Kania looked around the spacious room with its thick carpeting, which she now occupied on the second floor. Afternoon sunlight streamed through the large glass windows facing directly toward the front garden. The king-size bed with its soft sheets, the en suite bathroom with frosted glass, and the private balcony made this place completely different from the cramped storage room in the back hallway where Dewi usually slept.
“This room was still empty, but they put me in the maid’s room instead. That’s beyond outrageous,” Kania whispered, her chest rumbling as she held back her frustration at how cruelly this family had treated the previous owner of the body.
Kania walked slowly, running her fingers over the smooth teak surface of the vanity. “They’re throwing a lavish birthday party on the rooftop, while Dewi—the girl who just got out of the hospital, is sick, and needs attention—was abandoned just like some useless piece of trash.”
As she gazed at her reflection in the large mirror, Kania’s eyes gleamed with calculation.
“But that’s okay,” she murmured with a faint smile. “This will make a perfect room for me. I can renovate it however I want. After this, I’m going shopping for beautiful, expensive clothes too. There’ll be no more Dewi wearing shabby, cheap outfits.”
【System Notification: Private Space Integration Successful.】 【You have successfully claimed a habitable area. Independence Points +150.】 【System Shop: Level 1 Fashion & Lifestyle Access Unlocked.】
Meanwhile, on the rooftop above, the party was in full swing, grand and lavish. Laughter, the clinking of crystal glasses, and cheerful music floated into the open air. Pastel-colored balloons and glittering hanging lights transformed the rooftop into a luxurious open-air ballroom.
In the middle of the crowd, Erin—the spoiled younger sister of Dewi—was the center of attention. She wore a soft pink sleeveless evening gown with a sexy, beautiful cut that accentuated the curves of her body.
“Erin, you’re absolutely a princess today! Happy birthday!” one of her friends praised her admiringly.
Erin tossed her perfectly styled hair and smiled broadly with supreme confidence. “Thank you! I’m the princess of this house, after all,” she replied proudly, showing off a row of pearly white teeth.
Not far away, Erin’s parents and her two older brothers—Juno and Natan—stood beside her. Their faces were filled with pride and genuine happiness, a warm image of a complete family that Dewi had never experienced even once in her life.
“Here, kiddo. This is your gift from me,” Juno, the oldest brother, said as he stepped forward and handed her a rectangular box wrapped with a silver ribbon.
“Can I open it now, big brother?” Erin asked coyly, her eyes sparkling.
Diah, her mother, looking glamorous in a red gown, called out enthusiastically, “Go ahead and open it! Mommy’s dying to know what it is, sweetheart!”
“Yeah, open it. I hope you like it,” Juno added with a warm smile.
With nimble fingers, Erin tore through the wrapping paper. As soon as the box opened, the latest limited-edition smartphone gleamed beneath the afternoon sunlight.
“Whoa! Juno, I love this so much! Thank you!” Erin cried happily.
Juno affectionately ruffled Erin’s hair. “You’re welcome. It’s yours now.”
“Hey, I have a gift for you too! Here, open this!” Natan, the second-oldest brother, called out, unwilling to be outdone. He handed her a small black velvet box that looked incredibly classy.
Erin accepted it with a face full of surprise and happiness. The moment she pressed the box’s clasp, a white-gold necklace with a uniquely designed diamond pendant dazzled her eyes. Its price was clearly astronomical.
“Big brother... this is incredible...” Erin whispered, stunned, her eyes growing misty.
“Put it on!” Natan urged proudly.
“Your brothers love you so much, Erin. You’re incredibly lucky to have them,” Diah said gently as she put an arm around her beloved daughter’s shoulders.
“Now it’s Dad’s turn!” her father chimed in, having smiled all this time as he watched his family’s closeness.
“Whoa, what did you get for me, Dad?” Erin asked curiously.
“Hahaha, here. Dad’s got everything ready!” Her father handed her a flat box covered in black leather. When Erin lifted the lid, a car key bearing the emblem of a luxury European brand lay inside in pristine condition.
“Whoa! A car?!” Erin screamed in disbelief. She immediately threw her arms around her father. “I love my gift, Dad! Thank you, everyone!”
Happy laughter spread through every member of the family. Not one of them remembered that downstairs, Dewi—the family’s eldest daughter—had just returned from the hospital without so much as a welcome.
On the second floor, Kania stepped out of her new room. Her curiosity stirred, making her want to get familiar with every corner of this enormous house. She walked along the second-floor corridor, its floor cold marble, passing several tightly closed bedroom doors and rows of expensive paintings hanging on the walls.
However, just as Kania passed the corridor’s turn toward the rooftop stairs, her footsteps suddenly came to a halt.
At the end of the corridor, a tall young man stood staring at her. He wore a neat casual shirt. His sharp eyes were fixed directly on Kania. Rather than surprise or greeting, they radiated a cold, deep dislike brimming with contempt as he looked at the person he assumed was Dewi.
Kania stopped and stared back at the young man without the slightest hint of fear.
Who is he? Why is his gaze so cold? Kania wondered. She tried to dig through Dewi’s memories, but the image of this person remained blurry—a relative or close family friend who always looked at Dewi like a piece of trash ruining the view.
The young man didn’t utter a single word. He merely looked Kania up and down, one corner of his mouth lifting contemptuously, as though Kania were the lowest kind of creature he couldn’t be bothered to speak to. Without wasting any time, the man turned and walked away down the stairs toward the rooftop, leaving Kania alone in the second-floor hallway.
Kania watched the young man’s back as it receded, her eyes narrowing as a cynical smile spread across her lips.
“Cold, huh?” Kania murmured softly, holding her chin. “Good. The more people in this house act arrogant, the more satisfying it’ll be when I tear down their pride one by one.”
Kania turned around, choosing to return to her room. Let them enjoy their merry party up there for the last time. Because starting tomorrow, the real game was just beginning.