Aria Blake remembered the exact moment she died.
The screeching of tires.
The blinding headlights.
And then… nothing.
When she opened her eyes again, she expected darkness.
Instead, she saw a ceiling she didn't recognize.
White. Elegant. Vintage.
"…What?"
Her voice came out weak, unfamiliar.
Aria slowly sat up, her heart pounding as she looked around the room.
It was massive—far bigger than her tiny apartment back in her old life.
Gold-trimmed mirrors, silk curtains, and antique furniture filled the space.
"This… isn't a hospital."
A sudden headache struck her.
Memories—sharp and чуж—flooded her mind.
A different life.
A different name.
A different world.
"…No way."
Her hands trembled.
"This is the novel."
Not just any novel.
It was "Crimson Vows" — the dark romance story she had obsessively read just days before her death.
And she wasn't the heroine.
She wasn't even an important character.
Aria Blake… was a side character.
A forgettable noblewoman.
Who gets brutally murdered in Chapter 12.
Her breathing stopped.
"No… no, no, no…"
She jumped out of bed, nearly tripping over the long nightdress she was wearing.
Her mind raced as panic clawed its way through her chest.
"I die."
Not peacefully.
Not accidentally.
She gets killed… by the villain himself.
Adrian Blackwood.
The name alone sent chills down her spine.
Tall.
Ruthless.
Untouchable.
A man who ruled the empire's underworld and crushed anyone who stood in his way.
And in just a few days…
He would kill her.
Aria stumbled toward the mirror.
The reflection staring back at her was beautiful—but pale with fear.
"This is really happening…"
Her fingers tightened against the wooden frame.
"Think. THINK!"
She knew the story.
That was her only advantage.
In the original plot, Aria foolishly trusted the wrong people and got involved in a conspiracy against Adrian.
And when he found out?
He didn't hesitate.
He killed her.
Cold. Clean. Without regret.
"I'm not dying like that."
Her voice was no longer trembling.
It was steady.
Determined.
"If I avoid him… I might survive."
But even as she said it, she knew it wouldn't work.
Adrian Blackwood wasn't someone you could simply avoid.
If fate wanted her dead, it would find a way.
"No… avoiding him is not enough."
Her mind raced faster.
"What if…"
A dangerous idea formed.
What if she changed the story completely?
What if instead of being his enemy…
She became someone he couldn't kill?
Aria's eyes widened.
"…Someone he wouldn't want to kill."
Silence filled the room.
Then—
A slow, almost insane smile spread across her lips.
"If I'm close to him… I'll live."
And there was only one way to get close enough to a man like Adrian Blackwood.
A way no one would expect.
"I'll marry him."
The words felt unreal.
Ridiculous.
Terrifying.
But also—
Perfect.
"Before he kills me…"
"I'll become his wife."
That evening, the grand ballroom of the Blackwood estate shimmered with golden light.
Nobles filled the hall, their laughter masking the tension beneath.
At the center of it all stood the man everyone feared.
Adrian Blackwood.
Dressed in black, as always.
His sharp eyes scanned the crowd like a predator observing prey.
No one dared to meet his gaze for long.
Except one person.
Aria Blake.
Her heart pounded so loudly she was sure the entire room could hear it.
"This is insane…"
But she walked forward anyway.
Step by step.
Closer.
Closer.
Until—
She stood right in front of him.
The room fell silent.
Adrian's eyes slowly lowered to meet hers.
Cold.
Unreadable.
Dangerous.
"Who are you?" he asked, his voice calm… but deadly.
Aria swallowed.
This was it.
No turning back.
"I'm Aria Blake."
A pause.
Something flickered in his eyes.
Recognition.
Of course he knew her.
Everyone of status knew each other.
But that didn't matter.
What mattered… was what she said next.
Aria took a deep breath.
Then—
"I want to marry you."
The silence that followed was suffocating.
Gasps echoed around the ballroom.
Someone dropped a glass.
Adrian Blackwood did not react immediately.
He simply stared at her.
Long.
Hard.
As if trying to see through her.
"Do you have a death wish?" he finally asked.
A chill ran down her spine.
But she didn't back down.
"No."
Her voice was steady.
"I have a survival plan."
For a brief second—
Something changed in his expression.
Interest.
Then it vanished.
"You're either brave…" he said slowly.
"Or completely insane."
Aria smiled faintly.
"Maybe both."
Another silence.
Then—
Adrian stepped closer.
Too close.
His presence was suffocating.
Dangerous.
"If I agree…" he said, his voice dropping lower, "you won't be able to escape.
"I don't plan to."
Their eyes locked.
A battle without weapons.
A war without rules.
Then—
To everyone's shock—
Adrian Blackwood smirked.
"Fine."
The word hit like thunder.
"I accept."
Aria's heart skipped.
Wait—
What?
But before she could react—
He leaned in slightly and whispered:
"Let's see how long you survive… my wife."