"Luna doesn't exist! I'm the only Luna! How is this even possible?? This has to be a dream, just some twisted illusion. Ah!!" she screamed, her voice cracking in disbelief.
"Boss, are you okay?" Emma rushed in, apprehension clear in her wide eyes as she stepped closer.
"How can I be okay? No, you tell me—how?" Luna shouted, grabbing Emma by the collar in a panic. Her hands trembled with confusion and fear.
Emma froze, dumbstruck.
"Boss? I… I don't know," she stammered, completely dumbfounded by the sudden outburst.
"Who is this? Who is this!?" Luna cried, jabbing her fingers toward her own face. Her chest heaved, and her eyes darted wildly. She looked terrified—like the ground beneath her had shifted.
How could this even happen? How? Is this even normal? What if I'm not where I think I am? Maybe… maybe I can go home…
With that spiraling thought, she blurted out, "Which city is this?"
"De Viscas," Emma answered immediately, still trying to make sense of what was happening. She stared at Luna, baffled by the strange question.
"Which country?" Luna fired another question, her voice uneven, uncertain if this was even reality anymore.
"We're in the Philippines. Boss, why are you asking all this all of a sudden?" Emma asked, her confusion deepening.
"Stop calling me boss! Ahhh!!" Luna shouted, turning on her heels. She rushed to the sink, yanked the tap open, and splashed cold water onto her face again and again—hoping the sting would snap her back into something that made sense.
"Luna, wake up! Luna, wake up, please—this is a bad dream!"
She suddenly felt dizzy as flashes of memories spun violently in her head—sharp, chaotic, almost blinding. She saw herself dozing off on the couch, exhausted after another long day of reading that novel. The gas cooker… she'd forgotten to turn it off. The spark. The fire. The roar of flames. The burning pain. Her lungs collapsing under thick black smoke. The memory ended in a heavy silence.
She jolted upright, breath hitching.
"No!! It's not possible! How could that be?? What about my dreams?" she cried, grabbing her hair in frustration. Her voice trembled. This couldn't be it. It couldn't end that way.
She let go of her hair and took an uncertain step forward, her limbs stiff as if they didn't belong to her.
Emma instinctively moved back, startled by the change in her.
"F-for real? How could that be? This isn't a movie or something..." Emma's voice wavered. Luna's whole vibe felt off. Unfamiliar. Strange. This wasn't the Luna she knew—the confident, sharp, collected girl who never asked questions like this or cry.
"Boss… did that mad guy do something to you? Why are you suddenly behaving like that?" Emma asked, brows furrowed in genuine confusion.
'If I really traveled into a novel, I need to be strong and act normal. My original body's already burned to ashes…' Luna told herself, inhaling deeply to steady the storm within.
"I need to get dressed. Get me some clothes," she said, her voice clipped and commanding—channeling the real Luna as best she could.
"Yes, boss." Emma turned quickly and left the bathroom.
Luna scanned the room, her eyes landing on a thick robe hanging behind the door. She threw it on and moved toward the door, half-expecting something to glitch or vanish. Her hand hovered over the handle before gripping it firmly.
The moment she stepped out, her breath caught in her throat.
The room before her gleamed with luxury—high arched ceilings, silk curtains drawn neatly to the side, golden accents on the furniture. Everything sparkled like a fantasy she once read in secret under her blanket at night.
Her bare feet hesitated against the marble floor. She lifted one foot and gently pressed her toes down, then quickly pulled back as if afraid she'd shatter the illusion by touching it.
It felt too perfect. Too unreal.
The door opened again and Emma returned, holding a long black gown stitched with silver vines and delicate beadwork.
It looked like it belonged in a royal wardrobe.
"Here, boss," Emma said, placing the dress on the bed carefully, as if it were sacred.
Luna's hands trembled as she reached out to touch the fabric. Through all her silent wishes for a better life, not once had she imagined being in a place like this. Not in her wildest, most desperate fantasies.
And yet, here she was.
"Boss, I got this. Since you're going to the meeting you need to wear…."
"Meeting?" Luna asked, dumbfounded, her eyebrows knitting together in confusion. The word sounded foreign coming out of her mouth. She hadn't planned any sort of meeting, and she definitely wasn't in the mindset for one.
"Yes boss. You're already running late," Emma informed, trying her best to maintain a professional demeanor despite Luna's strange reaction.
"What kind of meetings?" she asked, still puzzled, curiosity tugging at her tone. Her mind scrambled to recall any plans, but everything was still a blur. Emma, on the other hand, didn't understand why Luna was acting so oddly—it was just a normal morning meeting for someone like her.
"Meeting with the chair holders," she informed matter-of-factly, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
'Oh… so it's a company after all. Good thing I studied business a little,' Luna thought, blinking as the pieces slowly clicked into place. It felt like she was stepping into a scene she hadn't rehearsed for.
"I'll dressed up," she said quickly, straightening up with a newfound urgency.
"Let me help you," Emma offered politely, already stepping forward like she'd done this a hundred times.
Luna's eyes flew open wide, startled. She instinctively took a step back. But then, just as quickly, she remembered. In the novel, Emma always helped Luna with stuff like this. It was normal. Expected. She nodded slowly, pushing down her discomfort as she reached for the tie of her robe
She took off the robe slowly, hesitating for a split second. She wasn't used to being naked in front of people. Not even girls. She was the kind of girl who kept her body to herself, always hidden under layers. The only person who had truly seen her vulnerable side was Ace. The thought of him struck her chest with a sudden ache.
'I bet he cried his eyes out,' she speculated silently, her chest tightening at the idea. Just imagining him searching for her, hurting for her—it made her want to cry too. But she swallowed it down.
She put on her underwear while Emma, calm and efficient, helped her apply skincare—whatever it was. Lotions and serums and creams she couldn't name were rubbed into her skin with practiced hands. She let it happen, silently observing herself in the mirror as Emma worked.
When the outfit was ready, she stepped into the beautiful black flared gown. The fabric was rich and thick, hugging her form in all the right places, falling dramatically around her legs. It made her look like a true villainess—regal, dangerous, untouchable. The thick makeup added to the effect: bold red lipstick, sharp eyeliner, and a flawless base that transformed her face into something powerful.
Luna was beautiful—no doubt—but she had never truly taken care of her body. She'd never had the time or the reason. But now, looking at the villainess's reflection in the mirror, she felt something shift. There was admiration. Maybe even awe.
She felt good.
Confident.
And yet, still shy. The duality made her chest flutter—like she was stepping into someone else's skin but somehow owning it.
Putting on a black pointed mouth heel, Luna felt a sudden wave of uncertainty. She wasn't used to this, and the unfamiliarity made her nervous. The moment they stepped outside the room, Luna tried her best to contain her astonishment, though it was almost impossible. This was no ordinary place—it was a palace. The walls were adorned with beautiful, intricate paintings that seemed to come to life under the soft light. A large, cylindrical structure holding flickering candles added to the grandeur of the scene, casting a golden glow that reflected off everything around them.
The staircase beneath their feet was thick, made of glass so clear it almost looked invisible, and as they descended, Luna could hardly believe her eyes. They reached the elevator, which descended smoothly, taking them to the floor below.
"Who lives in a house like this with an elevator?" Luna thought in disbelief, but she kept her voice quiet. As soon as the doors slid open, they were greeted by a row of men dressed in black, standing perfectly still, their heads bowed to the polished ground beneath them.
"The Alpha Mega team is already doing what you've ordered," a voice reported to Emma. Luna, still unsure of what exactly Emma had commanded, could only nod in response. They passed the men in black and entered a room that could only be described as made for gods. Every detail in the room was so elegant, it felt unreal. If Emma hadn't been beside her, Luna would've sprinted toward the beautiful black armchairs and thrown herself onto them, just to feel the luxurious comfort.
"Boss, lunch is ready. Are you hungry?" Emma asked politely, breaking Luna's trance.
Luna smiled faintly, her thoughts momentarily lost in the beauty surrounding her. How can I possibly be hungry? she mused. This place is food enough for me. But aloud, she simply replied, "No, thank you."
Emma nodded, and together, they made their way to the grand double doors leading out of the mansion. The doors, made of pure gold, sparkled under the soft light as they opened with a smooth, graceful motion.
Wow... amazing, Luna thought to herself, almost too stunned to speak.
As they stepped outside, the sight that greeted her left her utterly speechless. To one side, a beautiful garden unfolded before her, bursting with cascading plants and an array of colorful flowers in full bloom. It was a sight unlike anything she had ever imagined.
The other part was a mountain of water moving in circles in the air, performing its magic. The way it hovered and spiraled, defying gravity like a trained dancer, left her stunned. One part further ahead was just water pouring into the air, floating for a beat before landing gently back on the ground like a whisper. The waters were lined up in perfect symmetry and absolutely breathtaking, like living sculptures. A sudden urge to jump into it hunted her down, latching onto her like temptation—but she shook the feeling off, trying to stay composed.
"Is the company far?" she asked, curiosity leaking through her tone despite her attempt at sounding casual.
"Yes, boss. But no prob since it's still in the same compound," Emma replied with a small grin.
"What???" she blinked. The memory snapped into her brain like a rubber band—Luna's compound in the novel had been described as a vast stretch of land, more like a private city than a home. She remembered now… but still, seeing it in person was an entirely different experience. The scale was shocking.
Emma led her into the sleek black SUV waiting by the curb, and off they went.
The ride stretched for thirty full minutes, and the longer it lasted, the more Luna's curiosity bubbled inside her like a pot left on a high flame. She pressed her face slightly to the window, eyes wide with wonder. On their way, there were many buildings scattered throughout the vast property, each unique and artistic, and more of the mesmerizing water displays like the one from earlier—each one performing its own strange choreography in mid-air. It felt like driving through an enchanted city built on a forgotten magic.
Finally, they stopped in front of a massive mall painted a soft, glossy blue. It shimmered under the sunlight, looking less like a regular mall and more like a futuristic dome.
She and Emma stepped down, and Emma led the way inside. The place was massive—and stunning. Not only was it beautiful, but the design was sophisticated, every inch well-organized, exuding class and power. It didn't just look like a company; it pulsed with energy. The whole place flowed with people—employees, executives, visitors—all moving with purpose, as if every second mattered.
They stepped into a glass elevator, which whooshed silently up to the top floor. As the doors opened and both of them moved to step out, Luna's attention was suddenly caught by something—or someone.
Out of instinct, she turned her head to glance sideways.
Behold.
There stood a tall, lean figure like something out of a dream. He wore a pure white T-shirt that clung lightly to his frame and joggers trousers that made his long legs look even longer. His sneakers were the same blinding white, uncreased and spotless. But it was his hair that made her heart trip—it was black and tousled, messy in the most deliberate way, and scattered over his forehead like ink across a canvas.
Her breath hitched, and for a second, the world narrowed to just that one still image.
How could a human look this good? The novel stated that there were indeed supernatural beings in this world, but she doubted that that was the case. Still, something about him didn't seem entirely normal—almost too perfect, like he belonged in the pages of a fantasy rather than reality. Their eyes bold each other and lingered for a full second, stretching into a moment that felt strangely weighted.
"What are you waiting for Emma? Let's go."
She meet up with the shareholders and the rest. The meeting went as expected—formal smiles, strategic nods, and clipped conversations. Nothing out of the ordinary. After that, she felt a bit tired, a dull weariness settling into her shoulders, and decided to go for a walk to clear her head.
"I'll come with you boss," Emma offered, ever watchful.
"No need," she replied with a small wave of her hand. With that, she left the building, stepping into the warm evening air and letting her feet carry her forward. The city was still humming with life, but she veered off to a quieter path, eventually arriving at a small dessert shop tucked between two silent storefronts. It had a warm glow and smelled faintly of caramelized sugar and toasted bread.
Reaching, she ordered a bogger. The cashier gave her a look, but didn't correct her. She meant burger, obviously, but her mind was elsewhere. She sat near the window, the first bite grounding her.
'Thix seems weird. Maybe this is my second chance to live,' she thought to herself, chewing slowly, eyes darting toward the street like something might happen at any moment.
After eating, she left the shop and walked a bit, her steps unhurried but heavy with thought. The breeze stirred her hair as her mind wandered deeper into uncertainty and vague anticipation. And then—
"Please! Let me go, let me go!" someone cried aloud.
The voice pierced the quiet street. It came from beside a big SUV parked awkwardly near the corner of the block. The area was scanty of people, too silent, too isolated. Curious, she walked further, cautious but unable to resist the pull of instinct.
"Boss, let's finish him up!" a male voice spoke, rough and impatient.
"Not yet," a voice as sharp as a blade replied, and Luna felt a chill race down her spine. It wasn't just the words—it was the calm finality in the tone.
"Wow! Look what we got here," someone said behind her.
Her body tensed as she spun around and saw a red goddess. His eyes were a striking red. His hair was red too—and even his brows?
"Luna, how are you?" he asked with a grin. If Luna remembered correctly, this young man's name was Simon. He and the male lead were friends.
"Hello," she said with an awkward voice.
"What brings you here, Luna?" he asked, hands in his pockets.
'What nonsense question is that? Isn't this her territory?'
"Simon, this is my territory," she said boldly.
"Ah!!" A scream echoed from behind, and Luna instantly turned. A young man was chained up, the metal glowing with heat that seared his skin. Her face darkened.
"What are you doing?" she shouted at the man stoking the heat.
"Roasting him," someone replied casually from nearby.
'The male lead? Ezekiel!' She looked at him with disgust.
"Why do you seem sad? This subordinate of yours is of no use to you anymore. Don't tell me you started falling in love." He let out a mocking laugh. The laugh didn't affect her one bit.
'If this is my subordinate, I need to help him. After all, Luna isn't weak,' she thought.
"Let him go," she demanded.
"Whaaa…" Simon was completely at a loss.
Luna's gaze shifted to the man again. Her blood boiled.
"I said let him go!" She didn't know where she mustered the boldness to say it.
"Seems like you love him," Zeke mocked, but Luna didn't give a damn. After all, she wasn't Luna.
Simon and the other guy untied the man. Without another word, the trio got into the SUV and drove off.
"Thanks, boss." It shocked everyone—even the man himself. He thought she'd kill him, but instead…
"Emma, get here immediately."