What happens when the tormented female lead in a novel wakes up and decides to get together with the second male lead?

Coincidentally enough, I'm transmigrated into the body of this tormented female lead!

I opened and shut my eyes. Then, I did it again. And again.

I stared at the luxurious and sprawling manor before me, which one would only expect to see in TV shows or visualize when reading novels. Only then did I believe I'd transmigrated into a novel!

"I can't believe you sent someone to go after Suzanne again, Carissa Winton! You've held the position of Mrs. Faust for too long!" a man's furious voice rang out behind me.

I turned to see a handsome man slap a document before me. It was a divorce agreement.

Carissa Winton? Suzanne? Mrs. Faust? Weren't those the important characters in a popular stereotypical melodramatic romance novel I'd just read?

So, I'd transmigrated into the body of Carissa Winton, the poor female lead of the novel. She'd aborted three children for the male lead, Lincoln Faust's sake, and was dying of bone cancer.

"Let's divorce, Carissa!" Lincoln said icily.

I was only taken aback for a second. Then, I snorted disdainfully. "Let's do it, then. It's not like I'll die without you!"

This time, it was Lincoln's turn to be taken aback. He narrowed his eyes and appraised me. "What are you up to this time?"

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes as I met his gaze fearlessly. "I agree to the divorce. It's not that hard to understand, right?"

Lincoln was a huge jerk. When reading the novel, I'd wanted to beat him to a pulp countless times on the original Carissa's behalf.

He was rendered speechless, probably not expecting me to agree so readily. I thumbed through the divorce agreement and was furious to learn he wanted "me" to leave the marriage without a penny to "my" name.

"I have one issue with this. Since you're the one who committed adultery, I don't think asking for half your assets is too much. If you're okay with that, we can draft a new divorce agreement now and have nothing to do with each other after this," I said.

Then, I ripped the unfair agreement into half as he watched.

"You've finally revealed your true colors, Carissa! You pulled all those tricks to marry me for my money! You're such a gold digger!" he snapped, looking like he'd suddenly realized what I was really like.

"Isn't that what you've always thought of me anyway? I'd be putting shame to your opinion of me if I weren't so materialistic, right? Cut the crap—give me the money, and I'll immediately leave. Whoever wants to be your wife can have the title. I don't want it anymore." I sat on the couch and held my head high like a queen.

Lincoln looked at me incredulously. Then, he gnashed his teeth. "Dream on! Don't even think about getting a nickel out of me when the money doesn't belong to you!"

This time, I couldn't resist rolling my eyes. He was such a shameless man. The original Carissa had gotten three abortions for him, yet he wasn't even willing to give her a dime. How blind could she have been to fall for him?

He was handsome and good at being a businessman, but that was it. He had no other redeeming qualities and was a scumbag through and through!

"Well, we can stay like this forever, then. As long as I refuse to divorce, Suzanne Lloyd will forever be a shameless homewrecker!" I said.

"Don't you dare call Suzanne a homewrecker! You're not worthy of that!" Lincoln looked furious. He clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles cracked, seemingly on the brink of getting physical.

What a scumbag! Could he actually be thinking of getting violent with me? How shameless could he be?

My heart trembled. It was probably from the remnants of the original Carissa's love for Lincoln. I figured she'd thoroughly given up on him now.

I mentally told her not to worry. Since I was here, I would make Lincoln pay for everything he'd done to her!

"Don't tell me you're going to resort to violence, Mr. Faust. Come at me, then. Do it, and I'll ensure everyone hears about this. I still have the receipts for those abortions you made me get for your mistress' sake!

"What's wrong, Mr. Faust? Are you angry? Do you want to hit me or even try to strangle me like you've done in the past? There are surveillance cameras in this living room, so they'll capture everything.

"You'd be providing the evidence for me to sue you for domestic violence, which will ruin Faust Group's reputation and make you the subject of everyone's criticism!"

Lincoln's face twisted with rage.

I wanted so badly to laugh when I saw how he wanted to get back at me but couldn't!

Lincoln stormed off, slamming the door behind him.

I sneered, thinking that this was nothing in comparison with what he'd done to the original Carissa.

I wasn't happy for too long, though. I suddenly felt a surge of warmth in my nose, and it smelled metallic. I hurriedly wiped my nose with some tissue. I only realized there was blood all over it when I looked at it.

I'd almost forgotten that Carissa had just been diagnosed with bone cancer. She only had ten months to live, but she'd actually thought about sleeping with Lincoln once more so she could fall pregnant. Then, she would leave and have the child be the final witness to their marriage.

What a fool.

I wanted to tell Carissa that someone like Lincoln wasn't worth any of that. The forceful tone I'd taken with him earlier was the opposite of Carissa, who obeyed his every command.

We were polar opposites, yet Lincoln hadn't noticed anything different. It was clear that Carissa meant nothing to him. He wasn't worthy of her love!

I went upstairs and picked out an expensive custom-made dress from the wardrobe. Then, I made myself up before grabbing my medical report and preparing to head to the hospital again.

Carissa loved Lincoln so much that she didn't bother maintaining her appearance. All she wanted to do was cook and clean for him. Even after being diagnosed with bone cancer, she'd ignored the doctor's advice. Lincoln was all she could think about.

I wasn't the original Carissa, though. I had to live differently. Now, the first thing I had to do was survive in this novel. I had to go to the hospital and undergo surgery to cure myself. I had to remain alive so I could slowly torment Lincoln and Suzanne.

I opened the front door, but before I could step out, a figure lunged at me.

"I was the one who did you wrong, Carrie. Don't blame Linc for this! I'm already pregnant with his child, so please, agree to the divorce! I'll do anything as long as you agree—even death!"

Suzanne wore a white dress. She wept while kneeling before me and clinging to my legs. It was as if I owed her something when, in truth, she'd stolen my husband.

"That's exactly what I wanted to hear. You'll do anything, right? Get rid of the child and slap yourself, then. I'll forgive you after that!" I crossed my arms and icily watched her performance.

She looked at me tearfully, seemingly surprised that her act had failed. "The baby is innocent, Carrie. I can do anything you want, but the baby is Linc's. I can't hurt it…"

Her weeping grew louder, making it seem like I'd genuinely bullied her.

Carissa had gotten three abortions for Lincoln's sake. For the first two times, he'd dragged her to the hospital and forced her into it. But for the third and last time, she'd done it without his knowledge.

My eyes prickled at the thought of that. A burst of strength surged in me. I broke free of Suzanne's grip and spoke to her harshly, "You said you were willing to do anything, even if it cost you your life, right? Go to hell, then. I'll sign the divorce papers and have them buried with you during your funeral."

"How can you be so cruel, Carissa? How can you want me to die when I'm pregnant? You're a murderer!" Suzanne's face twisted with rage as she snapped at me. She'd finally revealed her true colors.

I was cruel? I was a murderer? I was stunned. She was great at twisting the truth, wasn't she?

"Drop your act around me if you don't have the nerve to end your life. You disgust me—get the hell out of my way!" I sidestepped her to leave.

To my surprise, she fell backward and rolled down two steps. Then, she cried out in pain and screamed, "Why did you push me, Carrie? How could you be so cruel? My stomach hurts…"

Based on my experience, I knew the male lead would show up at this point. He would stand up for the female side character and reprimand the female lead.

Sure enough, I saw Lincoln hurry toward us, his expression anxious.

I narrowed my eyes at Suzanne. So, she wanted to frame me for hurting her when I hadn't even touched her? I would make her wish come true, then.

I walked down the steps and stomped on her hand, grinding the pointy tip of my heel into her palm.

Suzanne immediately howled in pain, and her tears flowed. Her pain was much more genuine now compared to earlier.

"Honestly, you knew I wasn't someone to be trifled with and that I would get physical, yet you still served yourself on a silver platter so I could hit you. Could you be more pathetic?" I felt dissatisfied despite saying that. So, I slapped Suzanne twice as a way of venting the original Carissa's anger!

"What the hell are you doing, Carissa? How dare you hit Suzy!" Lincoln darted toward Suzanne, who was weeping. He lifted her into his arms.

He called me "Carissa", yet she was "Suzy". It was a stark contrast.

"Why wouldn't I dare? I'll hit her whenever I want! Besides, she came here and asked for a beating. Ask her if you don't believe me!" I snapped.

"It's all my fault, Linc. Don't blame Carrie for this. I'm the one who's done her wrong—I'm the one at fault." Suzanne covered her mouth and started sobbing in earnest.

If not for me reading the original novel, I would've fallen for her performance. I shrugged and said, "Did you hear that? She told you not to blame me."

"You're evil, Carissa! You only pick on Suzy because she's kind-hearted!" Lincoln glared at me. Then, he turned and left with Suzanne in his arms. "I'll take you to the hospital first, Suzy. Don't worry—I won't let Carissa get away with this."

I pulled out a wet wipe from my bag and wiped the hand that had touched Suzanne earlier. It was too bad I'd had to dirty my hand while getting back at the latter.

…

I took a cab to the hospital and waited my turn to see the doctor. As I walked down the corridor, I ran into Lincoln and Suzanne. She was still in Lincoln's arms.

Her hand was bandaged, and she leaned against him while smiling sweetly. I silently cursed them on Carissa's behalf.

"Why are you also at the hospital, Carrie? Do you feel ill?" Suzanne saw me. She put on a show of being concerned about me but tightened her grip on Lincoln.

"It's none of your business. Don't you know that everyone hates nosy people?" I said. I didn't need to play nice with her.

She leaned closer against Lincoln at my words, looking aggrieved.

Lincoln snapped, "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth, Carissa! Suzy was just worried about you!"

If looks could kill, I would already be six feet under. Still, I didn't care. I snorted and retorted, "I don't need her concern. I'd like to live a good, long life, thank you."

Suddenly, my heart clenched. I could tell this was the original Carissa's resentment. I stepped forward and eyed them. "You feel bad for her because I've said that one sentence in retort, don't you? What about me? You've said far worse things to me in the past, haven't you?

"Doesn't anyone feel bad for me? She's a gentle woman, but aren't I? I've damaged my body after getting an abortion three times because it's what you wanted. I might not ever be a mother anymore! Don't I have the right to feel aggrieved?

"You and I have been married for three years, yet you want to divorce me and make me leave without a penny to my name so you can be with your mistress. Time and time again, you and your mistress have acted lovey-dovey to my face. Can't I feel wronged over that?"

I let everything out. I wanted him to hear all the pain and suffering he'd put Carissa through over the years.

Lincoln frowned. His gaze softened a little, and he didn't say a word.