Liora couldn’t believe the ending she had just read in the novel, Heartstrings of Fate. Her beloved character, Ethan, was abandoned and heartbroken while his unfaithful wife married his eldest brother. Furious, she scolded the author on every platform available, expressing her disappointment and anger at the cruel twist of fate. She was determined to make her voice heard, even if it meant flooding every comment section with her discontent.

“Why would you do this to Ethan? He deserves better!” she typed furiously, her fingers flying over the keyboard. Each keystroke was fueled by a mix of sadness and rage. Ethan had been her favorite character from the very beginning, and seeing him suffer such an unjust ending felt like a personal betrayal.

Liora’s best friend, Aria, who also loved the novel, tried to calm her down. “I know it’s frustrating, but maybe there’s a reason behind the author’s decision,” Aria suggested.

“I don’t care! It’s just wrong!” Liora snapped, feeling even more agitated.

Over the next year, Liora and Aria continued to follow the story, discussing every plot twist and character development. They both hoped that the author would somehow redeem Ethan’s character, but their hopes were continually dashed as the story progressed. They spent countless nights theorizing and debating about the characters, becoming more emotionally invested with each chapter.

The story centered around Ethan and his wife, Elara. Ethan had married Elara to help her escape from an unwanted marriage. Due to the situation, they ended up getting married, but Ethan had lied about his family's wealth. They were actually poor, and Ethan worked tirelessly, sometimes up to 20 hours a day, to fulfill Elara's dreams. As time went on, Elara fell in love with Ethan's eldest brother, Lucian. In the end, Ethan's family abandoned him, and he was left to build a travel business on his own.

Elara divorced Ethan in their second year of marriage, revealing that she loved Lucian and they were getting married the next day. Heartbroken, Ethan watched her leave. A deranged psycho named Victor, who was obsessed with Elara, tried to stab her. Ethan protected her, getting stabbed in the process. As he lay dying, Ethan's last words to Elara were, "If there is another life, I wish you to love me as much as I love you."

Liora was enraged by this ending. She noticed that after the first year of marriage, Ethan's title changed from the second brother to the eldest brother, and many chapters focused solely on Lucian and Elara. Liora skipped these chapters, only reading about Ethan's storyline. Aria, however, continued to enjoy the chapters focusing on Lucian and Elara.

As Liora finished reading, she was even more upset when Ethan died, and Elara showed no concern, marrying Lucian instead. She furiously scolded the author on every site the novel was published, getting her comments deleted and herself banned from various channels. She felt betrayed by the story she once loved.

One night, while she was about to post another angry comment, Aria called her. Distracted, Liora didn’t notice the chandelier above her head coming loose. As she sent her last furious message, the chandelier fell on her, and everything went black.

When she opened her eyes, she found herself lying on the floor of an unfamiliar classroom.

/// Character details

1. Liora

Appearance: Petite with long, wavy black hair and expressive brown eyes. She has a warm smile and an effortlessly chic sense of style.

Personality: Bubbly, loyal, and fiercely protective of her friends. Liora is the kind of person who lights up a room with her energy and positivity. She's always ready to lend a helping hand and offer support.

2. Ethan

Appearance: Tall and athletic with short, messy brown hair and striking blue eyes. He has a rugged charm and often wears casual, practical clothing.

Personality: Hardworking, kind-hearted, and determined. Ethan is known for his resilience and dedication to those he loves. Despite facing numerous challenges, he remains optimistic and driven.

3. Elara

Appearance: Slender with straight blonde hair and bright green eyes. She has a sophisticated and elegant sense of style.

Personality: Ambitious, intelligent, and independent. Elara is focused on achieving her goals and dreams, often at the expense of her relationships. She can be emotionally distant and pragmatic.

4. Lucian

Appearance: Handsome with short, dark hair and piercing grey eyes. He has a commanding presence and dresses in a polished, professional manner.

Personality: Charming, manipulative, and authoritative. Lucian is skilled at getting what he wants and is not afraid to use his influence to achieve his goals. He can be cold and calculating.

5. Julian

Appearance: Average height with curly brown hair and hazel eyes. He has a laid-back and approachable demeanor, often seen in casual, comfortable clothing.

Personality: Reserved, protective, and loyal. Julian is the quiet strength of the family, always looking out for his loved ones. He prefers to stay out of the spotlight but is fiercely supportive.

6. Asher

Appearance: Youthful with tousled dark hair and playful green eyes. He has a vibrant and trendy sense of style, often seen in fashionable clothing.

Personality: Supportive, energetic, and optimistic. Asher is the cheerful spirit of the family, always encouraging others and bringing a positive attitude to any situation.

7. Victor

Appearance: Tall and intimidating with slicked-back black hair and dark, sinister eyes. He has a menacing aura and often wears sharp, tailored suits.

Personality: Deranged, obsessive, and violent. Victor is fixated on Elara and will go to extreme lengths to possess her. He is unpredictable and dangerous.

8. Daniel

Appearance: Older with graying hair and tired, weary eyes. He has a disheveled appearance and often looks unkempt.

Personality: Stern, authoritative, and burdened by grief. Daniel is struggling to cope with the death of his wife and has turned to alcohol. He prioritizes the family’s reputation over individual happiness.

9. Aria

Appearance: Petite with long, wavy black hair and expressive brown eyes. She has a warm smile and an effortlessly chic sense of style.

Personality: Bubbly, loyal, and fiercely protective of her friends. Aria is the kind of person who lights up a room with her energy and positivity. She's always ready to lend a helping hand and offer support.

When she opened her eyes, she found herself lying on the floor of an unfamiliar auditorium. The harsh fluorescent lights above made her squint, and the cold, hard tiles beneath her were a stark contrast to the comfort of her bed. Liora slowly sat up, her head pounding. As her vision cleared, she saw a group of boys speaking in hushed tones from some distance away. She couldn't make out what they were saying.

Someone approached Liora. She asked the him, "What place is this, and where am I?"

“This is Celestine College in Elysium City,” he replied in a low voice. “Are you okay?” His eyes searched hers for recognition.

“What?!” Liora exclaimed, her heart racing. She looked around the room, recognizing the details from Heartstrings of Fate. It was impossible, and yet here she was. “I’ve transmigrated into the novel...” she mumbled, more to herself than anyone else. She then turned to the him and asked, “Who are you?”

Before the person could answer, they both spoke at the same time. “Asher,” they said in unison. Asher looked at her curiously and asked, “If you know, then why did you ask?”

Liora, thinking quickly, realized he was the second youngest brother of the male lead, Ethan. She needed to keep herself calm and not reveal too much. “I just...needed to be sure,” she replied, trying to mask her surprise.

As they were about to leave, a group of boys surrounded them. The atmosphere turned tense, and Liora could feel the hostility emanating from the group. Asher stepped forward to protect her, his body tense and ready to defend.

"Step away from her," one of the boys sneered. Before Liora could react, one of the boys lunged at Asher, attacking him from behind. Liora was shocked but her instincts kicked in. Without a second thought, she spun around and kicked the boy who tried to catch her. Her training as a dojo runner in the her world gave her the upper hand. The boy flew and landed on the floor, much to the shock of the others.

Asher was kneeling, unable to move due to the hit he took. The remaining boys turned their attention to Liora, their expressions a mix of anger and surprise. Drawing on her training, Liora quickly knocked down the other boys who tried to harass her. She moved with precision and strength, her movements fluid and powerful. As Asher's vision blurred, he faintly saw Liora defending herself and then lost consciousness.

Once Liora had dealt with all the boys, she rushed to Asher's side, her heart pounding from the adrenaline. She noticed an ID card on the floor beside him. To her shock, it had the same identity as her own, even her face and voice. Confused, she muttered, "I've become a non-existing character in the story..."

She began to search for any familiar NPCs from the novel, but found none. The realization dawned on her that this was not just a fictional world, but an alternate reality. "Why me?" she wondered aloud. "And why am I in this body that looks exactly like mine?"

Puzzled and filled with questions, she unlocked her phone and called the police. As she glanced at the time and date on her phone, she realized it matched the start of the original storyline in September, when Elara graduated.

Liora only knew about Ethan's storyline as she had skipped the others. Without thinking, both Asher and Liora left the auditorium and sat near the door of the room. She called for help and security, and some students came, followed by the police. The college was decorated for a special occasion. The air was filled with excitement and the bustling noise of preparations for an event. The entire campus was alive with activity, students and faculty moving around with purpose.

Liora asked one of the students, "What function is today?"

The student replied, "It's the graduation ceremony for graduates and the 50-year celebration of the college."

The realization hit her like a tidal wave. This was the beginning of the storyline she was so familiar with, the point where Elara was about to graduate. The timeline was unfolding exactly as she remembered, and she had a chance to alter the course of events.

Determined to protect Ethan and change the fate of the story, Liora knew she had to act quickly. She observed the surroundings and the people, trying to piece a plan.

The campus was abuzz with activity as police officers escorted the boys who had attacked Liora and Asher off the premises. The principal had called off the event for the day and postponed it to the next. The festive decorations seemed out of place against the backdrop of flashing police lights and the murmur of concerned students.

Asher winced as the doctor applied a bandage to his head. His injuries were more severe than Liora's, who was left with scratches and finger marks on her arms from being held tightly during her unconscious state. The doctor's hands were gentle yet firm, ensuring their wounds were properly cared for.

Once their treatment was finished, the police approached them to take their statements. Liora filed a complaint, detailing the events that had transpired. She explained how Asher had helped her, and Asher corroborated her story, adding that one of the boys in the group had acted strangely.

"Everyone was in the ground," Asher began, recalling the events. "I had come to the principal's office to collect a file for the next event. That's when I saw Liora lying unconscious on the floor. We were about to escape when they intervened."

Liora listened intently, her heart swelling with gratitude for Asher's bravery. She felt a sense of responsibility to protect him and the other characters in this world, just as they had protected her.

Just then, the parents of the boys who had been arrested arrived and began arguing with Liora, accusing her of being responsible for the incident. They said hurtful things about her, and just as the situation was getting worse, Lucian, Asher's eldest brother, arrived to check on him.

When Asher was about to explain what had happened, Liora interrupted, "The auditorium has eight cameras. Once we check, we'll know if I did anything or if your boys did."

The principal and security granted permission to access the footage, but when they opened the files, they found them blank. The parents continued to blame Liora, hurling accusations at her.

Lucian stepped forward. "You all are women too. How can you blame an innocent girl without evidence?" he said firmly.

Liora, remembering her brother's skills in hacking, accessed a nearby system. Thanks to her brother's training, she managed to restore the deleted videos. She silently thanked her brother in her world as she watched the footage, which clearly showed her being kidnapped and defending herself.

When the parents saw the evidence, they were furious and tried to attack Liora, but Asher quickly pulled her behind him. The police scolded the parents and gave them a warning, nearly deleting the footage, but at that moment, Aria arrived with her parents. Aria's mother, an Chief officer, took swift action against the boys based on the video evidence Liora provided. Both Asher and Liora filed complaints against them.

After Aria and her parents left, Lucian praised Asher. "You did a good job, Ash," he said. As Liora was about to leave, Asher called her and introduced her to Lucian. Though she was fuming inside, not trusting Ethan, she managed to thank him on the outside.

A week passed since the incident, and in that time, Asher and Liora became friends. Liora adapted to this new world and her identity as an orphan studying on a scholarship from the richest family in the country. That evening, she asked Asher to accompany her to Aria's birthday party, which was happening after college.

In the afternoon, Liora asked Asher, "When are you going to introduce me to your family?"

Asher choked on his drink, Aria smirking. Liora quickly clarified, "It's not like that. I want to see his house and family, become friends with them. Your mom even teach me how to cook Aria."

Later, as the day came to an end, Liora remembered that Ethan was a driver and would be there. She told Aria, "I'll come to your house by taxi."

As she was about to take a shared taxi driven by Ethan, Asher hopped in. "You left without saying anything," he said.

"We'll meet at the party, right? Why the sad face?" Liora replied.

In the shared taxi, everyone was watching Liora and Asher, who was the only male except for the driver, Ethan. When everyone else got off at their stops, it was just Liora, Asher, and Ethan. Asher called out to his brother, and Liora was suddenly captivated, floating in her dream world as she focused solely on Ethan.

Asher tried to say something, but Liora didn't hear him until he nudged her. "Are you okay?" he asked.

"Yes, I was just thinking about the gift for my friend," she replied nervously, aware of Ethan watching her through the rearview mirror. She felt both happy and anxious that the Ethan was driving the car for her.

As they arrived at the party and she said "Thanks" to Ethan and Asher said "I will come late bro" as Ethan shook his head and left. Liora couldn't shake the feeling of excitement mixed with apprehension.

Ethan's Pov

Ethan watched as Liora and Asher exited the car, catching a glimpse of Liora's expression through the side mirror. She was staring at the car he drove with a mixture of admiration and nervousness. Ethan chuckled to himself. "Liora," he whispered, amused by her reaction.