Ch. 17
The night wind brushed softly against the car windows as the Valen family drove home from dinner. The streets glimmered with passing lights, streaks of gold and silver reflected against the tinted glass. Inside the car, the air was warm, filled with quiet chatter but Yuna's thoughts were miles away.
Her father sat beside her grandfather, Sebastian, in the front seats, talking animatedly about business mergers, joint ventures, and, of course, the Montclairs' growing influence in the manufacturing industry.
Behind them sat Yuna, her mother, and her grandmother, all wrapped in a calm that felt too heavy to be peaceful. Yuna's gaze stayed fixed on the window, eyes tracing the glowing blur of city lights outside.
Her mother noticed first.
"Selene, sweetheart, are you alright? You've been so quiet since we left."
Yuna blinked, forcing a small smile.
"Just tired, Mom. Long day at school."
Her grandmother leaned forward slightly, concern etched into her soft, wrinkled face.
"You didn't even eat much during dinner. Is your stomach upset?"
"I'm fine, Grandma," Yuna replied gently.
"Just... thinking."
Sebastian turned from the front seat with a chuckle.
"Thinking about what? Don't tell me that Montclair boy got your mind spinning."
"Dad," her father groaned with a laugh, shaking his head.
"You'll make her uncomfortable."
"Oh, please. It was just a harmless joke." Sebastian smirked.
"Besides, Alexander already hinted at wanting the kids to get along. The old man hasn't changed a bit since high school."
Yuna exhaled softly, pretending to smile, but inside her thoughts were anything but calm.
And yet... in this world, he shouldn't exist.
Is he?
Jaxen Montclair... weren't mention in any chapters that I've read.
Not even once.
Yuna leaned back against the seat, her mind turning fast.
She had only read the Love Illusion out of boredom and because her silly assistant recommended— but she'd stopped at chapter twenty-four.
That was all.
Twenty-four chapters.
Right before the app locked the rest of the story behind a paywall and her lost consciousness.
And now, she regretted every bit of that decision. Because now she was living inside that same book and everything beyond chapter twenty-four was a complete mystery.
She didn't know who lived or died.
She didn't know who betrayed whom.
She didn't even know if the villainess— her current body ever got a second chance or not.
She only know Selene was hated by everyone.
And Jaxen Montclair?
He wasn't part of the chapters she remembered. That alone was enough to send a cold shiver down her spine.
Is the story changing because of me?
Her father's voice broke through her storm of thoughts.
"Selene, are you sure you're alright?"
She blinked, realizing everyone was looking at her, her mother with worry, her grandmother with gentle curiosity. Even her father's eyes softened through the rearview mirror.
"I'm fine," Yuna said quickly, forcing a composed smile.
"Just tired, like I said."
Her mother reached out, touching her hand lightly.
"Don't overthink, okay? You've been doing so well adjusting to school. We just want you to be happy."
"I am," Yuna lied softly.
She turned back to the window, the city lights reflecting in her eyes.
But mostly, she was terrified because, for the first time in years, she didn't know what tomorrow would bring. She sighed quietly and muttered under her breath, so low that no one could hear,
"I don't even know what's supposed to happen next..."
Her grandmother leaned closer, smiling faintly.
"What was that, dear?" Yuna quickly shook her head.
"Nothing, Grandma."
But as the car rolled through the sleeping city, her thoughts whispered again the words she didn't dare speak aloud:
I stopped reading at chapter twenty-four.
I am confident on changing the script but...
What if the rest of this world the part I never got to read is already changing because of me?
And my gut feeling is telling me that this is dangerous.