Transferred to another life

*Chapter Thirty-Eight: Awakening the Villain**

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Alone in her dimly lit room, Olivia sat on the edge of her bed, her mind swirling with thoughts that wouldn't settle. Her family's words still stung, their accusations replaying over and over in her head. Diseased. Liar. Outcast. The betrayal was raw, but what hurt the most was how easily they had turned against her, how quickly they had swallowed Matthew's lies.

For so long, Olivia had tried to be the dutiful daughter, the perfect sister, always living in the shadow of her family's expectations. She had given everything to them—her love, her loyalty—and now, they had tossed her aside the moment it suited them.

But what haunted her most now, as she sat in the quiet of her room, was the memory of *her*. The original Olivia. The girl she had once been, full of life and ambition, before everything had gone wrong. Before she had been replaced—by *this* Olivia, this version of herself who was no longer in control of her destiny. Her character had died the moment Matthew's schemes took hold, and ever since, she had been playing a role she didn't want.

Her hands tightened into fists as her thoughts sharpened. She wasn't going to be the victim anymore. If they wanted to see her as the villain, then she would become one.

### **A Hidden Power**

Olivia stood abruptly, her heart racing with a mixture of fury and determination. She crossed the room, her steps silent on the thick carpet, until she stood before the grand, ornate fireplace. She ran her fingers along the carved wooden mantel, feeling for the hidden button she had memorized long ago.

Most of her family had no idea what truly lay behind the beautiful woodwork of her room. Years ago, she had discovered a secret compartment behind the fireplace, left by an ancestor whose knowledge of alchemy had been passed down in whispers and legends. Olivia had uncovered that legacy, piecing together the hidden art of alchemy, and had been practicing in secret ever since.

Her finger found the small, carved button, and with a soft click, the wood paneling around the fireplace shifted, revealing a hidden alcove. Inside, nestled safely behind layers of protective glass, was her alchemy set—shelves of vials, powders, and mysterious liquids, along with an ancient book of recipes she had studied in the dead of night.

She had always kept her alchemy a secret, afraid of what her family would think. But now, that fear was gone. They had already cast her as the villain. So be it.

### **A Dangerous Decision**

Olivia's hands moved with precision as she unlocked the glass case and retrieved the items she needed. The soft clink of glass echoed in the quiet room as she laid out the vials and powders on the table near her window. Her mind was already racing through the possibilities. She could brew something to teach Matthew a lesson, something that would make him regret ever crossing her.

Flipping through the pages of her alchemical journal, her eyes scanned the formulas she had painstakingly recorded. Some potions were harmless—meant for healing or enhancing one's focus. But others were dangerous, meant to manipulate the mind or induce physical weakness. And it was those dangerous concoctions that now held her attention.

She stopped on a page detailing a potion known as *Caelestis Malum*, an ancient brew that could cause someone to experience vivid hallucinations—visions so real they would be unable to distinguish fantasy from reality. It was said to bring a person's deepest fears to life, trapping them in a nightmare of their own making.

A dark smile tugged at the corners of Olivia's mouth. *Perfect*.

If Matthew wanted to play mind games, she would play them too. She would brew the potion, slip it into his drink, and watch as the confident mask he wore so effortlessly began to crack. Let him see what it felt like to lose control, to feel powerless in the face of his own demons.

### **Brewing the Storm**

Olivia worked quickly but carefully, following the ancient instructions with precision. She measured out rare herbs, crushed powders, and distilled liquids, combining them in a glass vial that glowed faintly as the mixture took on a deep, iridescent hue. The room filled with a strange, almost metallic scent as the potion neared completion.

As she stirred the final ingredients, Olivia's thoughts flickered back to her family, still downstairs in the dining room, no doubt continuing their discussion of how to handle her. She could hear the faint murmur of their voices through the floorboards, a constant reminder of their betrayal. They thought they could control her, that she would simply submit to their judgment.

*Not anymore.*

When the potion was finally ready, Olivia held the vial up to the dim light. The liquid shimmered, casting an eerie glow that reflected her determination. She could hear her heart beating in her ears, but her mind was clear. She had made her choice.

If they wanted her to be the villain, she would give them a villain.

### **A Reckoning Begins**

Olivia carefully sealed the vial and tucked it away in a small pouch. She would wait for the right moment, for the perfect opportunity to slip the potion into Matthew's drink, perhaps at breakfast tomorrow when the family would least expect it.

As she moved to close the secret alcove, a wave of emotions swept over her—anger, betrayal, but also a strange sense of exhilaration. For the first time in a long time, she felt like she was in control again, like she had the power to change her fate.

She would show them all. Matthew, her father, her cousins—they would learn that Olivia was not someone to be underestimated. If they wanted to believe she was dangerous, she would become their worst nightmare.

And when they saw what she was capable of, they would never forget.

With the potion safely hidden, Olivia stepped back from the fireplace, sealing the hidden compartment with a soft click. The room returned to its familiar quiet, but the air felt charged with a new, dangerous energy.

Olivia sat back down at her vanity, her reflection staring back at her in the mirror. She no longer saw the timid, scared girl who had been afraid to stand up to her family. She saw someone else—someone who was ready to fight.

A villain? Maybe. But a villain in control of her own destiny.

As the night deepened and the manor grew quiet, Olivia sat alone in the dark, her plan set in motion. Tomorrow, everything would change.