Switched Fate：Luna With a Face Swap

Chapter 3: Stephanie’s Sinister Plan

Lily’s POV.

Standing near Stephanie, I call her name, but she seems lost in her own world. “What a drag,” I think, feeling the weight of the evening. I want to nudge her, to make her listen, but the memory of seeing her with Alpha Rik flashes through my mind. “I wish I hadn’t seen that,” I mutter under my breath, the image seared into my thoughts. “And now she won’t even acknowledge me.”

I take my eyes off Stephanie and look at the lake in front of us. Not just look, but truly observe it. The nearly full moon casts its reflection on the water, spreading like a layer of silver over the still surface.

“It’s breathtaking,” I think, feeling a rare moment of peace wash over me. The soothing winds bring a gentle comfort to my body, the kind of comfort I rarely experience.

“I never get to see anything like this,” I realize. As a servant, my life is confined to running errands and performing endless chores. “If only every night could be like this,” I muse, feeling a pang of longing for a life I’ve never known.

The wind whispers through the trees, and the night seems almost magical. “This is what freedom must feel like,” I think, closing my eyes for a moment to savor the breeze on my face. The tranquility of the scene is a stark contrast to the chaos of my daily life.

Stephanie’s voice breaks the serene moment. “Aren’t you curious why I asked you to come?” she asks, her tone casual.

I think about the day’s events, my mind flashing back to that uncomfortable scene with Alpha Rik.

I keep my expression neutral. “I’m only here for the information on my mother, which you promised,” I say. “It’s not my business to know what you’re up to.”

Stephanie still seems absorbed in herself, her gaze distant. “Do you not have someone you like? How would you feel if you had to marry someone you don’t like?”

I roll my eyes internally. “I really don’t have time for your midlife crisis,” I think, feeling my irritation bubble up. But outwardly, I remain composed. “I lost my father early and got separated from my mom, too. I’m just interested in finding her. I don’t know anything about getting married, let alone to someone I don’t love. Maybe you can discuss these feelings with your future husband.” My tone is modest, avoiding any hint of rudeness.

Stephanie sneers, her expression hardening. “You’re too naive,” she says, her words dripping with condescension.

I feel a sting at her words, but I swallow my pride. “You don’t want to tell me where my mother is, do you? You just wanted to trick me into coming here,” I say, my voice steady despite the frustration simmering beneath the surface.

Stephanie doesn’t respond, her silence infuriating. I wait for a few moments, the beautiful scenery now tainted by my growing annoyance. “This was pointless,” I think, turning away. “I won’t waste any more time here.”

As I walk away from Stephanie, the wind continues to whisper through the trees, the moon’s reflection on the lake shimmering like scattered dreams. “I need to stay focused,” I remind myself, my steps quickening. “This is for Mom. I’ll find another way.”

I take one last look at the lake, its beauty now overshadowed by the disappointment of the evening. “I won’t let her games deter me,” I think, determination hardening my resolve. “I will find my mother, no matter what it takes.”

I leave Stephanie by the lake and head back to the villa, my mind racing. “Why would Stephanie call me if she didn’t want to tell me about my mother?” I ponder, frustration gnawing at me. “Maybe the whole Alpha Rik thing has her mind in a twist. She can’t focus on anything else.”

As I approach the villa, my thoughts swirl. “She seemed so distracted. Maybe there’s more to this than I realize,” I muse, feeling a mix of curiosity and annoyance. “But why involve me in her mess?”

I reach Stephanie’s room, still lost in thought.

Stephanie is in a bad state, what if she wants to commit suicide? No way.

I walk back to the garden, my heart heavy with uncertainty. “Where is she?” I wonder, scanning the area. The moonlight glistens off the water, but Stephanie is nowhere to be seen. “She was just here,” I think, my worry growing.

I move closer to the lake, noticing the water’s disturbed surface. “Did she... jump in?” I gasp, panic rising. Without thinking, I rush to the edge of the lake. “Stephanie!” I call out, my voice trembling. “Are you there?”

The water ripples, reflecting the moon’s silver light, but there’s no sign of her. “This can’t be happening,” I think, my mind racing. “What do I do?”

I lean over the edge, straining to see into the dark water. “Stephanie!” I shout again, my voice echoing in the still night. The cool wind brushes against my skin, but it offers no comfort now.

“Okay, stay calm,” I tell myself, my heart pounding. “Think, Lily. What if she’s in trouble?”

I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. “I have to find her,” I resolve, scanning the shoreline for any sign of movement. The beauty of the lake, once soothing, now feels ominous, like it’s hiding secrets beneath its surface.

“Why did I get involved in this?” I think, a mix of fear and frustration coursing through me. “I just wanted to find my mother, not get dragged into Stephanie’s drama.”

But deep down, I know I can’t leave without knowing she’s safe. “This is who I am,” I remind myself. “I care, even when it’s inconvenient.”

As I stand at the edge of the lake, the night air heavy with tension, I prepare to dive in if necessary. “Hang on, Stephanie,” I think, determination hardening my resolve. “I’m coming.”

The thought that Stephanie might have jumped into the lake to kill herself sends a jolt of fear through me. Despite not knowing how to swim, I make an impulsive decision. “I can’t let her drown,” I think, grabbing a tree root overhanging the water and plunging in. The cold water shocks me, but I cling to the root, my face barely above the surface.

“Stephanie!” I call out, straining to see in the dark. I take a deep breath and submerge myself, pushing through the murky water, but see nothing. Gasping for air, I resurface, panic rising.

I repeat the process, each time staying under a little longer, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. The third time, I dive deeper than before, my lungs burning as I push myself to stay down. Suddenly, I feel something grab my right foot. Terror floods my mind. “What is that?” I scream internally, my heart pounding against my rib cage.

I struggle, kicking frantically, trying to free myself. The grip tightens, and I start to lose my hold on the tree root. “No, no, no!” I think, fear overtaking me. My hand slips, and I gasp for air as I’m pulled deeper. The cold water presses in on me, my vision blurring.

In the darkness, I finally see her. Stephanie… her face twisted into a maniacal smile, looking like a ghost. Her eyes glint with a wild, eerie light, her hair floating around her like a dark halo. “This can’t be real,” I think, horror gripping me. Her underwater presence is even scarier, like something out of a nightmare.

I kick harder, my movements frantic. “Let go! Let go!” I scream in my mind, but it’s useless. The more I struggle, the weaker I feel. My chest tightens, the need for air becoming unbearable. “I can’t breathe,” I think, panic turning into desperation.

Stephanie’s grip is relentless, her smile never faltering. “Why is she doing this?” I wonder, confusion mixing with my terror. “Is this some twisted game for her?” The water is a cold, suffocating embrace, and I can feel my strength fading. My vision starts to blur, spots dancing before my eyes.

“I can’t die like this,” I think, summoning every last bit of strength. “I need to live. I need to find my mother.” I kick again, harder, using the last of my energy. The grip on my foot loosens slightly, and I seize the moment to pull away.

I gasp for air, taking in two short breaths. But my fortune is short-lived. Suddenly, I feel an even stronger force pulling me back into the water, a force that feels almost superhuman. “No!” I scream internally, desperately grasping for the tree root. But the pull is too great, and I am dragged down into the depths, the cold water closing over me.

Stephanie drags me deeper this time, far below the surface. Panic surges through me as I struggle to break free. “I can’t swim,” I think, my thoughts racing. “I won’t make it back up.” Her maniacal smile flashes before me again, sending chills down my spine. “Why is she doing this?” I wonder, the realization dawning that she called me here for this very purpose. “She really has something over her mind.”

My struggles grow weaker as the oxygen in my lungs depletes. Each push and kick feels more futile than the last. “I can’t hold on much longer,” I think, the darkness pressing in around me. My limbs feel heavy, my movements sluggish. Stephanie draws me closer, her eyes gleaming with a sinister delight.

As we descend further, I see another figure emerging from the shadows. It’s a witch, her face showing a devious smirk. “This can’t be real,” I think, my heart sinking. Her eyes are dark and soulless, her skin pale and almost translucent in the murky water. Long, bony fingers reach out toward me, and I shudder.

My struggles grow desperate as the witch approaches. The water around us feels colder, almost biting. Her hair floats around her like a dark halo, and her smile widens, revealing sharp, crooked teeth. “What is she going to do to me?” I wonder, my mind a whirl of fear and confusion.

Stephanie’s grip tightens on me as the witch begins her work. She mutters incantations, her voice a chilling whisper that I can barely hear through the water. She raises one hand, tracing strange symbols that seem to burn into my skin. A sharp pain spreads across my face, and I realize she’s doing something terrible to me.

The witch’s fingers dance across my face, her nails like needles piercing my skin. My consciousness slips away, the world growing darker. “This can’t be happening,” I think, despair washing over me. The witch’s incantations grow louder, and I feel my face changing under her touch.

Stephanie strokes my face, her touch cold and possessive. “I can’t wait any longer,” she said, her eyes gleaming with greed.

The last thing I see is Stephanie’s cruel smile and the witch’s malevolent eyes as the darkness closes in. My strength is gone, my body limp. The pain fades, replaced by a numbness that spreads through me. “Mom,” I think, my last conscious thought. “I’m so sorry.”

My vision fades completely, the darkness swallowing me whole. The last sensation is Stephanie’s hand on my face, a promise of the nightmare to come.

And then, there is nothing. Just the cold, dark water and the distant, echoing whispers of the witch’s spell.

My strength ebbs away, each second feeling like an eternity. The pain intensifies, a burning sensation spreading across my skin. “I can’t take much more,” I think, my vision blurring.

Stephanie’s face twists with eerie satisfaction as she watches intently. “Such a beautiful face,” she says, her voice echoing through the water. “It will be mine in the future.”