CHAPTER 17: THE VILLAINESS GOES CORPORATE

(Evelina’s POV — Next Morning, Hartgrave Mansion)

Sunlight cut through the curtains like it was mocking me. It was bright. Cheerful. Hopeful.

And I hated it.

Because today wasn’t just another day of survival. Today was the day I willingly marched into the lion’s den—aka Hartgrave Corporation.

My new workplace. My new battlefield. My new prison sentence is dressed as opportunity.

I sat in front of the vanity, staring at my own reflection like it was a stranger I didn’t trust yet. My hair was tied in a low, sleek ponytail. My outfit—black pinstripe suit, fitted blazer, crisp white shirt—looked too competent for someone internally screaming.

I adjusted my collar.

"This is fine," I lied out loud.

The mirror didn’t believe me.

Of course it didn’t.It knew a clown when it saw one.

Then—PING.

A soft chime echoed, and a blue screen slid into view like it had been waiting for this dramatic moment.

[System: Relationship with Parents—Improved.] [Affection Increase: +15%] [Reward: "A Major Corporate "Deal"—will raise your Reputation in Hartgrave Corporation.] [Route Activated—Corporate Survival]

I stared at it.

"...A major deal? A reputation boost?" I squinted. "You’re being too nice. What are you planning?"

The System blinked innocently.

Devious bastard.

Still... fifteen percent was a lot. Especially when yesterday I stood there screaming like a wild, emotional hyena.

Fine.I’d take the win.

I stood, straightened my blazer, and muttered under my breath:

"Alright... the real game begins now."

Until now, everything had been the tutorial. The easy mode. The warm-up hard mode. Heartbreak, humiliation, losing the necklace... That wasn’t the plot.

That was the prologue.

The beginning part of the original game—where everyone slowly starts to hate Evelina Hartgrave.

And once the main story begins? The Villainess Evelina activates.

The world changes. My footsteps echoed down the hallway as I walked, each one pulled by something cold in my stomach.

"This isn’t a romance game," I whispered to myself. "This isn’t a cute love simulation."

This was Hard Mode. A route filled with villains disguised as gentlemen, heroines too pure to survive without plot armor, and nobles who smiled while sharpening knives behind your back.

A world where every bad ending was carved in red.

My pulse throbbed.

"In the original storyline..." I exhaled, "this is the stage where crimes start."

Murder. Kidnapping. Assassinations. Power struggles. Blackmail. Torture. Framed betrayals.Corporate corruption. Underworld involvement.

All wrapped under the illusion of a civilized, glittering society.

"In Hard Mode," I muttered, voice lowering, "people like me don’t just fall. They disappear."

Evelina Hartgrave —in the original game—was the villainess who paved the road with her own blood so the heroine could walk safely.

Kidnapped.Framed.Dragged into scandals.And eventually murdered by the final villain route.

If I didn’t change the story, that would be my fate.

My fingers curled tightly around my bag. My steps sharpened.

"To survive in this world," I whispered, "I can’t avoid my character." There was no running, no hiding, and no skipping the route. "My character is a villainess... so I have to fight like one or else...the system will delete me from my real world."

I reached the end of the room and pushed open the doors. "Because this game isn’t about love to evelina... it’s about living long enough to see the end."

And I fully intended to.

Even if I had to outsmart the System itself.

***

(Hartgrave Mansion—Later)

The morning sun felt too bright. Suspiciously bright.

As I stepped outside toward the car, adjusting my bag and mentally preparing for my first day at Hartgrave Corporation, I slowed to a halt.

Because standing beside my car—Were Father and Lucien. Both dressed sharply. Both are waiting. Both looking strangely... patient?

"Huh?" I blinked. "Father? Brother Lucien? Why haven’t you left yet?"

They turned. Before they could reply, my gaze flicked up instinctively—and the air left my lungs.

[Lucien Hartgrave—23%][Reginald Hartgrave—55%]

My jaw nearly dropped.

Father? Sure. I could somewhat understand the increase. He had been acting a bit more... human lately.

But Lucien?

Twenty-three percent?

When the hell did that happen?!

Lucien rubbed the back of his neck when he saw my expression. "Why do you look like you’ve seen a ghost?"

"I—nothing," I coughed. "Your... numbers— I mean—your presence surprised me."

He frowned. "What?"

"Never mind," I hissed at myself.

Father stepped forward, calm and collected. "It’s your first day at the company. Naturally, we will accompany you."

"P-Pardon?" I blinked again.

Lucien raised a brow. "What do you mean, ’Pardon?’ We’re coming with you. Why is that strange?"

His voice had that familiar defensive pitch—like he was offended I didn’t immediately assume he cared.

Because, well... he normally didn’t.

"...It’s just unusual," I muttered under my breath.

In the original game, they always rode with Sera. Always. Like a royal entourage orbiting their sun.

So what... happened today?

Father glanced at his watch. "My dear, let’s go. You will be late for your first day if we delay any further."

"...Right." I nodded stiffly. "Yes, Father."

My feet moved on their own, but my mind was still stuck staring at Lucien’s stupid unexpected affection boost. The driver rushed forward to open the car door with a bright, polite smile.

I sat inside, trying to process... Father and Lucien are coming with me. Affection points rising. Maids acting strangely careful. The System helping me for once.

Everything felt... off.

"...What a strange beginning to a new day," I whispered.

And the car door shut behind me with a soft click—as if sealing me into a completely different route.

***

(Hartgrave Corporation—Arrival)

The car rolled to a smooth stop in front of the towering Hartgrave Corporation headquarters—fifty floors of glass, steel, and money.

People bustled around the entrance in crisp suits, ID cards glinting under the morning sun. Giant screens displayed stock numbers and project dashboards. Security guards stood like statues.

It was intimidating.

And beautiful.

And dangerous.

Especially because this was the place where the main plot began to twist. The driver stepped out first, opening my door with unusual enthusiasm. "Miss Evelina, we’ve arrived."

I took a breath and stepped out.

Lucien and Father followed right behind me—an entourage of intimidating aura and authority. Workers at the entrance instantly bowed.

"Good morning, Chairman Hartgrave!""Young Master Lucien!""Miss Evelina—welcome!"

Their voices trembled. Not out of fear of me, but because of him. Reginald Hartgrave, the man who never escorted anyone, was walking right next to me.

In the corporate world, that meant one thing: Reginald Hartgrave is staking his claim.

And I’m the claim.

People blinked at me like they’d seen a new stock rise from the dead. I kept my chin high and my steps steady.

Evelina Hartgrave doesn’t flinch. Doesn’t bow. Doesn’t tremble. Even if inside I’m screaming like a rat stuck in an elevator.

Father placed a warm hand on my back. "Let’s go, dear."

The way the entire lobby stiffened at that single word—dear—was actually insane.

We stepped forward, and the gossip began instantly:

"Chairman came personally?""She must be gaining the Chairman’s favor...""Does this mean she’ll replace someone?""Wasn’t she the villainous one...?"

I ignored all of it. We stopped at the VIP elevator, and—

"Uncle Reginald!!"

That voice. I didn’t even need to turn to know.

We turned anyway.

And there he stood.

Kael Valtore.

Tall. Polished. Cold. Eyes like frozen glass and a presence that made the air sharpen.

My ex-fiancé. The game’s main lead. Sera’s destined ending.

He walked toward us, calm and elegant, his steps slicing the silence cleanly in half.

"Kael," Father greeted warmly. "How have you been?"

He smiled—small, polite, and practiced. "All good, Uncle."

But then his gaze slid to me. Like a blade turning. Cold. Sharp. Judging.

Above his head, a faint blue shimmer flickered.

[Kael Valtore—2%]

Not negative.Not hostile.

Just indifferent enough to be dangerous.

His lips curved faintly. "So... you’re finally joining the company."

I smiled back—equally polite, equally empty. "Yes, I am."

His eyes narrowed, amusement flickering like a spark of mockery.

"I hope," he said softly, "the people working here suffer less because of you."

My smile didn’t falter.

But inside?

THIS. DAMN. BASTARD.

The temperature in the lobby dropped instantly. Lucien glared. Father stiffened. Employees pretended to be furniture.

Kael only slipped his hands into his pockets, gaze still locked on me like it was a game only he understood.

And just like that—the elevator doors slid open behind us with a soft chime.

Because now there was only one truth:

My ex-fiancé is my new coworker. And he already wants me to fail.