"Elizabeth Vain... where are you?"
Ugh...
Liz groaned from her bedside.
"Elizabeth, get up!"
Ma, I'm trying to sleep... you of all people know how long I've been working last night.
"Liz... why are you still trying to...? Look at your mates, they still manage to get up at this hour."
Ma, please...
"Hello, Liz,"
said a deep voice.
I rose out of bed, my hair messy.
I squinted my eyes open to see my mom and Joshua Lee hovering around me.
"Ahh—what is that?"
Ma, what is Josh doing here?
"Mrs. Lee was just visiting and happened to bring her son. And why are you still in bed? Get up, Elizabeth, we have guests."
Maaaa...
"Jeez, Liz, who would've thought you'd be this lazy?"
Lee, I don't need your bickering either, I said with a faint smirk.
"Just get ready. We're having dinner soon. Joshua, keep her company, hmm? Maybe you can even teach her how to become a better publisher."
Maaa—
Joshua chuckled.
"Seems even your mother knows I'm better than you."
Lee
I pointed my finger at his face.
I'm warning you...
"You know, you're not very intimidating with crazy bed hair, right?"
Lee—how dare you!
"To think, I haven't seen you in four years, and yet you still dislike me. Why is that?"
He walks closer to Liz, making her back up a bit.
Maybe I just don't want to be near you. Is that so bad?
Lee just looks at her, a curious expression on his face, as if he's trying to understand.
Liz looks flustered, then snaps out of it.
Get out. I need to get ready. I don't need you... invading my personal space.
Josh releases a small chuckle before leaving.
I haven't seen him in so long. Why is he here now, of all days?
⸻
Ughhh.
I hate this. This is the fourth time she's telling this story... Look at him with his annoying, perfect face.
"Liz, sweetie, are you alright?"
Oh yes, I'm just so fascinated by your story...
"Lee, how's work?"
"Well—Ma Vain—work has been good. My team and I are about to publish my new novel called Trapped in her accusations . I believe it's going to sell more than the others."
"Oh, Lee, you're so brilliant."
"Isn't he?" Mrs. Lee continued.
"He's just always been an amazing writer, like your daughter!"
"Oh please. Novels and baby fantasies aren't the same. Lee is more of a serious writer."
Liz kept her head low, avoiding her mother's harsh gaze.
"When we were still seniors, Liz was actually the one who helped me when I began writing for the first time."
(And then you went off to become famous with my techniques while I struggled to even get 100 reads on AO3.)
How could I not help you? It was tough watching you not even use commas in a sentence.
My mother kicked my leg, meaning fix that attitude.
"Well, I can't wait to read it, Josh."
"I'm just waiting for the right time to publish it..."
"What's the hold-up?" Mrs. Lee interrupted.
"It feels like it's still missing something. Either that, or I'm just not fully confident in it."
Liz, you don't mind helping me read a few pages, do you?
(What am I, his assistant?)
Oh—I would love to, but I'm just busy...
"No, you're not."
Yes, I am, Mom. I have that... thing.
"Well, if you change your mind..." Josh pulled out a paper copy of his new novel and handed it to Liz across the table. "I would appreciate feedback from my old teacher."
⸻
"Liz..."
Joshua...
Joshua clears his throat.
"I guess I'll see you in another four years?"
Don't count on it.
"Goodbye, Mrs. Vain."
⸻
Ugh, finally.
Ma, next time give me a heads up. That was so awkward.
"Oh hush. Plus, you should learn from Josh. He's more successful than you, and you started way before him."
I don't need this. I'm heading to my room.
Liz walks toward her room and pauses at the table, seeing Joshua's novel staring at her.
Even with all the annoyance, she picks it up.
⸻
To think I've never read any of his works before.
Joshua... you really are better than me, huh?
Trapped in her accusations....
I flip through all the pages quickly with my fingers.
Nah... I'm not going to read it.
Not now. Not ever.
Why should I help him again?
I throw the book to the side—
just to pick it back up again.
I guess I'll just read one chapter... out of pity, of course.
It's only 8:30 p.m. I guess I have time...
⸻
I open my eyes to look at the time...
Huh? Oh, I guess the book was so boring I took a nap.
It's still 8:45...
A.M.??
Huh. How did I sleep for so long???
Ughhh...
I don't even—
A wave of memories flashes through my head as I remember what happened last night.
I was reading the novel until 6 a.m., then I passed out from exhaustion.
Now that I think about it...
This isn't my room.
Where am I??
YOU ARE READING
I Transmigrated to my Envy's novel
Fanfiction(Victoria was practically forced to marry Henry because her family was in a vulnerable state. And even after their marriage, Henry still wouldn't believe a word she said, thanks to that bitch of a woman he calls a "family friend." Victoria may have...
