Chapter 1The Villainess Reborn

I am the only daughter of the Blanchett family, raised since birth to be its heir.

If the students of Northwood Academy are the elite of society, then I am the apex of that pyramid.

Before the school started admitting scholarship students, there was a delicate balance. No discrimination, no mockery—just pure, unadulterated ambition in everyone’s eyes.

Until the first scholarship girl arrived.

And just like that, I knew the plot had begun to turn.

You see, I was reborn into this world.

In the original story, my character was the villainess. The heroine was the new scholarship student, a resilient little flower who endured a year of torment from the villainess’s friends without ever breaking.

The funny thing is, the villainess never directly participated. Yet the heroine blamed her for everything, convinced that without the villainess’s tacit approval, no one would have dared to touch her.

Later, the villainess’s parents died in a car crash. Spurred on by the heroine’s "encouragement," the villainess's brother schemed to usurp the family inheritance. Her supposed friends, moved by the heroine’s "unbreakable spirit," all turned against her.

Ultimately, the villainess was cast out by her family and died a miserable death on the streets.

* * *

It was the kind of cliché, tropey story that was so full of melodrama it made you sick.

And if you ask me, the original villainess was far too kind.

I strode into the classroom, arms crossed. The air was buzzing with chatter about the new scholarship student. I kicked a desk, hard, and the noise died instantly.

If we’re talking about being a villain, I’m a hell of a lot better at it than she ever was.

I scanned the room, my irritation simmering, and dropped into my seat.

I never liked school to begin with. I’d finally graduated, only to die on my way to work when a rogue plastic bag flew into my face, blinding me just long enough to get into a fatal car accident.

Then I was reborn, only to end up as a villainess in a cheap novel.

The one silver lining was that fate had finally answered my prayers: this time, I was rich.

So, as a sort of repayment, I would protect everything the original villainess had lost. I would save her parents from that car crash.

With that thought, I let out a heavy sigh.

The boy behind me tapped my shoulder. "Aria, the new girl is coming soon. Should we give her a proper Northwood welcome?"

I was already in a foul mood. The thought of someone stirring up trouble for me, for no reason, made me whip my head around to glare at Mason. He and the original Aria were childhood friends. In the story, he was the first to betray her.

A dog that can’t be tamed. The most disgusting kind.

The more I thought about it, the more pissed off I got. I clicked my tongue in annoyance.

"If you mess with her, you can get the hell out of Northwood."

The classroom was silent. Everyone heard me.

Mason stared for a second, then gave a helpless shrug. "Whoa, what’s with you, princess? I was just asking. Didn’t want you to be unhappy."

I twisted the cap off a bottle of water on my desk and poured it over his head.

"Keep your bright ideas to yourself. Don’t pin them on me."

Mason shot to his feet, roaring, "Aria! What the hell is wrong with you? Are you insane?"

I crossed my legs, my eyes raking over him. "Do you have the right to yell at me? Are we that close?"

I wasn’t the original Aria, that bleeding-heart who would help her friends unconditionally. In my eyes, they were worse than dogs.

For years, the Thorne family had been mired in internal conflict. Though Mason and I grew up together, I never once lifted a finger to help him. Compared to his two older brothers, Mason was painfully incompetent and on the verge of being disowned.

About a year ago, it must have dawned on him that if I put in a good word, the position of head of the Thorne family would be his.

But why should I help him?

Still, I did need a dog. I could string Mason along with a few scraps, and he’d do anything for me.

But now, the heroine was here. It was time to defuse this ticking time bomb before it blew up in my face.