Chapter 1

After I switched bodies with my driver, I ended up trapped in the body of an overweight, unattractive man everyone looked down on.

My sister Joanne Harper and my fiancée, Serena Lane, did everything they could to find a way to switch us back.

Joanne hired an exorcist and even gave her own blood for the ritual.

Serena climbed three thousand icy steps to a remote mountaintop chapel in the middle of a blizzard, dropping to her knees in prayer every few steps.

But Julian Brown, now living in my body, looked at them pitifully.

“My romance system says we can only switch back if both of you truly fall in love with me.”

From that day on, Joanne appeared to indulge his every whim, buying him sports cars and mansions.

Behind his back, she made it up to me tenfold, a hundredfold.

In public, Serena kissed him and acted affectionate.

The moment she turned away, she looked like she wanted to scrub herself head to toe with disinfectant.

I thought they were forcing themselves through all of it for my sake.

Until one day, I accidentally overheard my sister talking to my fiancée.

“The exorcist said that in three more days, they’ll be stuck like this permanently.”

“Julian is so innocent. He deserves a good life. Asher’s always been spoiled and arrogant. Maybe this will finally teach him a lesson.”

What they didn’t know was that I had a system too. And if I didn’t get my body back in three days, I would die.

Chapter 1

Joanne sighed. “We can never let Asher find out that both of our affection levels for Julian maxed out a long time ago.”

Serena nodded. “Don’t worry. He trusts us completely. We can tell him anything, and he’ll believe it.”

My hands and feet went ice-cold.

I didn’t even know how I managed to walk away.

A year ago, I had somehow switched bodies with my driver, Julian.

I’d been trapped ever since in his short, heavyset body, while he wore my face and enjoyed everything that should’ve been mine.

Joanne brought in exorcists. Priests prayed late into the night.

Every day, they reassured me that they were still looking for a way to get me back into my own body.

It had all been a lie.

My nails dug deep into my palm, but I barely felt a thing.

These hands were thick and rough, covered in calluses.

At breakfast, Joanne affectionately ruffled my hair.

“Asher, eat some more. I had Mrs. Warren make those little cakes you like.”

But I clearly caught the flash of disgust in her eyes.

I couldn’t stop myself from speaking.

Even after a year, I still hated how deep and rough this voice sounded.

“I had a dream last night. I dreamed Julian and I switched back.”

Julian’s face went pale.

“Are you still blaming me, Asher?” he asked, looking hurt. “I didn’t mean to take over your body.”

My fingers curled tightly.

I turned to Serena.

“I just want to know if there’s anything I can do.”

She looked at me with a complicated expression.

“The system’s rules are complicated. It’ll take more time before you can switch back.”

I pressed my lips together.

“How much more time? A day? A week? A month?”

Joanne frowned.

“Julian’s a victim too. Why are you getting so worked up? Watch your tone.”

I stared at her.

My own sister was scolding me for the sake of the man who had taken over my body.

Julian reached for Joanne’s arm.

“Joanne, don’t be mad at Asher.”

Then he looked at me with such earnest sincerity that anyone would’ve believed him.

“Just hang in there a little longer. As soon as the mission is complete, we’ll switch back right away!”

Joanne affectionately pinched his cheek.

“You’ve had it rough too, Julian.”

Cold spread through me.

What exactly had Julian suffered?

He had my body, my status, and everyone’s love.

Meanwhile, because of the restrictions imposed by his so-called system, I was forced to live in a cramped, damp room meant for household staff.

People ordered me around like a servant.

I couldn’t even tell anyone who I really was.

I wanted desperately to tell them that if I didn’t get my body back within three days, I would die.

But the system immediately warned me.

[Disclosure to anyone is prohibited. Violation will result in immediate annihilation.]

I swallowed the pain twisting through my chest and could only nod.

After breakfast, Julian walked Serena to the door.

He leaned down and kissed her red lips.

Serena didn’t pull away.

Instead, she rose onto her toes and kissed him back.

“Wait for me to come home.”

Only then did I notice the love in her eyes.

It was exactly the same way she had looked at me when she confessed her feelings to me at eighteen.

My stomach turned.

Joanne’s voice came coldly from beside me.

“Stop staring. Serena’s only doing this to fool the romance system.

“And don’t get any ideas about taking your anger out on Julian. He’s using your body right now.”

My chest tightened.

Was that really what she thought of me?

That I was so unreasonable I’d hurt him out of spite?

I turned to her.

“Joanne, do you remember what you promised me when I was ten?”

Chapter 2

Joanne froze.

I forced a smile that probably looked worse than crying.

“You told me that no matter what I looked like, you’d always recognize me.”

“You said you only had one little brother, and that would always be me.”

Joanne’s pupils contracted.

But the next second, she looked away.

“Asher, stop overthinking things. Once you get your body back, I’ll take you on an island vacation.”

“Julian already feels terrible about what happened to you. He’s having a hard time too. I’m going to keep him company.”

With that, she turned and walked over to Julian.

“Come on. I’ll take you to pick out the new Rolex you wanted.”

Julian cheered and wrapped an arm around her waist.

Watching them walk away side by side made my eyes sting.

I went back to the servants’ room and collapsed onto the hard bed.

So they really had fallen in love with Julian a long time ago.

All those sweet promises had been nothing but lies meant to placate me.

They just wanted me to stay quietly trapped in this body and stop getting in the way of their happiness.

But I only had three days left.

Not long after, Julian made a post and even went out of his way to make sure I saw it.

The photo showed him gently slipping a diamond ring onto Serena’s finger while Joanne stood beside them, smiling and applauding.

【With my sister here to witness it, my princess and I finally made it official.】

The comments were full of envy.

【Damn, Asher, you’re one lucky guy. Serena’s an absolute catch.】

【Childhood sweethearts really are the sweetest. I’m calling dibs on being a groomsman!】

But none of them knew that the man in that picture wasn’t me at all.

Blood rushed to my head.

My hands shook as I typed a comment.

【How can you call it yours when none of it belongs to you?】

I hit send.

Almost immediately, my phone started vibrating nonstop.

Serena and Joanne were both calling.

I was too angry to answer.

Less than ten minutes later, tires screeched outside the house.

Serena and Joanne stormed in with grim expressions.

Julian followed behind them, his eyes red and swollen from crying.

Joanne’s voice was icy with disgust.

“Asher, apologize to Julian. Now.”

I almost laughed at how ridiculous this was.

“What exactly did I say that was wrong? I reminded him not to think he could replace me.”

Serena snapped, “You don’t need to stake your claim like this or make passive-aggressive comments just to hurt Julian!”

A bitter laugh escaped me.

“Who do you two actually love? Me? Or him, as long as he’s wearing my face?”

Julian’s tears fell even harder. He clutched his chest, his voice trembling.

“Asher, I know you hate me. If my existence makes you this miserable, then maybe I should just disappear!”

He lunged for the fruit knife on the coffee table.

“Maybe if I die, the system will stop working and you’ll get your body back!”

Joanne went white with terror and threw her arms around him.

“Julian, no!”

Serena immediately stepped between him and me.

“Look what you’ve done!” she shouted. “Will you only be satisfied once you drive him to kill himself?”

Julian broke down sobbing.

“Asher’s right. I’m just a fake. What right do I even have to keep living?”

Joanne’s eyes reddened with heartbreak.

“Asher, when did you become so vicious? Have you even looked at yourself in the mirror lately? Don’t you disgust yourself?”

She didn’t notice the flash of displeasure that crossed Julian’s face as soon as the words left her mouth.

Then Joanne’s expression hardened.

She turned to one of the servants.

“Bring me the punishment whip.”

My entire body stiffened.

The last time anyone had used it on me was when I was sixteen.

I’d secretly taken the car out while trying to cheer Joanne up and nearly gotten us into an accident.

Dad had given me three lashes.

Mom had cried the entire time, even as she told me I needed to learn my lesson.

Joanne’s voice was cold.

“The Harper family has one rule above all others. Never do anything that harms yourself or someone else.

“You deliberately pushed Julian to hurt himself. You deserve ten lashes.”

Serena gently kissed the tears from the corner of Julian’s eyes, then took the whip.

“I’ll do it.

“If you admit you were wrong and apologize, I’ll reduce it to five.”

Chapter 3

Julian shot me a smug look, but his voice was full of concern.

“Serena, maybe just let it go. I’m sure Asher knows he was wrong...”

Serena sighed and stepped behind me, raising the whip.

I forced back the sting in my eyes.

“Serena, do you remember the last time I was whipped when I was sixteen?”

Her hand paused.

I smiled, but the tears still slipped down my face.

“You climbed over the wall that night just to bring me ointment.

“You told me that if anyone ever hurt me again, you’d make them pay.”

My voice broke.

“But now you’re the one hurting me.”

She was silent for a long moment.

Then the whip cracked through the air.

Excruciating pain exploded across my back.

It didn’t ease in the slightest.

I clenched my teeth.

“I didn’t do anything wrong.”

The second lash came down even harder.

My knees buckled, and I collapsed to the floor.

Not far away, Julian covered his mouth to hide the mocking smile curling at his lips.

Joanne mistook it for fear and gently rubbed his back to comfort him.

By the time all ten lashes were over, I had bitten my lower lip bloody.

A hand suddenly appeared in front of me.

I looked up and met Serena’s conflicted gaze.

“Asher, hurting Julian will only delay the mission. I’m doing this for your own good...”

I couldn’t stand another one of her hypocritical lies and slapped her hand away.

The movement pulled at the wounds on my back, and warm blood trickled down my skin.

The system chimed inside my head.

[Time remaining: 36 hours, 12 minutes.]

I locked myself in my room.

Only then did I finally break down and cry.

Footsteps stopped outside the door.

Then Joanne’s voice came through.

“Asher, I left the first-aid kit outside. Take care of your wounds.”

A tiny spark of hope flickered inside me. Maybe some part of my sister still cared about me.

But the next second, her voice turned firm.

“We’re throwing Julian a birthday party tonight. Stay in your room and don’t come out.”

Her footsteps faded away.

I sat there staring at the thin strip of light spilling beneath the door.

It did nothing to brighten the dark little room.

Just like their love.

No matter how much of it there was, none of it reached the real me anymore.

The pain throbbing across my back was a constant reminder that maybe leaving this world wouldn’t be such a terrible thing after all.

But Julian still wasn’t done with me.

Since the servants had no idea who I really was, he ordered the housekeeper to make me wear a sheer black uniform.

On this heavy, awkward body, it looked even more ridiculous. Almost humiliating.

Guests began arriving one after another.

Whenever their eyes landed on me, surprise flashed across their faces.

I heard someone sneer, “Since when did the Harpers start hiring servants with such... interesting taste?”

Julian walked past with Serena’s hand in his.

He slowed beside me and murmured so only I could hear.

“Black really suits you. Makes you impossible to miss.”

Joanne was chatting with several family friends nearby.

The moment she turned and saw me, the disgust in her voice was impossible to hide.

“Why are you dressed like that? Didn’t I tell you to stay in your room?

“Are you trying to embarrass us on purpose tonight?”

I wanted to tell her Julian had forced me to wear it.

In the end, I simply lowered my head.

What was the point?

In her eyes, everything I did was wrong anyway.

Once, I’d had lavish birthday parties like this too.

When I turned eighteen, Mom and Dad were still alive.

Joanne had baked my cake herself.

And beneath a sky full of fireworks, Serena had promised she would stay by my side for the rest of our lives.

Back then, I thought I would always be surrounded by people who loved me.

Now even my birthday belonged to Julian.

My name.

My family.

The woman I loved.

He had stolen every last piece of my life without a second thought.

Halfway through the party, a woman reeking of alcohol stumbled toward me.

She was the Prescott family’s notorious illegitimate daughter, infamous for her twisted obsession with unattractive men.

Her eyes narrowed as she looked me up and down with undisguised lust.

“Ms. Harper really knows how to treat his guests. She even prepared a little plaything for me.”

Her fingers slid across my chest as she gave me a lecherous grin.

“Have a drink with me, handsome. I like the big, harmless-looking type.”

Nausea churned in my stomach. I struggled hard against her grip.

“Let go of me!”

Her hand immediately reached toward my crotch.

“You’re just a servant. What are you acting so precious for?”

“A thousand bucks for one night. Frankly, that’s already more than you’re worth.”

Chapter 4

I looked around in panic.

Joanne was smiling as she listened to Julian talk, without even glancing my way.

Serena’s eyes swept over us. She paused for a second, then looked away indifferently.

No one was going to help me.

To them, the person being harassed was nothing more than an ugly servant who didn’t matter.

Humiliation and despair swallowed me whole. Summoning every ounce of strength I had, I shoved the woman away.

The moment she stumbled back and loosened her grip, I turned and ran.

Her curses followed me, along with the guests’ mocking laughter.

I rushed back to the servants’ room and slid down the door until I was sitting on the floor.

My hands shook as I clawed at the clothes on my body, tearing at the fabric until my nails split and smears of blood stained the material.

The system’s cold voice sounded in my head.

[Time remaining: 23 hours, 59 minutes.]

Less than one day left.

The birthday song drifted faintly from outside, followed by Julian’s delighted cheers.

I curled up on the cold floor and closed my eyes.

Through the haze, I remembered Serena nestled in my arms, smiling as she made me a promise.

“Asher, every birthday from now on, I’ll make you even happier than you are today.”

But now, I was about to lose even the chance to stay alive.

It wasn’t until after midnight that the noise outside finally began to die down.

I was lying there staring blankly at the ceiling when the door was suddenly shoved open.

Serena stood in the doorway, her face grim.

“Julian’s blood sugar suddenly dropped. He needs a transfusion.”

I stared at her numbly.

“What does that have to do with me?”

Joanne sighed.

“You have the same blood type.

“Asher, that’s still your body. If something happens to it, do you really think you’ll survive?”

They dragged me to the family’s private hospital.

Julian lay pale-faced in a hospital bed.

The moment he saw me, smug satisfaction flashed in his eyes.

As the long needle slid into my vein, he suddenly leaned closer and whispered in my ear.

“One more day, and our bodies and souls will be permanently bound. We’ll never be able to switch back.

“And I have your precious sister and fiancée to thank for that. Once everything is settled, I’m going to marry Serena in your body.”

A metallic taste surged into my mouth. I suddenly coughed up blood.

My vision began to darken.

By the time the blood draw was over, I was so weak I couldn’t even lift a finger.

I had no idea how much time passed before the door opened again.

But it wasn’t a doctor who walked in. It was two strange women, both filthy from head to toe.

One of them grinned, revealing yellowed, blackened teeth.

“Ms. Harper and Ms. Lane told us to take very good care of you.”

“You’re ugly, but with the lights off, I guess you’ll do.”

I desperately backed into the corner.

“No. They wouldn’t do this to me...”

Then Serena’s voice came through the thin door.

“Joanne, are you sure that once his body is violated, his soul will be locked in place and they’ll never be able to switch back?”

Joanne sighed.

“Asher will understand. I’ll make sure he has everything he needs for the rest of his life.

“Once you and Julian are married, I’ll tell everyone Asher is my foster brother. I won’t mistreat him.”

My heart turned to ice. All the strength drained out of me.

I didn’t know how much time passed before the two women finally left, flushed and satisfied.

A few minutes later, Serena and Joanne walked in.

Their faces were filled with fake concern.

“Asher, are you okay?”

Serena looked away, her voice strained.

“We failed to protect you. I’ll find whoever did this to you!”

But there were no tears left in my eyes. Only emptiness.

“I already know everything. You don’t have to wait until tomorrow. I’ll give you exactly what you want right now.”

I bit down hard on my tongue.

Blood instantly flooded my mouth, and the violent pain sent tremors through my entire body.

“Asher! No!”

As darkness swallowed my vision, the last thing I saw was the panic twisting their faces.

Too bad.

They were too late.