2. "Dying and Awakening"

In the courtroom, Zoe's loud sobs echoed through the room.

"Vic claimed that I had ruined her time with Martin. She accused me of stealing her opportunities, and then, out of nowhere, she attacked me with a knife!"

Dressed in her prison attire, Vic shut her eyes as if resigning to her fate.

All the evidence and false testimonies seemed to be stacked against her. It was as if Zoe had orchestrated the whole thing to frame her. Consequently, the trial concluded with Vic being found guilty and sentenced to 20 years behind bars.

** **

Days had gone by since Vic was imprisoned, yet she hadn't eaten a thing. She simply rested against the wall, lost in a daze.

Most of the time, she appeared to be waiting nonchalantly for her fate to catch up with her.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps approaching. The sound ceased right in front of her cell. "Inmate 654. You have a visitor."

Who could be visiting her when she had no family?

Feeling feeble, Vic got up. Her heart was heavy, but she managed to shuffle her way to the visiting area.

Upon arrival, her eyes widened at the sight of her boss, Martin.

"S-Sir?" she whispered as she took a seat.

Martin gazed at her, someone he hadn't seen in a while.

"It's been a while, hasn't it?" Martin remarked.

"Yes," Vic replied.

Despite their circumstances, their conversation remained the same. It felt like they had just met yesterday.

Martin observed Vic closely, noticing how much weight she had lost and how tired she looked.

He was still in disbelief. How could he be having a conversation with Vic in this situation?

"Why did you come here, Sir?"

"I'm here to ask you something. Why did you do it? Why did you try to kill Zoe? Why?"

Martin asked the burning question, eager to understand Vic's true motives. Why would she do such a thing?

It was difficult for Vic to meet his gaze and confess that she was framed.

She had truly transformed into a criminal right before Martin's eyes.

To Vic, the question seemed incredibly ironic, considering she had been set up.

After pondering for a while, Vic decided to give the answer she had already prepared in her mind.

Even though she had no other choice but to follow Zoe's plan this time, Vic hoped that it would finally allow her to express her true feelings.

She longed for this moment, a chance to personally confess to him, even if everything she said afterwards would be a lie and her life would be ruined.

"I did it because I was jealous of Zoe," Vic admitted.

Her words reverberated through Martin, who couldn't fully comprehend what she meant. "So, you really did it."

Vic lifted her head, looking directly at Martin, and replied, "Yes. I did it."

The bodyguard's expression was firm, not suitable for her current situation.

Actually, Vic didn't shift her gaze from Martin, and neither did Martin.

At that moment, Vic had only one thought in her mind. 'Just let me see his face one last time.'

However, the face that Vic was staring at was filled with disappointment, disdain, and betrayal.

She felt so wounded as if her heart was being ripped apart by his harsh expression.

"Did you do it just because you're envious of Zoe? Why would you do something like that?" Martin asked, bewildered.

Vic composed herself and replied, "Don't call it nothing. It will never be nothing to me."

Vic's desperation was evident, leaving Martin unable to argue. He couldn't understand why she appeared so sorrowful.

At that moment, Vic didn't have the opportunity to speak as the familiar pain resurfaced. She remained in front of Martin, but this pain felt different from what she had experienced before.

Despite the agony coursing through her body, Vic attempted to maintain composure by leaning on the table and pretending everything was fine. Urgently, she repeated in her mind, "Just hold on a little longer until Sir Martin departs."

Unaware of the situation, Martin finally revealed his true emotions. "Please, tell me you didn't do it. If you didn't, I'll find a way for you to escape from here somehow."

"Why are you doing that?" Vic questioned, her voice filled with exhaustion. "I attempted to harm the woman closest to you. Why would you offer me something like this?"

Martin struggled to find an answer, his mind tangled in confusion. With a heavy heart, he finally responded, "Because you are my guard. You have become my friend. We have been through so much together."

Vic silently affirmed to herself, 'That's true. In his eyes, I will always be his guard and friend.'

Struggling to maintain her balance, Vic locked eyes with Martin. "Martin, I... ackk!"

Vic's sudden coughing fit interrupted her words, leaving Martin stunned and at a loss for what to say.

"Vic, you…"

Blood splattered across Vic's hands and mouth as she vomited, staining them crimson. She fought to hold on a little longer, knowing it wasn't her time yet, but the end was drawing near.

Vic retched once more, her eyes closing slowly as she collapsed to the ground.

"Vic! Vic!" Martin shouted, pounding on the glass window as he watched helplessly. The prison guard by Vic's side looked on in concern.

"Get an ambulance, now!" Martin pleaded, his voice filled with desperation.

Struggling to keep her eyes open, Vic gazed at Martin's frantic gestures. Her breaths came in shallow gasps, her weakening heartbeat signaling the inevitable. This was truly her final moment.

As Vic's strength waned, she gazed at Martin and silently whispered, "Martin, please forget about me."

From the moment she accepted her impending death, all Vic desired was for Martin to erase her from his memory.

And even if they meet again in the next life, she wishes not to meet Martin again and falls in love hopelessly.

"I don't want to love you anymore," she thought, holding onto that wish as her eyes shut tightly.

"Vic!" Martin's desperate cry was the last thing she heard before taking her final breath.

** **

Someone's eyes fluttered open.

The woman sat up and glanced around, coughing a few times.

As she took in her surroundings, she panicked.

"Where am I?" she muttered to herself.

The last thing she remembered was dying in prison. Yet, here she was, waking up in a luxurious bed.

"Didn't I die?"

She lowered her head, and as she did, her long blonde hair cascaded down.

Her eyes widened in disbelief.

"What in the world is happening?" she murmured, tugging at her hair. "I've never had hair this long, and definitely not blonde."

Before the woman could fully comprehend the present circumstances, the door swung open, and her gaze met the intruder's eyes.

A moment of silence hung in the air, making it difficult to decipher their thoughts. Judging by the attire, the person appeared to be a maid.

Both individuals stared at each other, their expressions contrasting, until it was the woman on the bed who broke the silence.

"Excuse me…"

"Young Miss!" the maid exclaimed.

When the maid shouted 'Miss,' the woman couldn't help but feel confused.

She observed the room, making sure she was the only one present. However, no matter how much she looked, there was no one else. And then...

"Oh my goodness! You're finally awake! I have to inform your parents!" the maid added.

Before the woman could stop her, the maid hurriedly left the room. As the woman watched her go, she couldn't comprehend what was going on, prompting her to eventually get out of bed.

However, as soon as she attempted to rise from the ground, her legs lacked the necessary strength to support her weight, causing her to collapse instantly.

"I wonder what happened. Did I spend too much time lying on the bed?"

She felt perplexed as her body didn't feel the same as it did during her training sessions. Nonetheless, she clung onto the nearby furniture and managed to pull herself up, standing upright.

Then, she struggled to take a single step forward, determined not to lose her balance.

Eventually, her gaze fell upon the clothes she was currently wearing, but it was the dress that particularly caught her eye.

"This isn't mine."

Finally, she stood before the mirror tucked away in the corner of the room and caught a glimpse of her reflection. Instantly, her eyes widened in disbelief.

"Is this really me?" she wondered aloud.

No matter how many times she blinked and rubbed her eyes, the image staring back at her was unfamiliar. It was not her true self.

Instead of her usual short, brown hair that stood stiffly, she saw long, flowing blonde locks that shimmered with a softness she had never known. And her eyes, once gray, now gazed back at her with an intensity she had never seen before.

Her complexion, once sun-kissed and bronzed from countless hours under the sun, now appeared ghostly white. It was a stark contrast to her own skin, which bore the marks of sunburns and tans.

Above all, her hands were spotless and devoid of any blemishes, contradicting the calloused hands she had acquired while honing her skills to become one of Martin's top guards.

"Wait, who is this?" she muttered under her breath.

She pondered if she was in a dream, so she slapped her face with force, expecting to wake up. However, all she felt was pain and a faint crackling sound. This made her realize that the present situation was indeed real.

"Of course, it hurt, but if this isn't a dream, then what on earth is happening?"

"Vic?"

Her name was called out, causing Vic to turn around and see a group of people standing by the door.

There was a woman in her forties with the same blonde hair, a man in his fifties with gray eyes resembling hers, and even a young man who could pass as her twin.

Before Vic could process what was happening, the man who looked like her father embraced her tightly.

As they hugged, Vic noticed tears in the eyes of the other two individuals.

It appeared to be an emotional moment, but Vic didn't feel the same connection. She was being embraced by strangers.

"You're awake at last, Victoria! We always knew you'd come around!" the woman exclaimed.

Victoria?

Vic's name is Vic, not Victoria. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that she had heard that name before.

Stepping back from the woman, Victoria gazed at her and questioned, "Am I really Victoria?"

The man glanced back, puzzled. Taking his time, he replied, "Yes, my dear. You are Victoria Red, my beloved daughter."

Victoria Red.

Vic's eyes widened at the name. "I knew that name!" she exclaimed silently.

"So, you're saying I've become Victoria Red?" Vic murmured slowly.

As the three approached her, Vic held her hand up, signaling them to stop.

Luckily, they halted in their tracks.

Vic lifted her head and repeated her question, "So, I'm Victoria Red, huh?"

"Sister, what's going on? Did you lose your memory after being bedridden for so long?" the young man asked.

Vic shook her head. "That can't be," she whispered.

Vic couldn't comprehend how, after dying, she had awakened in the body of Victoria Red - the woman destined to marry Martin Cadell!