{World B – Emma Williams' World}
Back at Emma's World, which Olivia now found herself in control of,
Everything was just as before Emma was poisoned. Olivia found herself sitting quietly in a dressing room, while Sammy Johnson sat a little farther away, watching her.
Olivia had apparently just changed into the first outfit for the photoshoot and was about to start her makeup when Sammy spoke.
"Cameron, go help our dear female lead." Her voice was full of fake sweetness.
A young girl in a simple pink top and black jeans stepped toward Olivia.
It was at that exact moment the transmigration occurred and Olivia's soul fully fused with Emma's body.
Olivia blinked, her surroundings slowly coming into focus. For a brief second, everything seemed ancient and distant, then, all at once, familiar. It felt as though a lost memory had found its way back.
Images replayed rapidly in her mind, showing her what had happened before. The scene of Emma's death unfolded clearly: after drinking the water that Cameron had given her, Emma had begun to feel strange.
Olivia clenched her jaw. Of course. She should have guessed.
Olivia wasn't planning on refusing Sammy's offer to let her assistant help her, because Olivia Smith must be served by low life like Cameron and many more, but how could someone be that foolish?
Olivia exhaled in disbelief. That idiot probably would've swallowed poison just to avoid a glare.
Ridiculous.
The entire situation still felt surreal, but Olivia wasn't naïve. She didn't understand how body-swapping could even exist, yet she wasn't going to dwell on it. The sooner she completed whatever this was, the sooner she could return to her own life and pretend it was all a nightmare.
Her thoughts were interrupted as she felt Emma's memories flooding in, the overwhelming anxiety, the pounding heart, the way her hands trembled whenever Sammy entered the room.
Pathetic.
She could still hear Emma stammering, "Tha…thank you," when Sammy had mocked her, asking if she'd grown wings just because she was the female lead.
Olivia rolled her eyes. Someone that spineless now carried her soul? Insulting.
Still, she reasoned, Emma had struck gold. A powerful, confident woman like Olivia Smith inside her fragile little body? That was the best thing that ever happened to her.
"Walk faster," Olivia snapped, picking up a hand fan and passing it to Cameron, who froze mid-step.
Cameron glanced at Sammy as if seeking silent approval, should she insult Olivia, or play along until they carried out their plan?
Sammy frowned but gave a small nod. She was unaware that the person she is dealing with is no longer the timid Emma Williams, but a formidable Olivia Smith.
"Host," Darling's voice echoed softly in Olivia's mind. "You can't go out of character. You have to act like the original owner of the body."
'Listen, bunny,' Olivia replied silently, irritation threading through her voice. 'Don't talk unless I ask. You think I'm going to play dumb like that fool who drank poison? Please. If you're trying to trick me, save your effort.
If staying in character is a rule, fine. I'm sure that idiot would've listened to her own "Bunny" without question, so technically, I can bend it. This is a swap, not a possession, you can't do a thing about it. Now hush.'
Darling went quiet.
"Oh, and it's Olivia Smith," she added aloud.
"It's Darling, not bunny," the system retorted softly.
'Oh? You dare talk back now?' Olivia thought, smirking to herself. 'I'll deal with you later. Let me handle these idiots first.'
"Massage my shoulders, Cameron," Olivia said coolly, then turned to the makeup artist. "And you, hurry up. We're not spending the night here, are we?"
The makeup artist sighed. "You're the one moving your head around. I'll be done in a few minutes."
Olivia was about to reply when she caught Cameron glaring at her reflection in the mirror.
"Oh my God," Olivia muttered in disbelief. "Are you sick in the head? Who are you glaring at?"
She was used to dozens of maids tending to her back home, yet this one had the nerve to glare?
"Is this how you show appreciation for help?" Cameron shot back.
Olivia chuckled, signaling for the makeup artist to pause.
"Hey, Sammy," Olivia called out sweetly, her voice dripping with mockery. "How do you train your pets? Because this one clearly doesn't understand her place. Maybe you should remind her why she's even allowed to stand this close to me... the female Leadddd."
Sammy's eyes widened. If not for the plan to poison her, she would have slapped Olivia right there.
Olivia wasn't done.
"And you," she said, turning back to Cameron. "Seems your owner forgot to teach you how a supporting character's pet should treat the female lead. Or did you all forget who's who here?"
Her words landed like a slap, one that hit Sammy through Cameron and Cameron through Sammy.
If looks could kill, Olivia would've been reduced to ashes.
Sammy's jaw tightened. If she said anything, Cameron might come back to her side and the poisoning would fail. So she swallowed her anger.
"You don't have to be rude after I offered to help," Sammy muttered.
Just then, Charlotte entered.
Olivia barely glanced her way; Emma's memories about her hadn't surfaced yet.
Ignoring Sammy's words, Olivia leaned back in her seat. "Massage my shoulders," she ordered again.
Cameron gritted her teeth but obeyed, pressing her palms against Olivia's shoulders and moving them stiffly.
"Hurry up with the makeup," Olivia said sharply. The makeup artist quickly resumed her work.
Charlotte paused, watching quietly. Something about Emma seemed… off. Her tone, her posture, even her expression, it was all different. Still, with Sammy in the room, she chose not to comment.
"Let's just finish quickly," Charlotte murmured to the makeup artist.
Olivia barely acknowledged her. She sat back comfortably, allowing Cameron to fan her gently.
When the makeup artist asked Olivia to moisten her lips, Cameron extended a bottle of water that was used to poisoned Emma Williams.
"You should drink this," Cameron said, her tone unusually firm. "So you don't ruin the lipstick later."
Eagerly awaiting that moment, Olivia exhaled sharply, stood up, and without hesitation….
Slap!
Her hand swung across Cameron's face, the back of her palm connecting hard against her cheek.
The room went still.