I Refuse to Be the Villainess

I was a spoiled heiress.

The real Sterling heiress returned, and I became the imposter.

I didn't want to put my parents in a difficult position, so I moved into my dorm and ended things with my fianc.

Are we breaking up again?

Yes, this time I mean it!

Oh. Liam Hayes chuckled softly. I don't accept.

He pursued me openly with intention.

Flowers, fireworks, over-the-top romantic gestures.

Luxurious jewelry flowed into my hands like water.

But I refused to be engaged to him.

My roommate Chloe suddenly snapped at me.

"Olivia Sterling, could you quit leading Liam along?"

"Well since you've broken up, I'm going after him. You don't mind, right?"

Her comments appeared before my eyes:

[Wow, her friend stole her fiance? That's so funny.]

[Olivia thinks she's playing hard to get. Let's watch her friend make her move on Liam now.]

[Liam is practically begging to take her back! Who does this fake harlot think she is?!]

[That's enough!! I feel bad for Liam!]

I froze when I saw the words on the screen.

"What does that face mean?" Chloe's voice turned shrill.

"Don't act like I'm stealing your boyfriend."

I almost burst out laughing..

"Hey, keep your voice down. This isn't exactly classy is it?"

Chloes' face turned a shade of red.

"Why wouldn't it be? "

"Are you serious, Olivia? You broke up with him. Stop acting so possessive over your ex-boyfriend!"

[Olivia is crazy! Does she think Liam will be loyal to her forever?]

[Classic narcissist behaviorif she can't have him, no one can. It's like a dog guarding its food.]

"Stop blaming the girl! The Hayes family is wealthy. Liam is their only kid. He is tall, gorgeous, and with actual royal blood!"

Amidst the hateful messages, I caught the main point.

"Wait, How did you know we broke up?"

Chloe scoffed.

"Don't play dumb. I went through your phone last week and saw the texts myself." Chloe said.

The audacity of what I heard left me speechless.

"What? Cat got your tongue?"

"I was worried about you! You've seemed off lately. You're not that petty, Right?"

Chloe giggled and tried to smooth things over..

"Anyway, you broke up with Liam, right?"

"My personal life is none of your business.."

[She's hiding the breakup!She is scared her perfect Liam will re-enter the dating pool!]

[Thank god Chloe went through her phone!]

[Honestly, Chloe is too nice. Asking Olivia for her permission? Oh, please. Liam was never hers to begin with.]

[Waitshouldn't Olivia be more encouraging? That's how Chloe gets Liam in the end, right? Why mess with fate?]

The comments helped me understand things clearly. .

I was stuck in a "second-chance romance" novel.

Liam Hayes was a wealthy, devastatingly handsome entrepreneur.

Chloe Bennett was the female laeder.

And me? Olivia Sterling. The cannon-fodder tramp.

The wealthy man's ex-girlfriend.

Just a plot device to spur the main couple's love story.

After being berated online, I didn't know what to do with myself.

I dumped Liam Hayes without a second thought, leaving him to my roommate Chloe to try and "recycle" him.

That's when the gears of fate began turning.

Chloe married rich and lived a good life.

Then, predictably, I regretted my decision.

I tried sabotaging Chloe and Liam's relationship. desperately trying to seduce Liam Hayes.

He gave in. He was mine.

Chloe was left heartbroken.

Only then did Liam see my true, venomous intent.

He came to the realization that Chloe was the one he loved.

He destroyed me.

I became a toy for wealthy perverts.

Every day, I was broken and alone.

Processing the comments, a chill ran down my spine.

I had to believe it.

If I could see the comments, anything is possible.

Chloe was unhappy with my answer.

"A week-long breakup? That's not normal unless you're faking it, and you didn't wanna break up in the first place.."

She gasped dramatically.

"No way! Are you actually leading him on?"

"For real? I defended you, Olivia! I am so disappointed!"

Her tone frothed with sarcasm.

"Olivia Sterling, you're quite the maneater."

[Who drags out a breakup this long?]

[Olivia is definitely playing hard to get.]

[Typical bitchloves all the attention and money.]

[Can we fast-forward to Liam destroying her?]

[It feels like watching my husband having an affair! That should be the nice girls' jewelry!]

As the comments flowed in, my phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

It was Liam Hayes.

I blocked him after we broke up.

He called me daily from different numbers.

I didn't want anything to do with him.

I wanted to hang up.

Chloe snatched my phone, answered, and hit speaker.

Liam's lazy voice filled the room.

"Finally answering my calls, princess?"

His tone was annoyingly confident.

"Come downstairs. I'm waiting outside your dorm."

Screams erupted from below.

I peeked outside.

A black Bentley was parked below.

Its trunk overflowed with red roses.

What nestled in the blooms was a set of flawless diamond jewelry.

The winter sunlight glistened off the stones.

Liam leaned against the car, black trench coat flaring. He was on the phone.

Devastatingly handsome.

Chloe blushed.

"Liam, it's me."

He paused his phone call.

Unfazed, Chloe introduced herself brightly.

"Chloe Bennett. I took a drink for you at Olivia's birthday? Remember?"

I remember at that birthday party, everyone wanted Liam's attention.

His stomach wasn't good with alcohol.

I protected him from oncoming drinks.

My friends teased me for being a "husband-protector."

Amidst the laughter, Chloe suddenly stood up. She stepping out in front of Liam.

"You, leave Liam alone! I'll drink in his place."

The room fell silent.

The guests were all my friends and family. Chloe was an outsider.

Someone smirked.

"Look at this dummy, offering to drink for Hayes."

"His actual fiance is right here. You think who you are."

Chloe bit her lip---she wanted more.

"I could drink more than all of you combined! Anyone who backs down is a coward!"

The birthday party devolved into a drinking contest.

Chloe drank everyone under the table.

She stumbled, flushed, then collapsed into Liam's arms.

"Liam... I won."

He pushed her away.

A lazy, dangerous smile fell over his lips.

"Careful, sweetheart. I'm a taken man. You are trying to get me killed?"

Chloe tilted her head, earnestly.

"I'll protect you."

Liam attracted women like moths to a flame.

Chloe's moment wasn't unique.

He probably didn't remember with all that happened at the party.

Then, his voice drifted through the speaker, dripping carelessness.

"Sweetheart, I'm not losing my memory yet."

The comments exploded.

[HE REMEMBERS! MY SHIP IS CANON!]

[Greatest meet-cute EVER!]

[The way he says 'sweetheart'... SO gentle! MELTING!]

[Confident, vibrant Chloe ALWAYS wins the manover!]

Chloe beamed.

"Liam, you're hilarious."

She shot me a dirty look.

"If I hadn't answered, Olivia would've hung you up."

"She won't take you back. Stop chasing her. I hate seeing someone like you get played."

He didn't say anything for a few seconds.

A lighter flicked open a flame.

Liam sounded as if he was smoking.

"If I'm not supposed to chase her? Who am I supposed to chase, you?"

Chloe laughed, brightly and cheerfully.

"I'm gorgeous, fun, and I can drink Olivia Sterling under the table!"

"So, Liam Hayes, I give you permission to chase me."

Liam chuckled with monotone voice.

"And what if I refuse?"

Chloe winked.

"Refuse? Then I'll spike your drink. I've got the strength and the means!"

[Chloe is totally making her move! Liam doesn't stand a chance!]

[Liam's totally smitten! What does basic-bitch Olivia have on our queen?]

[STOP calling her 'heiress'! She's a FAKE! She's so bad!]

I reached for my phone.

"Give it back."

Chloe suddenly shoved me hard.

I fell backwards

My knees scraped raw on the concrete.

I was cut immediately and blood rushed out of the wound

She ran to the balcony and locked the door.

Her cheerful voice carried through the door.

"Do you want me to be your girlfriend? Your ex is waiting for the answer desperately."

"If we actually date, she might jump off a bridge!"

Chloe's giggling followed.

"You wanna see Olivia Sterling drown herself for you?"

Liam sounded amused.

"It could be entertaining."

I stood silently still.

Then I turned and limped down the stairs.

He was still on the phone.

Hearing footsteps, he looked up.

His gaze swept over me, scanning over my hurt leg. A frown creased his brow.

"Wait, what happened?"

I ignored him, hand outstretched.

" Give me your phone. Now."

Liam handed it over, smirking.

"Now you feel threatened, didn't you?"

"If you change your mind, you can still come back."

I scrolled to his contact, found Chloe's number and saved it as Chloe Bennett.

He had saved it long ago and also added her on socials.

No wonder Chloe's posts had been so constant lately.

She used to hate people posting all the time.

"Who posts vacation pics daily? So tacky! And selfies? Fishing for male attention much?"

Bit in our dorm, I loved taking travel pics and another girl loved taking selfies.

Chloe would passive-aggressively snipe our interests.

"Don't take it personally! I'm just straight-forward!"

It's hard to believe she was the female laeder in the story.

I tossed the phone back to him.

"Since you already have Chloe's number, call her directly. Stop using me to get to her. It's gross."

Liam's voice chilled.

"Olivia Sterling. Is that how you're talking to me now?"

"I'm handing you an olive branch. Are you really too proud to take it?"

He crushed his cigarette.

"Playing games has its end. No one has endless patience."

Liam and I were childhood betrothed.

We grew up as rivals.

I hated his playboy ways; he hated my diva attitude.

We tolerated each other.

Like countless arranged couples, we'd live separate lives under one roof.

Everything changed summer after graduation.

Our class president confessed to me. Liam saw it.

He strolled by, arm around some model.

Smirking, he interrupted:

"Don't waste your breath. She doesn't date nerds."

I wasn't interested in the guy.

But Liam's cruelty disgusted me.

After the guy left, humiliated, I slapped Liam.

Liam's eyes turned murderous.

"Jealous, princess? Got a thing for four-eyes?"

I glanced at the model clinging to him.

"Who I like isn't your business."

"Because whoever it is, it sure as hell isn't you, you manwhore!"

I turned to leave.

He yanked my wrist, slamming me against a wall.

His kiss was brutal, possessive.

I couldn't push him off.

When his tongue forced its way in, I bit down hard.

Blood filled my mouth.

He groaned, kissing me deeper, rougher.

I kneed his groin.

Liam blocked it, laughing darkly.

"Vicious little thing. Ruin me, and who'll satisfy you later?"

He finally released me.

Hands raised in mock surrender.

"I surrender. Truce?"

I slapped him again.

Cold.

"Who's playing games? Don't flatter yourself."