Selene was still lost in thoughts when she walked into the bathroom to freshen up. After getting ready, she opened the wardrobe—and her eyes widened instantly.
"Oh. My. God. These clothes… I've only seen actresses wearing such outfits on TV!
And now I get to wear them too? Wow!"
A new spark lit up in her eyes.
"Okay, coming to this novel wasn't entirely a curse. At least there are perks!"
Selene picked a pair of blue jeans and a bright red top. She tied her hair into a messy bun, letting a few soft strands fall around her cheeks.
She applied a bit of lip balm and slipped into high heels.
Just like that—she looked stunning. Almost unreal.
"One thing's for sure," Selene told her reflection, "the old Selene was many things… but she was undeniably beautiful."
She smirked.
"Alright Selene, time to go downstairs and meet everyone.
And yes… I also want to see the female lead of this story."
With that, she stepped out of the room.
Downstairs, the entire family was already gathered at the dining table.
Selene scanned every face once.
"Because of all of you," she thought in silence, "the old Selene lost herself.
Had you shown her even a little love, maybe she wouldn't have… broken."
Her fists tightened for a second.
"But I—Tessa, now living as Selene—will not let myself end the way she did."
She walked down the stairs gracefully and took her seat at the dining table.
Everyone noticed it.
Selene looked… different today. Very different.
The maid arrived with breakfast.
Right then, Mia came running into the dining room.
"Good morning, big brothers! Good morning Mom, Dad, Grandpa! Good morning Selene!"
Everyone except Victor (grandpa) and Selene replied back to her.
Ryan, Reed and Reid smiled.
"Good morning, Princess."
Kenneth and Grace also wished her warmly.
Selene glanced at Mia.
She was beautiful—dark eyes, shoulder-length hair, fair skin.
But compared to Selene, she still looked ordinary.
Selene quietly continued eating.
Not a single word left her mouth.
Her silence stung the entire family like a needle.
Ryan whispered in his mind,
"Why is she so quiet today? She always finds a reason to talk to us…
Well, maybe she's still guilty about yesterday. She did hit Mia without reason."
Suddenly Mia winced lightly and held her wrist.
"Ryan, my hand is hurting a lot today.
Can you feed me breakfast?"
Ryan chuckled warmly.
"That's it? Of course, Princess. Come here."
He fed her gently with his own hands.
Everyone's eyes drifted toward Selene again.
She was calmly finishing her breakfast, perfectly silent.
Her silence bothered them.
It hurt them.
Especially Victor, her grandfather.
A strange sadness filled his eyes.
She was never this silent…
She always did something dramatic for attention.
When Selene almost finished eating, she suddenly felt something cold on her cheek.
She turned—and saw Grace gently pressing ice on her face.
Yesterday, Selene had slapped Mia… but Grace had slapped Selene much harder.
Hard enough to bruise her cheek blue.
And then—
Selene did something…
Something so unexpected…
That everyone at the table froze in shock.