.·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·. Chapter 1. From office worker to Villain Volkov. .·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·.

The rain fell on the city, mingling with the neon signs and car lights. Marlene sighed as she walked toward the bar where her friends were waiting for her. Her heart was shattered: her boyfriend had dumped her… and to top it all off, he’d broken up with her best friend.

“Maybe a couple of drinks will make me forget all this,” she murmured, trying to smile as she pushed open the door. The laughter, the loud music, and the taste of alcohol made all her pain fade away for a few minutes.

“Hey Marlene, come sit down and have a few drinks with us, and you’ll forget what your boyfriend and your friend did to you,” her friend said, laughing.

“Yes, I will,” Marlene replied, trying to forget her sorrows.

“Waiter, please bring us a wine,” her friend said to one of the bartenders.

After the waiter waited a while, he returned and said:

“Here’s your wine, ladies, enjoy.”

“Gulp, gulp.”

“Hahaha, Marlene, do you remember today when you screamed in the meeting because someone ate your favorite sweet bread?” another friend laughed.

“That wasn’t so bad!” Marlene replied, blushing, but laughing too.

“Yeah, yeah, of course… you’re always up to your craziness at the office,” the first friend added as they toasted. “But look, we’re here today to cheer you up, so forget about everything and enjoy.”

Marlene smiled, feeling a little lighter. For a few minutes, the pain faded amid laughter, drinks, and the company of her friends.

But life wasn’t waiting for her distraction. On the way out, confused and staggering from too much alcohol, she crossed the street without looking. A motorcycle suddenly appeared, and everything turned dark and painful. When Marlene opened her eyes, she wasn’t in the city she knew. Not even in the real world. She was… in a luxurious, chandelier-lit hall. Her clothes, her face, everything had changed. In a nearby mirror, she saw her reflection… like the villain Marlene Volkov from a romance novel, beautiful, elegant, but with an expression that oozed arrogance and coldness.

[Kira System: Welcome, Marlene. You have transmigrated to the novel “Amidst Hidden Passion.” Initial Objective: Survive the first 7 days without being discovered as the villain. Initial stats: Charisma 5, Charm 4, Magic 0, Strength 3.]

[Complete all quests and have a successful ending with one of the objectives so you can return to your original world.]

A soft meow sounded near her foot. A small, gray cat with bright eyes stretched out in front of her.

[Hello, human… I’m Kira, your system. Don’t try to understand it now, just follow my instructions if you want to live and… play a little with the hearts of these nobles.]

Marlene blinked. “What… game?”

Kira looked at her brazenly.

[First Mission: Approach Prince Dante Inovov during tonight’s reception. Have him look you in the eyes for more than five seconds. Easy, don’t you think?]

[Unlockable Memory #1: Dante as a child crying alone in the palace gardens. Complete the mission to learn about his vulnerable side.]

Marlene sighed, a mixture of disbelief and excitement. Her heart was pounding… not just with fear, but with something deeper. Something dark, dangerous, and exciting that was just beginning.

After a few days of getting ready for the meeting with her first target, Dante, she put a lot of effort into her outfit.

Marlene nervously adjusted the dress as she walked through the reception hall. Soft music and warm lights surrounded her, but her attention was fixed on Dante Inovov, who was conversing with some nobles near the center of the hall.

With each step, her heart beat faster. Kira, invisible but present at her side, meowed softly:

[Kira: Approach naturally. Remember: minimal, but effective, contact. Maintain eye contact.]

Marlene took a deep breath as she moved through the hall, trying to control her nerves. Each step brought her closer to Dante Inovov, who was conversing elegantly with some nobles, smiling with that naturalness that always left her breathless.

When Marlene reached him, their hands accidentally brushed as they reached for a glass from the tray Dante was holding. An unexpected warmth ran through her fingers and a tingling sensation ran up her arm. For a moment, the world around them disappeared: the music, the lights, the laughter… everything vanished, and only the two of them existed.

Dante looked at her intensely, his deep eyes fixed on hers, as if trying to decipher every thought she was hiding. Marlene felt her heart race, and a blush rose to her cheeks, but she managed to maintain her composure.

They stopped a step away, and for a moment, the accidental contact became a silent spark, a sign of tension and attraction that neither of them could ignore.

[Kira: Unlockable Memory #1 activated. Mission progress: 40%. Remain calm, Marlene. The next step requires a close conversation.]

Marlene swallowed, aware that the touch was barely the start of something much more intense, and the mission had only just begun.

The game was just beginning, and Kira, with her feline eyes, seemed to enjoy every second with her new player.

                                                                                                                      ˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥to be continued˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥