If I hated someone, I made sure they didn't have it easy.

But ten years ago, I was just a timid little girl.

Back then, right after my eighth birthday, I got into a terrible car accident with my biological father, Gordon Slater.

In that critical moment, he shielded me with his body, and that was how I survived.

It was just that, from that day on, I no longer had a father.

My mother, Sheila Plummer, was a career-driven powerhouse. After the accident, she sat silently by my father's grave for three days. Then, she single-handedly took on the entire family business.

My stepfather, Bernard, came into our lives shortly after.

In front of Mom, he acted gentle and patient with me. He'd pat my head and buy me the stuffed toys I liked.

"Lucille, how about I become your father from now on and protect you?"

But once, when Mom was away on a business trip and I had a high fever with convulsions in the middle of the night, I overheard him talking on the phone with someone by the door.

"Can you find out how to make someone get brain damage from a fever?"

In that instant, a chill seized my heart.

And it was also then that I suddenly regained my memories of being a villainess.

I realized that everything I'd suffered was just the backstory the author had set up to make me turn evil.

The real female lead was Gwen, the biological daughter of Bernard and his first love.

When I turned 18, Gwen would move into my home and win over other male leads to become the darling of Clamdale's elite circle.

In the end, she'd scheme to kill me and Mom, allowing Bernard to become the true head of the Slater family. And she'd take my place as the real heiress, enjoying a happy life as everyone's sweetheart.

But why?

Why did I have to play second fiddle to someone?

Why did Dad have to die just so Bernard could join my family?

Why did Mom and I have to meet our ends just to pave the way for Gwen?

I refused to accept it!

Thus, I changed completely after that day.

Since the book said I was a villainess, I'd be vicious to the very end.

Take now, for example—I swung my hand back and slapped Bernard right across the face.

I smiled as I looked at the terrified duo and said, "Sorry, my hand was itching. I'm heading upstairs now, Gwen."

Perhaps the slap from our first meeting was too harsh because I barely saw them around the house over the next few days.

One day, I received a phone call.

The moment I answered, a man's amused voice came from the other end.

"Ms. Slater, what's going on with you? Your stepfather and his adopted daughter have been attending all sorts of banquets these past few days. Aren't you worried she'll start building connections with others?"

I examined the lovely, striking face staring back at me in the mirror. Only after confirming that my makeup was flawless for the occasion did I smile.

"Why should I be worried? If she can land those connections, more power to her. You, on the other hand—don't forget what you're supposed to do at Mrs. Strickland's charity gala tonight."

The man on the other end chuckled lightly.

"If you're so worried about me, why not come and see for yourself? Come downstairs. You can't miss tonight's show."

Sure enough, the moment I went downstairs, I saw Logan Kennedy waiting for me on the couch. His features were sharp, with deep-set eyes, and his impeccably tailored black suit only accentuated his tall, graceful frame.

When he saw me, a bright smile spread across his face.

"It's been a while, my master."

After awakening to my memories of being a villainess, the first person I sought out was Logan Kennedy, the novel's primary antagonist. Back then, he was just a scrawny boy covered in bruises.

Even though he was only 12 years old, he was forced to peddle hot dogs outside the school gates by his adoptive father, Melvin Cohen. Each hot dog sold for three dollars, and if he didn't make 300 dollars a day, he'd be viciously beaten in the street.

The first time I met Logan, he had just been beaten by Melvin. He was filthy and lay wounded in the alley. In fact, he looked no different from a stray dog.

In the original story, he'd eventually kill Melvin and use the latter's assets to catapult himself into becoming a rising star in the industry.

Later, when Gwen and the male lead, Quintin Kennedy, were happily entangled in their romance, Logan would discover that he was actually the true heir of the Kennedy family.

With a tragic childhood and parents who favored others over him, poor Logan would completely descend into darkness.

Unfortunately, Gwen and Quintin found the evidence of Melvin's murder later, and the story's greatest antagonist would ultimately end up in prison.

However, none of that would happen now, because I was here.

I looked at the boy curled up on the ground, barely clinging to life, and disdainfully nudged the back of his hand with my foot.

"Hey, do you want to get back at the man who hurt you?"

Logan spat out a mouthful of blood and looked up at me with alarmingly bright eyes.

"Yes."

A vicious smile curled on my lips as I lazily tilted his chin up with the toe of my shoe.

"Then become my lapdog, and I'll give you everything you want."

Logan lowered his head and fell silent.

Just as I grew impatient and was about to turn away, he reached out and grabbed my ankle.

"Woof."

From then on, Logan became my most devoted lapdog.

I hired a lawyer to sue Melvin for trafficking and child abuse, then took Logan along to witness the moment Melvin was arrested.

I didn't keep idle hands around, so I took the initiative to ask Mom to send Logan to the best school in Clamdale.

Mom didn't think much of me bringing home some random child. She simply patted my head and transferred another three million dollars into my account.

"As long as you're happy, you can do whatever you want."

During that time, I kept Logan in one of the villas under my name.

Since I couldn't stand to see him comfortable, I took twisted pleasure in crafting a study plan for him that was even more demanding than my own.

It was a pity he was so messed up that he actually thrived on it.

Nourished by money, Logan no longer bore any trace of the boy he once was. He'd become refined, composed, and unnervingly calm.

Even when I told him about his fate in the original story, his expression remained unchanged as he knelt on the floor, washing my feet.

I disdainfully kicked him in the chest, splashing water at him, leaving his shirt soaked.

"Don't you feel any resentment? That fake heir stole the wealthy life that should've been yours."

The tips of Logan's ears turned red. But instead of getting angry, he lowered his head and reverently pressed a kiss to the top of my foot.

"I'd rather stay here as your lapdog than go back now to fight him to the death."

He could think again, as I had no intention of letting Quintin keep strutting around.

That was why I sent Logan back to the Kennedy family two years ago.

Logan didn't disappoint me.

He was the antagonist in the original story who, despite never having received a higher education, could still hold his own against Quintin in the business world.

Now, after years of careful cultivation on my part, he was already showing signs of surpassing Quintin shortly after returning home.

In fact, Quintin had apparently botched a project a couple of days ago. Rumor had it he was so anxious that he'd started taking medication.

Just thinking about Quintin possibly losing sleep from the stress made me smile.

I tilted Logan's chin up and pressed a kiss to his lips.

"Good boy. Don't let me down."

Emily Kaufman—or rather, Mrs. Strickland—was hosting her charity gala at her beachfront villa.

By the time we arrived, Gwen had already been ushered into the venue by Bernard.

In just a few days, she had acquired some new jewelry. Her makeup was still understated and elegant, but the white gown she wore was clearly a haute couture piece.

It was clear that over these past few days, Bernard had been doing his best to compensate Gwen materially.

At that moment, she was chatting with a young man in a wheelchair. He was strikingly handsome, with pale skin and the air of a delicate, sickly beauty.

The two of them were laughing and talking, clearly on familiar terms.

But when Gwen looked up and saw me, the smile on her face stiffened noticeably.

"Lucille, what brings you here?"

I sauntered over to her and gave her an unabashed once-over.

"What's the matter? Aren't you happy to see me?"

She dropped her head, not daring to meet my eyes.

"No, I was just surprised. After all, you never come to events like this."

I merely studied her pitiful, fragile appearance with a faint, knowing smile.

How amusing.

This so-called delicate heroine was furious and cursed me inwardly for ruining her plans.

"Crap, it's that villainess again. She's completely insane. She even hit her own stepfather. She's a psycho, alright. Now she's here messing up my chances with the second male lead.

"Why is she so annoying? But I think tonight is when she's supposed to slip something into my drink. Good thing I already switched the glasses earlier. When she offers me a drink, I'll just let her get a taste of her own medicine."

I raised an eyebrow, a glint of amusement in my eyes as I looked at her.

She wasn't wrong—I had indeed tampered with the drinks.

Only, the drug wasn't meant for her.

My gaze drifted past Gwen. Not far behind her, Quintin was smiling as he clinked glasses with Bernard.

As I watched him drink the wine, I couldn't help but let a hint of amusement creep into my eyes.

My silence made Gwen uneasy. Almost eagerly, she handed me a glass of wine.

"Lucille, I didn't know my place when I first arrived and ended up offending you. Let me raise a toast to you tonight. I hope you can forgive me."

I glanced at the clear liquid in the glass, then at the anxious Gwen.

The corners of my lips curled up slightly. Then, under her watchful gaze, I obediently took a sip.

Not long after, I used the excuse of feeling dizzy and went upstairs to rest in the guest room on the third floor.

But no sooner had I stepped into the guest room than a pair of large hands wrapped tightly around me from behind. The familiar scent of gardenia on the man made me chuckle before I could stop myself.

"What are you doing up here, brooding second male lead?"

Emery Leblanc rested his chin on my shoulder with a pitiful pout and instinctively held me even tighter.

"Lulu, stop teasing me. If you hadn't asked me to play nice with Gwen, I wouldn't have paid anyone else any attention. And why do you smell like that jerk Quintin's cologne?

"Has he been sneaking around behind my back again? Lulu, Quintin's a piece of trash. How about you take a look at me instead?"

With that, he whimpered and leaned toward me for a kiss.

I pushed his face away in disdain.

"Move. If you make me miss the show today, I'll never speak to you again."

Upon hearing this, Emery froze. Reluctant as he was, he obediently let go of me.

But then, he hung his head. His lips were pressed into a tight line, and his eyes had already reddened.

I couldn't help but soften when I saw him like that. I leaned down and pressed a kiss to the corner of his lips.

But before I could say anything to comfort him, I heard the door of the room next door close. The next moment, a muffled groan came through the wall.

Emery and I exchanged a look, and we both smiled.

The show had finally begun.