then bring that girl inside."

Seeing my sleeping form, Isabella hesitated.

"I can't carry her," the old woman replied sharply.

She looked anything but elderly, though.

"Who's 'Sweetheart Cutie'?" yelled a delivery man nearby.

"Mine!" the old woman rushed over, claiming fried chicken.

"Enjoy your meal," he offered politely, confused by her appearance.

Munching chicken, she motioned Isabella to follow inside.

Not like an elderly at all.

With irritation, Isabella struggled to bring me upstairs.

"I should have not wore high heels!" Isabella thought.

After finally getting Alina inside, Isabella looked around the shabby room and pursed her lips.

"Lie down."

"What?"

The old woman said impatiently, "What what?"

"On this? Change the sheet first," Isabella demanded.

"No time. Hurry up."

Pouting, Isabella reluctantly lay down.

A snap of fingers, and Isabella lost consciousness.

Eating chicken, the old woman cast a spell, swapped our souls, and pressed them into new bodies.

Another snap.

Alina awoke, staring incredulously at her hands.

"That's it?"

Looking at the familiar face beside her, Isabella, who was Alina now, felt like she was dreaming.

But the unfamiliar physical sensations told her it was real. Her body still felt weak, probably from the lingering effects of the drug.

"Perfect. From now on, Terence would be mine."

Alina touched the face with a silly grin.

Even with a different body, her love-obsessed mind remained unchanged.

"You should be prepared. One person can never completely become another." The old lady spoke while munching on fried chicken.

Alina, scrolling through her phone, looked indifferent. "She's not hard to imitate. Just needs that fake innocent look."

"What about her? If she finds out her body has changed and confronts you, what then?"

Alina put down her phone. "Even if she tells everyone, who would believe her?"

She continued texting, unconcerned.

It looked like the villain's intelligence level in this novel was seriously low.

The old lady sipped her soda, glancing at Alina.

They were waiting for Isabella to wake up. But instead of waking up, Isabella's entire body turned red and she started running a fever.

"Damn, I'm having an allergic reaction." Alina inspected her old body's arm, noticing the rash.

"Take her to the hospital!" The old lady was startled.

Alina grabbed Isabella's arm, looking cold and detached. "Let her burn. Better than waking up and causing trouble."

Truly fitting for a villain. Utterly wicked.

In the end, Isabella was taken to the hospital.She was still an important character, nearing the finale, so she couldn't just drop dead like that. She still had a part to play.

4

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was the hospital ceiling. I knew she had succeeded, and so had I.

"You're awake! Finally." Leland's voice rang out next to me.

He stroked my head while reaching for the call button to get the doctor.

I lowered my gaze, hiding my emotions. When he helped me sit up, I gave him a bewildered look. "Who are you?"

"No way! You burned your brain out with that fever?" He touched my forehead, looking genuinely shocked.

I wanted to punch him for that remark, but I kept my expression blank, maintaining an innocent and confused look.

This younger brother might be a bit of an idiot, but he was protective. During conflicts between me and Isabella, he even warned me to stay away from her.

In a typical novel setting, he would probably fall for me.

But I decided to change his trajectory for my own sake, turning him from a loyal watchdog into a minor bully.

The doctor came in, and after some discussion, they concluded that the high fever had caused some brain damage, leading to memory loss.

Of course, only in this stupid novel world would people be so easily convinced.

Leland held my hand, "Isabella, I'm your older brother. Leland."

I sat on the edge of the bed and kicked him.

He clutched his leg, his handsome face filled with annoyance.

The door suddenly opened. Alina and Terence walked in, both holding bouquets of white daisies.

"Isabella, I'm sorry. I didn't know you were allergic." Alina stuffed the daisies into my arms, looking genuinely apologetic.

Leland yanked the flowers from my hands and threw them into the trash.

"Are you out of your mind? Bringing lousy daisies to my sister?"

"You!" Alina's face twisted in anger. Clearly, she hadn't adjusted to her new role and wanted to scold him like before.

Terence stepped forward, defending her. "What are you doing? Alina meant well. You don't have to be so harsh."

Alina's face lit up with happiness.

As expected, as long as Terence was around, her brain would stay in love-mode.

Before they could start a full-blown fight, I pretended to feel unwell, holding my head and sending them away. I then turned to Leland and told him I wanted to go home.

He helped me up and drove me back from the hospital.

This brother sure was useful.

We went back at the Thorpe villa, the place I had always envied.

It had a garden, a gazebo, a fountain-everything I never had.

I casually sent Leland off and started inspecting the room.

This was the life I had always dreamed of. No need to run around for money or sell myself to some overbearing CEO.

I lay on the soft bed, basking in the warm sunlight.

With Leland and the butler's help, I soon figured out the family's dynamics and spent a few days peacefully, without anyone discovering my secret.

I had been secretly mimicking Isabella for a while now.

Besides, she was a simple person. Her daily life revolved around chasing after Terence and shopping.

One sunny afternoon, I received a wedding invitation. Terence and Alina were getting married.

My hands trembled as I held the invitation, feeling an odd thrill.

Leland probably thought I had gone mad with anger. "They're both terrible. Want me to crash the wedding with you?"

Crash the wedding? No way. I needed their wedding to go smoothly.

Otherwise, how would I execute my plan?