Chapter 1: The White Moonlight Returns Home—with a Baby Bump!
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"Welcome back, Miss!"
Olivia Young released her suitcase and strolled out with an easy gait, betraying none of the signs of being four months pregnant.
Five years—finally!
She could finally say goodbye to bland Western food and come home.
What a ridiculous plot!
She'd gone abroad for school at eighteen, and every time she'd tried to return home, something happened. A car accident on the way to the airport, thunderstorms grounding all flights, or even flights that took off only to be rerouted back for any number of bizarre reasons.
She could travel to other countries just fine, but the moment she tried to transfer home, accidents struck. It was as if fate intended to trap her overseas, to make her the unreachable love from five years past.
Half a year ago, unwilling to give up, she dragged herself to the airport once more—only to dramatically faint right there at the check-in counter.
When she woke up, Olivia Young realized with horror that she was now the 'white moonlight'—the unreachable, tragic beauty—vicious side character in a novel.
The female lead was Annabelle Winters, her supposed replacement.
And the male lead? Grace Gordon, her childhood sweetheart.
Ha. This whole 'white moonlight gets replaced' plot? Lame cliché.
Wasn't Grace Gordon supposed to be some powerful CEO? Yet he couldn't even catch a flight abroad to see his first love? What, was he on a travel blacklist? She’d applaud if that were true.
In the original novel, after Olivia Young finally returned, her childhood friend had fallen for someone else, so she took it out on Annabelle Winters. Her lovelorn 'puppy admirers' bullied the heroine, too.
The story ended with her dead, her brother crippled, her family ruined, and all her fans bankrupted by Grace Gordon.
After waking up to that plot, Olivia Young cursed the story nonstop for three days straight.
"What a mess! Idiotic, senseless plot!"
"Grace Gordon didn't bother coming overseas to see me even once in five years—what kind of so-called romance is that? Useless bastard, not worth a second of effort."
Her own life mattered most, obviously.
Given her five-year losing streak at coming home, she worried the plot would keep manipulating her once she got back. So, four months ago, she decided to shake things up.
Childhood sweethearts? Puppy admirers? She wanted nothing to do with any of them.
After all—she was a pregnant woman now!
As for the child's father... Well, thanks for the genes. He was good-looking, too.
"Five years away and you’re still stunning, Miss! Though... you do look a little plumper…"
Uncle Lee, teary-eyed, pushed her luggage forward. "You’ve suffered a lot living abroad, Miss..."
'Suffered a lot' was right. Every attempt to return home had been torture.
But now, she’d finally taken her first step in rebelling against the story.
With a bun in the oven, who had time to play the villainess?
She was going to be a beautiful, gentle single mom.
"Olivia Young?"
Who—?
She turned around and immediately spotted the so-called hero and heroine. Seriously, fate, can’t you let me have some peace?
Do I look like the kind of rich heiress who’ll lose her mind and ruin her life over some man?
Grace Gordon was trailed by two people: a male assistant, and the original female lead, Annabelle Winters.
Olivia Young’s line of sight drifted to the beauty. Annabelle Winters had porcelain skin, neat long hair tied back, and wore a simple business suit.
No wonder she was recruited as Olivia Young's stand-in. She was only about forty percent alike—and already this pretty.
No wonder Grace Gordon was interested.
"Five years apart, and your taste hasn’t changed. Still into this type, huh..." Olivia Young’s gaze flicked dismissively over Annabelle Winters. "Don’t tell me she only got hired because she looks like me?"
Oh god, did I just say that out loud?
That was not my internal monologue!
Fate, seriously? Give me a break!
Heroine, listen, I have no beef with you!
"Mr. Gordon, is that really the reason you hired me?" Tears shimmered in Annabelle Winters’s eyes. "I’m here to work, not for romance!"
With that, she wheeled her luggage away at top speed.
"Go after her!"
Olivia Young pointed at Annabelle Winters’s retreating back, frustrated. "Don’t just stand there—if you miss your shot, you’ll be mourning your lost love for the rest of your life!"
Maybe if those two hurry up and get together, fate will finally leave her alone.
Five years had matured Grace Gordon from a fresh-faced twenty-something to a reserved, commanding man. His suit was impeccably tailored, his hair slicked back—classic CEO style—as he coldly pushed up his glasses.
"There’s nothing between us. She’s just an employee. Don’t get the wrong idea."
Ha. That’s how every stand-in novel starts. And yet the white moonlight ends up dead in the end.
Whatever!
Olivia Young rolled her eyes. Was this man, who couldn’t even figure out who he liked, really capable of bankrupting so many people? What a protagonist halo.
"Fate, why are you doing this to me?!"
Grace Gordon strode over and caught up with Olivia Young in two steps. "Now that you’re back, are you planning to leave again?"
"No. I’m home for good."
This time, she was going to reclaim everything—her fortune, her family.
And her so-called 'fans.'
Is it narcissistic to call a bunch of big shots 'puppy admirers'?
It’s not her fault the story made her a gorgeous, universally adored magnet!
She’d racked up a lifetime’s worth of good deeds growing up, earning all sorts of people’s devotion.
Grace Gordon’s gaze never left Olivia Young, smoldering as the corner of his mouth quirked upward. "I’ll arrange a welcome party for you tonight."
"Maybe in a few days—I need to recover from the jet lag."
He looked a little disappointed. "The truth is, I tried to visit you abroad these last five years, but every time I planned to leave, something happened. Yu Yue, are you mad at me?"
They’d been childhood friends, and Yu Yue was always so gentle and well-mannered. That snark from before didn’t sound like her at all.
Grace Gordon figured she must be angry, and that was why she lashed out just now.
He couldn’t blame her.
Olivia Young smiled breezily, utterly unconcerned. "Oh, is that so? I thought you were banned from luxury spending."
What a shame.
Guess he really wasn’t on a blacklist. No wonder he’s the main character—rich, powerful, nothing can defeat him. Except for the white moonlight.
"You’ve gotten quite the sense of humor after five years abroad." Grace Gordon opened the car door for her. "Take your time to rest. I’ll move the welcome party to three days from now. Is that okay?"
"Sure."
The second she shut the car door, her smile vanished.
Uncle Lee hoisted her suitcase into the trunk, then took the front passenger seat, turning around with a grin. "Miss, you and Mr. Gordon are still such a perfect match! Now that you’re back, I’m sure you’ll get married. Our family hasn’t had a joyous event in ages."
Olivia Young shot him down fast. "No way, Uncle Lee! Absolutely not. Grace Gordon and I? Never going to happen."
Uncle Lee looked like his favorite couple had been doomed. "You don’t like Mr. Gordon anymore?"
Olivia Young patted her belly. "Nope. I dated someone while I was abroad. I have his child now, but he tragically passed away. I’ve decided to come home and raise our love’s child on my own."
Uncle Lee: "!!!∑(ﾟДﾟノ)ノ"
Driver: "(」゜ロ゜)」"
Everyone in the car was stunned.
Olivia Young was stunned too—because she’d just spotted a giant ad of the man she claimed had died.
Her baby’s father was Frederick Fairfax.
He was actually a top A-list actor in the country.
That’s what she got for living overseas and never keeping up with entertainment news. She hadn’t even realized the man from that night was a celebrity.
This was bad. Very bad. She’d have to keep an extra low profile, or entertainment news would have a field day with her kid.
Uncle Lee followed Olivia Young’s gaze outside, spotting a jewelry ad—immediately making a mental note to get one for the Miss.
He didn’t even notice the enormous Frederick Fairfax next to it.