He was indeed a handsome guy I fell for at first glance.He was Donald Winner, the sole heir of the prominent Winner Family in Japris. He was the kind of man who casually stepped into the entertainment industry for fun and ended up snagging multiple Best Actor awards. He had countless fans and was a man at the pinnacle of the entertainment industry. As soon as Alicia saw him, her eyes lit up. Completely ignoring the scowl on her male lead fiance Jeremy's face, she shamelessly clung to Donald like a moth to a flame.While the director droned on about the lengthy rules, I kept my head down, counting ants on the ground as my thoughts wandered.'Names really do matter. Look at Donald Winner. "'Winner" means "someone who has won," and it's like he was born with a winning hand. That face, that family background—he was destined to come out on top. Then there's me. Yunice Stone. And boy, have I lived up to it. I didn't enjoy a single day of the Stone Family's wealth and still ended up sad
'Wasn't Alicia messing around with the new rookie actor from the production crew last night? Did that come with some kind of delayed aftereffect?' I asked inwardly.Alicia's face flushed bright red, then turned pale. At that moment, Jeremy no longer looked like he wanted to kill me. Instead, under the curious gaze of the entire room, he fixed Alicia with a furious glare due to being cheated on. Meanwhile, Henry was scratching his head, desperately trying to get my attention. I couldn't help but finally look his way, drawn in by his absurd antics. 'With that kind of intelligence… No wonder the sugar mama he just snagged got poached by his own teammate! Hahaha! Bet he doesn't even know why he lost, does he?' I mocked inwardly.The entire crowd had expressions that said, "We'd like to know too!" 'His teammate's already slept with his sugar mama, but Henry is still a little virgin!' I laughed inwardly.Henry drew a sharp breath and froze. He felt utterly humiliated. Suddenl
The show had barely been running for ten minutes when three staff members abruptly quit.The remaining crew flat-out refused to take over as director. Finally, one of the assistant producers stepped up and shouted, "We don't have a script! Just focus on being authentic and natural. Guests, feel free to do your thing!"Then, like a gust of wind, he disappeared without a trace.The guests exchanged glances, unsure of what to do. The silence was so heavy.I sniffed the air instinctively. Was that…the same resigned energy I was giving off? Could it be that everyone here had already decided the show was a lost cause and collectively chosen to give up?Angela leaned in closer to me and whispered, "Yunice, whatever you want to do, I'm with you."My gaze wandered toward the kitchen. "Food. I'm starving."It was past noon, yet no one had bothered to mention lunch!Alicia and Jeremy were still sulking at each other. Angela and Henry? They had barely washed a vegetable in their lives.Th
When I woke up the next morning, I was still in a daze.'Wait, did I really touch Donald's abs yesterday? Am I dreaming, or am I just that amazing now?'As I went downstairs, everyone was already having breakfast. Jeremy, with a face full of exaggerated charm, brought me a glass of apple juice."Good morning, Yunice," he greeted warmly. I narrowed my eyes at him. 'Flattery from clowns often hides mischief. Why are you acting so nice out of nowhere?'"Pfft—" Harvey couldn't hold back his laughter.Jeremy's usual self-assured, roguish smile froze on his face, and everyone at the table turned their attention to us."I just thought, since we're all filming this show together, we might as well get along," he offered, attempting to explain himself.'Bullshit! You're trying to hit on me!' I snapped inwardly. Gasps came from the table, but I wasn't done. 'You shameless pig. Yesterday, you were sneaking off with Alicia, playing your sleazy games in the woods, and now you're here batt
I looked at the crowd of people crowded together on the dark stairs at midnight, and I found myself at a loss for words. Even Harvey had one leg wrapped in bandages and was awkwardly balanced on crutches."What are you all doing here?" I finally asked.Natalie, holding up a selfie stick with her phone mounted on top, pressed a finger to her lips. Her whisper was almost conspiratorial. "Shh! Yunice, we're here to find William."Next to her, my dad, Thomas, had one fist pressed against his mouth, attempting to look calm, but the way he crouched awkwardly betrayed his true state of mind. He leaned in with an exaggerated whisper as if this were some top-secret mission. "My dear Yunice, I've got a tip-off. That shameless Alicia was released due to insufficient evidence about her drugging scheme. She's planning to sneak in tonight with a spare key she's hidden away and defile William. Quietly now, we don't want to scare her off."Jimmy balanced Harvey on his arm while simultaneously
I acquired a gossip-tracking system that informed me the world I lived in was actually a book.And I? I was the tragic side character, doomed to have the most miserable fate.The protagonist was Alicia Stone, a fake heiress showered with unconditional love by the Stone Family.After rereading countless times about the Stone Family's ridiculously irrational decisions and my own string of misfortunes, I made up my mind. I would stop hoping for familial love, respect their inevitable bankruptcy, and play along with the plot.The Stone Family adored their fake heiress and looked down on me, their real one, who had been meekly surviving outside their home all these years. Sure enough, the moment I stepped into their house, I was barely through the door when my three brothers stood in my way."Even if you're our biological sister, Alicia is the only one we truly acknowledge. You need to understand your place and not covet things that don't belong to you.""Even if you're our biologic
Alicia noticed the unusually tense atmosphere downstairs and smiled faintly, moving in as if to hug me."So, this is my little sister. Welcome home," she said warmly, her tone light and cheerful.As she spoke, she flitted toward me like a butterfly, aiming to throw herself into my arms.Instinctively, I sidestepped.'Good thing I moved fast,' I thought. 'If I hadn't dodged, that needle in her hand would've ended up in me. And knowing myself, I'd have reacted without thinking and shoved her back. Then, the family would've accused me of bullying her over my so-called grudge about our backgrounds. That would've sealed my fate—setting the stage for me to be kicked out of this house down the road.''Such a schemer! She must've been some devious old hag reincarnated in her past life!'Alicia froze mid-pounce, her expression briefly stuck in an awkward grimace before she lost her balance and fell on the dining table. A mess of soup and drinks spilled all over her, soaking her from head
My eldest Brother, William Stone, suddenly jolted, and his fork slipped from his hand, clattering to the ground.I glanced up cautiously at him as he crouched down to retrieve them. 'Everyone here is so strange. Low IQs, weak bodies, and terrible vibes. I really need to make my exit soon. There's no way I'm dying alongside these people, especially since they've never treated me well.''Well, maybe my parents are okay,' I added to myself, sneaking a look at my parents, who were both gazing at me with concern. 'Not sure yet. I'll have to keep observing.' Natalie's eyes softened as she smiled at me with a warmth that made me a little uneasy. "Yunice, have you met Dory before?""No, I haven't. But I've heard about her."'No, but I've eaten my share of the gossip about her,' I added inwardly.'She's Alicia's best friend. That's why the family decided she was the top choice for this arranged marriage. They're two peas in a pod—both as scheming and ruthless as they come.''Oh, and she
I looked at the crowd of people crowded together on the dark stairs at midnight, and I found myself at a loss for words. Even Harvey had one leg wrapped in bandages and was awkwardly balanced on crutches."What are you all doing here?" I finally asked.Natalie, holding up a selfie stick with her phone mounted on top, pressed a finger to her lips. Her whisper was almost conspiratorial. "Shh! Yunice, we're here to find William."Next to her, my dad, Thomas, had one fist pressed against his mouth, attempting to look calm, but the way he crouched awkwardly betrayed his true state of mind. He leaned in with an exaggerated whisper as if this were some top-secret mission. "My dear Yunice, I've got a tip-off. That shameless Alicia was released due to insufficient evidence about her drugging scheme. She's planning to sneak in tonight with a spare key she's hidden away and defile William. Quietly now, we don't want to scare her off."Jimmy balanced Harvey on his arm while simultaneously
When I woke up the next morning, I was still in a daze.'Wait, did I really touch Donald's abs yesterday? Am I dreaming, or am I just that amazing now?'As I went downstairs, everyone was already having breakfast. Jeremy, with a face full of exaggerated charm, brought me a glass of apple juice."Good morning, Yunice," he greeted warmly. I narrowed my eyes at him. 'Flattery from clowns often hides mischief. Why are you acting so nice out of nowhere?'"Pfft—" Harvey couldn't hold back his laughter.Jeremy's usual self-assured, roguish smile froze on his face, and everyone at the table turned their attention to us."I just thought, since we're all filming this show together, we might as well get along," he offered, attempting to explain himself.'Bullshit! You're trying to hit on me!' I snapped inwardly. Gasps came from the table, but I wasn't done. 'You shameless pig. Yesterday, you were sneaking off with Alicia, playing your sleazy games in the woods, and now you're here batt
The show had barely been running for ten minutes when three staff members abruptly quit.The remaining crew flat-out refused to take over as director. Finally, one of the assistant producers stepped up and shouted, "We don't have a script! Just focus on being authentic and natural. Guests, feel free to do your thing!"Then, like a gust of wind, he disappeared without a trace.The guests exchanged glances, unsure of what to do. The silence was so heavy.I sniffed the air instinctively. Was that…the same resigned energy I was giving off? Could it be that everyone here had already decided the show was a lost cause and collectively chosen to give up?Angela leaned in closer to me and whispered, "Yunice, whatever you want to do, I'm with you."My gaze wandered toward the kitchen. "Food. I'm starving."It was past noon, yet no one had bothered to mention lunch!Alicia and Jeremy were still sulking at each other. Angela and Henry? They had barely washed a vegetable in their lives.Th
'Wasn't Alicia messing around with the new rookie actor from the production crew last night? Did that come with some kind of delayed aftereffect?' I asked inwardly.Alicia's face flushed bright red, then turned pale. At that moment, Jeremy no longer looked like he wanted to kill me. Instead, under the curious gaze of the entire room, he fixed Alicia with a furious glare due to being cheated on. Meanwhile, Henry was scratching his head, desperately trying to get my attention. I couldn't help but finally look his way, drawn in by his absurd antics. 'With that kind of intelligence… No wonder the sugar mama he just snagged got poached by his own teammate! Hahaha! Bet he doesn't even know why he lost, does he?' I mocked inwardly.The entire crowd had expressions that said, "We'd like to know too!" 'His teammate's already slept with his sugar mama, but Henry is still a little virgin!' I laughed inwardly.Henry drew a sharp breath and froze. He felt utterly humiliated. Suddenl
He was indeed a handsome guy I fell for at first glance.He was Donald Winner, the sole heir of the prominent Winner Family in Japris. He was the kind of man who casually stepped into the entertainment industry for fun and ended up snagging multiple Best Actor awards. He had countless fans and was a man at the pinnacle of the entertainment industry. As soon as Alicia saw him, her eyes lit up. Completely ignoring the scowl on her male lead fiance Jeremy's face, she shamelessly clung to Donald like a moth to a flame.While the director droned on about the lengthy rules, I kept my head down, counting ants on the ground as my thoughts wandered.'Names really do matter. Look at Donald Winner. "'Winner" means "someone who has won," and it's like he was born with a winning hand. That face, that family background—he was destined to come out on top. Then there's me. Yunice Stone. And boy, have I lived up to it. I didn't enjoy a single day of the Stone Family's wealth and still ended up sad
'He likes my dad!' I exclaimed inwardly.My dad jerked in shock, shattering the bowl he was holding.'What's with him tonight? It's like he suddenly developed Parkinson's,' I thought to myself, bemused. I abandoned my meal and dove into a deep rabbit hole of gossip. 'The butler has been in our family for ten years now. From the moment he applied for the job, he was utterly smitten with my dad's refined charm and striking looks. The more time they spent together, the deeper his feelings grew, to the point of complete obsession.''And! He's got a foot fetish!' I added inwardly with growing disgust. 'Every single one of my dad's shoes, he's licked them inside out with his tongue. Worse still, he cuddles them to sleep at night. The reason he's siding with Alicia is because she discovered his secret crush on Dad ages ago! Instead of exposing him, she helped him steal shoes and keep his secret. Compared to her, I, his actual daughter, must be a huge thorn in his side!''Ugh, this is on
The entire family suddenly turned their heads, their piercing gazes fixed on me. Caught off guard by the five pairs of eyes staring straight at me, I flinched, then quickly acted as though nothing had happened and quietly returned to my seat. "My dear Yunice, is everything okay now?" my dad asked casually. 'What the heck? Why is he suddenly interested in my bathroom breaks?''Anyway, with all the evidence locked in, there's no way Dory is getting out of this one. That girl who got rescued—her body was completely covered in bruises and scars. She's been through so much.''Speaking of which, that girl happens to be Alicia's younger schoolmate. Can you believe it? Alicia knew about Dory's twisted preferences and still sent her younger schoolmate, who was just looking for a tutoring gig, straight into Dory's hands. It's like feeding a lamb to the wolves!''Alicia, you're absolutely despicable!' I exclaimed inwardly."Impossible!" Harvey suddenly snapped, glaring at me with barely
My eldest Brother, William Stone, suddenly jolted, and his fork slipped from his hand, clattering to the ground.I glanced up cautiously at him as he crouched down to retrieve them. 'Everyone here is so strange. Low IQs, weak bodies, and terrible vibes. I really need to make my exit soon. There's no way I'm dying alongside these people, especially since they've never treated me well.''Well, maybe my parents are okay,' I added to myself, sneaking a look at my parents, who were both gazing at me with concern. 'Not sure yet. I'll have to keep observing.' Natalie's eyes softened as she smiled at me with a warmth that made me a little uneasy. "Yunice, have you met Dory before?""No, I haven't. But I've heard about her."'No, but I've eaten my share of the gossip about her,' I added inwardly.'She's Alicia's best friend. That's why the family decided she was the top choice for this arranged marriage. They're two peas in a pod—both as scheming and ruthless as they come.''Oh, and she
Alicia noticed the unusually tense atmosphere downstairs and smiled faintly, moving in as if to hug me."So, this is my little sister. Welcome home," she said warmly, her tone light and cheerful.As she spoke, she flitted toward me like a butterfly, aiming to throw herself into my arms.Instinctively, I sidestepped.'Good thing I moved fast,' I thought. 'If I hadn't dodged, that needle in her hand would've ended up in me. And knowing myself, I'd have reacted without thinking and shoved her back. Then, the family would've accused me of bullying her over my so-called grudge about our backgrounds. That would've sealed my fate—setting the stage for me to be kicked out of this house down the road.''Such a schemer! She must've been some devious old hag reincarnated in her past life!'Alicia froze mid-pounce, her expression briefly stuck in an awkward grimace before she lost her balance and fell on the dining table. A mess of soup and drinks spilled all over her, soaking her from head