A young brunette was screaming for help as she lost her strength, a man holding her against the bed. Though she pushed him away, her efforts were insufficient due to the drug coursing through her system. This made it easier for the man, who tore the straps of her dress, exposing her underwear as he settled between her legs. Suddenly, the woman fell still, prompting the man to savor the moment as he began to unbutton his pants. Abruptly, the woman opened her eyes—once a honey color, now they shone a bright yellow.

As she focused on the man above her, he was taken aback, but only smiled, ready to continue his actions. However, the young woman's hand shot up, gripping his neck and tightening with her nails digging into his skin. He groaned, struggling to free himself, but her strength was impressive.

"Nobody touches the Empress without her permission. You have guts, but you're far too stupid," she said, her gaze fierce and cold.

The man felt a chill run through his body, as if those eyes were tearing into his soul. Voices from outside soon made their presence known, and the young woman forcefully threw the man against the door, causing it to splinter as he tumbled out of the room. A girl’s scream echoed from outside, and a blond-haired man with blue eyes peeked into the room, seeing the young woman standing there, seemingly surveying her surroundings.

With that man was a woman who looked astonished at the unconscious figure on the floor, frowning with annoyance.

"Roxane, what is this? I can't believe you're such a damn slut," she yelled.

"Who are you to raise your voice at me? Do you want to lose your head?" Roxane replied coldly.

The young man tensed at the ice in her tone; even the woman who had come with him was taken aback by her authoritative outburst. Soon, their parents arrived at the scene, spotting the man sprawled on the floor and Roxane with her torn dress. Mirella, Laysa's mother, stepped forward.

"Roxane, how could you do this? An affair during your engagement," she shouted, indignant.

"What are you saying? Roxane, is that true?" Phil, Roxane's father, asked.

The young woman only stared at them, not fully comprehending anything; she didn’t even understand where she was. This was not her room, and all she remembered was taking her last breaths on her deathbed. Suddenly, the voices began to sound like distant echoes, her vision clouded, and she collapsed on the floor, unconscious. Phil rushed to her side as he saw his daughter faint, calling for a doctor.

Even in her unconscious state, she vaguely heard voices and strange noises, but a series of images began to play in her mind.

Roxane was the youngest daughter of the Walkers, a girl dearly loved by her parents until her mother fell ill. Shortly after her death, her father brought home a woman with a daughter a year older than Roxane. He told her that this woman, Mirella Copper, was her new mother and that Laysa was her older sister. The woman introduced herself kindly, but when her father wasn't around, she became entirely different, treating Roxane indifferently and telling her that her father no longer loved her, that now she and Laysa were his new family, and that Laysa was now his favorite daughter.

When Roxane confided in her father that his wife and Laysa didn't like her and treated her poorly, he didn't believe her, thinking she was just jealous of having a sister. At ten years old, hearing that was the worst thing imaginable; her own father was breaking her heart by preferring his new family. Time passed, and Laysa always took everything Roxane received. Of course, her father's wife lied, claiming that Roxane was such a good girl that she gave everything to her sister, and Roxane couldn't tell the truth; she knew her father would never believe her.

Over the years, Roxane grew accustomed to living this way, but unlike her sister, who enjoyed the luxuries of their family, Roxane studied diligently and, while doing so, secretly built her own business—one that Leysa could never take from her. In college, Roxane met Scott Collins, the son of an important associate of her father's, and he began to pursue Roxane.

She ended up falling in love, and when Scott proposed, her parents were delighted, as their union would benefit both families. Of course, Leysa quickly became envious of Roxane, so she began to approach Scott, who treated her kindly as the sister of his fiancee.

Furious that she hadn’t achieved anything with Scott, Leysa devised the perfect plan to ruin their relationship. Just on the night when Roxane and Scott’s engagement was to be officially announced, Leysa went to her room to congratulate her, toasting with her over a glass of wine. Roxane, naively believing in her sister's sincerity, accepted the drink. After Leysa left, Roxane felt dizzy and her body heated. It was then that an unknown man entered her room, lunging at her. Roxane screamed, but no one could hear her; her dress was torn, but before he could accomplish his goal, Scott barged into the room, horrified by what he saw, and Leysa was right behind him.

“I’m sorry, Scott, but it was better that you saw the truth,” Leysa said with feigned concern.

Seeing Scott, Roxane pushed the man away and fell at her fiance's feet, grateful for his arrival to save her, but blinded by anger and all the deceit Leysa had fed him, Scott shoved her away.

“You disgust me, you filthy whore; you never wanted to sleep with me, but you were rolling around with others,” he expressed, a look of disgust on his face.

Roxane couldn’t understand what was happening. She glanced at the man who had tried to assault her, and before she could accuse him, he smiled cynically.

“Too bad, beautiful; everyone already knows about us,” he shrugged, unconcerned.

“Roxane, how could you deceive Scott, being such a good and devoted man to you?” Leysa expressed with fake sorrow.

Roxane turned her gaze to her sister, who merely smirked mockingly, while Scott looked at her with hatred. Their parents soon arrived, horrified by the scene, with Roxane in disheveled clothing and the man sitting on her bed with his torso bare. A scandal erupted that night; Scott's parents were furious, believing Roxane to be a decent woman, but they discovered her with another man. Of course, he left as soon as the accusations started, and even though Roxane explained everything, no one believed her. Scott insisted he would not marry Roxane, but since their families needed a wedding to unite their companies, as an act of revenge, Scott proposed to announce his engagement to Leysa.

Leysa was thrilled; her plan had succeeded. The families accepted the arrangement, and that night, the engagement between Leysa and Scott was announced. Meanwhile, Phil, Roxane’s father, was utterly disappointed in her, and although Roxane swore she hadn’t done anything and that she had almost been assaulted, her father paid her no mind. Ultimately, driven by his wife, Roxane’s father made a decision: Roxane was cast out of the family; the man took away her last name and tossed her out of the house with only the clothes she was wearing.

For Roxane, it was the breaking point. Abandoned by her father and the man she loved, she resolved to move forward, driving her business with the help of her friend Zarina, the only one who believed in her, the only one who knew what kind of person Leysa was. Together, they elevated her company, making it one of the best in the country, while Scott and Leysa planned their future wedding. Leysa was happy to have won and did everything she could to win Scott's love, but he felt tormented by everything that had happened. He had only committed to Leysa out of spite, and one drunken night, he ended up sleeping with her, which led to their relationship becoming intimate. Despite this, Scott felt he couldn't forget Roxane, and it was then that he encountered her again when his family's company sought collaboration with Roxane's business, unaware that she was the CEO of that company.

Scott was shocked to learn that Roxane had succeeded, and furthermore, she no longer looked at him with love. Roxane rejected the collaboration, and even though Scott insisted, she asked him to stay away because she wanted nothing to do with him and his family, whom she saw as traitors and thus could not trust, especially to do business together. Of course, Scott confronted her for having deceived him, but Roxane claimed to have a clear conscience, stating that unlike Scott, she hadn't run into another's arms.

Scott then began to doubt; Roxane seemed to speak the truth, and he knew she wasn't a promiscuous woman. So, he started to investigate and eventually found that man. For a few dollars, he revealed the truth: Leysa had paid him to sleep with Roxane and pretend to be her lover. The man spoke of his disappointment for not achieving his objective with Roxane, as Leysa had assured him she was a woman who wouldn’t just be used, because foolishly, she was saving herself for her wedding night. Without hesitation, Scott confronted that man and sought out Leysa to demand an explanation for what she had done, immediately canceling the engagement. Leysa refused to break up with him, yet Scott sought Roxane to tell her he knew the truth, but Roxane didn’t want to forgive him because he hadn't believed in her at the time. Scott did everything possible to win back Roxane's love, and after facing various difficulties together, including Leysa's and her mother's intrigues, they finally managed to be together and find happiness.

****

Young Roxane opened her eyes again, looking blurry until her vision became clear, noticing a strange ceiling, realizing that this was not her room in her palace and that she was no longer Empress Abigail Baskerville. Now, in her new life, she was Roxane Walker Blakely, the naive woman who had once again believed in the man who betrayed her—undoubtedly a foolish woman. But she would not continue that life; she would change everything and end anyone who got in her way.

°°°

After waking up, she sat up, listening to the argument in the room. The doctor had told them that Roxane had an aphrodisiac in her system and that it was too strong, having been lucky that it hadn't killed her. Of course, far from being worried, Mirella insinuated that Roxane had been using drugs, and Leysa supported this by saying that she had seen Roxane taking them, but didn't say anything because she was afraid they wouldn't believe her. She even shed tears begging Phil for forgiveness for not having said it before.

When Phil saw that Roxane was already awake, he began to scold her for being a drug addict and for messing around with a man on the very day of their engagement, ruining everything that night.

Scott's parents and Scott himself, who were also in the room, began to complain as well, not wanting their son to marry that kind of woman.

"I can't believe that on the night of your engagement you get high and bring your lover to the house, everyone will now say that my sister is a slut." Leysa covered her face with both hands, pretending to cry.

"Slut? Isn't that what you are?" Roxane replies.

"Roxane, don't you dare talk to your sister like that, she..."

Mirella is interrupted by Roxane's laughter.

"She what? Just look at her, that expensive dress, my fiance bought it for you, didn't he? You must have sucked his d*ck well for him to give you such an expensive gift." She smiles mockingly.

"Roxane, don't slander us like that, you were the one in that room with a man... I can't believe I fell in love with such a..."

Scott didn't dare continue his words because he noticed Roxane's frivolous look.

"Are you stupid? Didn't you hear that I was drugged and that man tried to rape me." She gets out of bed. "Stupid commoners."

Phil tries to get in her way, he was upset by how Roxane was behaving, especially knowing that she has used dr*gs.

"Roxane, where do you think you're going? You won't escape this, you're an ungrateful daughter, this..."

"Shut your mouth, old man, before I cut your damn tongue off, your screams give me a headache." She silences him.

With that, she leaves the room. Of course, Scott follows her into the hallway where he holds her hand.

"You can't just leave like that, I need you to explain, how did that man get into your room?"

"I don't owe anyone explanations, least of all you, and don't you ever dare touch me without my permission or I'll cut off that dirty hand of yours."

She pulls Scott's hand away and continues on her way, while he is stunned by Roxane's cold attitude. She, who was always sweet and looked at him with love, now her eyes only looked at him with disgust. Roxane went down to the living room where people were still at the party, while others were just arriving. When they saw her pass, they greeted her, but Roxane ignored everyone until she passed through the door, observing this new world in which she has been reborn.

"Roxane, heavens, darling, I've been calling you and you haven't answered me." A young woman approaches her.

This girl was a little older than her, with blonde hair and brown eyes. It was Zarina, the only one Roxane could trust.

"Zarina, let's get out of here." She asks.

"What? But it's your engagement night, don't tell me you and Scott had a fight? I always told you that he..."

"I'll tell you on the way, shall we go?" She asks.

Zarina smiles at Roxane's words, but there was something different about her. Still, she told her that her car was in the parking lot so they could leave right away. Roxane follows Zarina and once in the car, she tells her that she was drugged by Leysa and that she put a man in her room who wanted to rape her.

Zarina was horrified by what she heard and even more so knowing that her father, far from protecting her, has treated her like a slut and has believed the two harpies he had at home.

"Don't worry, you'll stay at my house tonight and we'll talk more calmly tomorrow, okay?"

"That sounds good to me, but I know what I'm going to do..." Roxane replies.

.

.

.

Meanwhile, in the Walker mansion, they are discussing what happened, with Leysa and Mirella insisting that Roxane has disappointed her family and is humiliating them by leaving without facing the consequences of her actions, and that they will also have to cancel the engagement announcement.

Scott, still angry about what happened, tells them that it is not necessary to cancel, but that they will change the bride. Scott, still upset by what happened, proposes to marry Leysa, since she is a beautiful and decent young woman, and since she is also a Walker, the merger of their companies can continue.

Leysa was more than satisfied to hear that proposal and timidly. — If Scott agrees, I don't object, I know that Scott is a decent man and I will be fortunate to be his wife.

Phil and Scott's parents talk about this, even Mirella thinks that the engagement would be fine, since the party has started and it was the best thing to do at that moment, including that if Scott and Leysa decide not to marry in the end, their decision will be respected.

Scott was still angry, so his idea was to accept that engagement and show Roxane what she has lost because of her betrayal. Since Leysa is her sister, she will be forced to see him happy with another woman and will realize that she should never have messed with another man. Leysa, happy with how things were developing, gladly accepted and was determined to win Scott's love, proving that when she wants something, she gets it, even if it means taking it from Roxane.

¤¤¤¤

The next morning at Zarina's house, Roxane lets her know that she will be leaving the family home and will dedicate herself to raising her small company to the top, she will turn it into an empire throughout the city and conquer the market of other countries, because throughout the night she dedicated herself to studying that world, understanding that there are no kingdoms or empires to conquer and the closest thing to that were politicians and businessmen, so she thought that if she wants to have power in that world, she must raise her status and the best way to do it is by having a successful company, so no one will be able to trample on her and on the contrary, she will be the one who crushes them all.

Zarina was impressed by her friend's attitude, since since last night, she had not shed a single tear for what happened before her engagement and now she was only focused on reviewing the documents of her small company. Of course, Zarina was quick to see the news, Leysa had become engaged to Scott, who until a few hours ago was Roxane's boyfriend. The news was in all the media, Zarina looked at Roxane who only looked up at the television.

"I'm sorry, I'll turn it off..." She takes the remote and turns off the TV. "I'm sorry for what's happening, I can't believe Scott is doing this to you."

"It's okay, that man is weak-minded, I don't need a hindrance like him by my side." She replies calmly.

Zarina is surprised by her friend's words, she didn't understand what was happening to her, has the breakup affected her so much? Now Roxane is as if she were someone else.

°°°

Zarina had gone out for food. Upon returning, she looked for Roxane, but there was no trace of her until she went out to the patio. There, the girl had scissors in her hand, and her long hair had been cut. Zarina was surprised because she knew Roxane adored having her hair long and well-cared for.

"But what... why did you cut it? I think the breakup is affecting you," she commented, worried.

"Why would I do that? That man is nothing to me," she said, putting down the scissors. "Short hair is more comfortable and elegant."

Zarina just watched, worried, but it would be better to let her friend live her grief as best she could. Meanwhile, she handed her a bag, saying that those were her clothes that she went to get from the apartment that Roxane had in the city, although she only slept there when she wanted to be free from the pair of harpies she had in the house. Although now with the breakup, perhaps her father would take that apartment away from her.

Roxane checked the clothes and frowned. These clothes were not to her liking. "Zarina, do I have money? These clothes are horrible."

"What? But that's what you like..." she sighed. "As for the money, why are you asking? You know very well that you have it."

Roxane was silent for a moment and checked the bag she took when she left that mansion. There, she had a wallet with cards, identifying each one, and yes, one of them was the card her father had given her, but with what happened, it probably no longer worked. So she took the other one, which contained her earnings from her small business, and there was another one where the savings that her mother left in her name were.

"Can you take me shopping? I'm not going back to the Walker mansion, and the clothes there are ugly."

"Okay, let's go. I think it would be good for you to distract yourself." She still thought that Roxane was like this because of her grief due to the breakup of her engagement.

.

.

.

On the other hand, Scott checked his phone. Not a single call from Roxane, not a message, and he didn't know where she went last night because he didn't see her at the party. He thought Roxane would call him that morning to apologize and beg for forgiveness, but he was very wrong. Roxane was silent, and that bothered him.

"By now, she must know that you got engaged to Leysa," commented a girl beside him.

This was Erin, Scott's younger sister, who of course wasn't there that night, but from what she had heard, it all sounded absurd.

"She just doesn't have the courage to talk to me because she knows she betrayed me," he replied, irritated.

"Did she really do it, or do you just believe it because Leysa said so? You're a fool, brother," commented Erin.

"It's not what Leysa said, it's what I saw. She was with that man in her room..." replied Scott.

"If that's what you want to believe, that's your problem." The girl shrugged.

Scott just remained silent. Everything had happened so fast, remembering the unconscious man on the floor and Roxane's frivolous look when he accused her of betraying him. He had never seen Roxane angry, and last night, it was as if she were someone else, even in her way of speaking. Scott left that room and went out to the balcony, dialing Roxane's number, but there was no answer, so he tried repeatedly, but nothing. So he sent a message.

"Are you really not going to apologize? You're shameless?" he sent, annoyed.

Seconds and minutes passed, but there was no response. So he decided to go look for her. By this time, she should have returned to the family mansion. It took him little time to arrive, but he was greeted by Leysa, who was happy that he came to see her when they had just gotten engaged last night, but Scott asked about Roxane.

"I'm sorry, Scott, she didn't come home. Dad has been calling, but she doesn't answer. She must be ashamed of what she did," she commented, worried.

"Okay. I have to go. There's an important meeting."

Scott left in a hurry. He would go look for her in her apartment. Surely she was in that place.

.

.

.

After spending all morning at the mall, both girls finally returned to Zarina's house. Who commented on how surprised she was by the type of clothes her friend bought. Mostly they were dresses, skirts, and elegant blouses, as well as shoes that went with the outfits she bought. Roxane went to the bathroom to change, and when she came out, Zarina was surprised by the elegant style her friend now had. It was surprising how a good dress and a new haircut made Roxane a new woman.

"You look amazing. If I were a man, I would marry you," she commented, amused.

"You would be a good prospect for a husband. I wouldn't hesitate to accept," she replied seriously.

"What a compliment. Well, what are you going to do now? Are you going back home? Are you going to face Scott?"

"I'll get a place to stay that's close to the office, and I'll increase the power of our business." She went to sit down. "As for that man, he's not worth my time."

Zarina sighed. Her friend was really determined to do everything, although she was glad that she didn't seem to be suffering because of Scott because a man who didn't believe in the woman he said he loved wasn't really worth it.

¤¤¤¤

As the days passed, Leysa boasted to all her friends about her engagement to a wonderful man like Scott. She was the envy of the girls her age since Scott came from a prestigious family, and she was the lucky one to marry him.

Scott, for his part, became more and more desperate with each passing day. Roxane didn't contact him, and he didn't know anything about her. Even Phil, his father, couldn't contact her. Scott looked for Zarina, but she didn't tell him anything and only insulted him for being an unfaithful traitor who got engaged to the sister of the woman he said he loved. On the other hand, Roxane was focused on growing her small business. Little by little, she was getting new contracts, fulfilling each one, and this gave her the advantage that her new clients recommended her to their partners and acquaintances. Roxane had adapted perfectly in that world, and with her knowledge of her past life, in one year, her company had conquered the advertising market. Important companies sought her services and were happy with the results.

Zarina also did her part, acting as the CEO's representative. To celebrate that they signed a one-year contract with an important company, Zarina took Roxane to a very famous club, where only important people went.

"I know it's not your environment, but it's time for you to find a new love," commented a playful Zarina.

"Love? Love is a weakness, and I have never been weak," she replied seriously.

"Roxi, drop that hard face already. Everything happened a year ago. It's time for you to be yourself again," she said, somewhat worried.

Since what happened with Scott, her friend changed a lot, and even though a year has passed, she can't get used to it completely.

"Your friend no longer exists. I can't bring her back," she replied, although she doubted that Zarina knew what she was talking about.

And yes, Zarina still didn't understand, but she didn't say anything more because she suddenly saw someone in the crowd and saw him coming toward them. That someone was Scott.

°°°