After the Transmigrator Took My Body

I was the original, timid wife in a sweet romance novel.

According to the plot, a transmigrator would take over my body and inherit my life.

Everyone would forget the real me, falling for this entirely new heroine instead.

But I never expected my cold, distant husband to grab her by the throat and demand,

"Where is she?"

...

I died, but I didn't.

Everyone thought I survived that horrific car crash.

No one realized the person inside that body had changed, swapped out for a soul from another world.

I watched her lying in the hospital bed, gazing up at Elijah Strong with this look of delighted, playful innocence.

An expression I never wore.

Yet she pulled it off effortlessly, and utterly convinced Elijah would adore her for it.

She was right. Elijah stopped, standing by her bedside.

With uncharacteristically gentle voice, he asked,

"How are you feeling now?"

No cold detachment or sharp reprimands.

For the first time, I realized she'd been telling the truth.

Even Elijah, who was always so sharp and aloof, hadn't sensed the switch.

He treated her with a warmth he'd never shown me.

So the plot it was all real.

...

Her name was similar to mine. I was Nina. She was Anna.

But that one letter made all the difference.

I was the tragic, cowardly original heroine . After my death, Anna could slip into my body.

She knew the plot.

She not only had a crush on Elijah, but had also transformed the original male-centric workplace novel into a sweet romantic story

Even the cold, distant Elijah Strong would fall step by step, willingly paving her way to become the happiest woman in Scarsdale.

Family, lover, friends, career C she'd have it all.

As for me even my death went unnoticed.

The rare mention of me was just a casual, "Anna's so much better than she used to be."

Anna clearly loved Elijah's reaction.

She grabbed his hand with her sweet voice.

"I'm fine, really. Weren't you buried in that huge merger project?"

Elijah and I had been married three years, but our relationship was perpetually frosty.

He always vanished for months because of work.

I never imagined that meeting a month ago would be our last.

"You were more important than my work."

Elijahs voice was still soft, but then he gently pulled his hand away.

"My hands are dirty. I will go wash up."

Anna nodded eagerly.

The moment he left, she clutched her face, whispering excitedly, "Elijah God, he really is everything I knew he'd be."

"That Nina was such a timid, boring mouse. She never appreciated him."

"Now that I'm here, Elijah and I can finally be together."

Hearing Anna's contempt for me, I drifted numbly towards the bathroom.

Elijah hunched over the sink, scrubbing his hands over and over again.

Like he was terrified of passing anything to Anna.

Finally, he shut off the water and stared at his reflection.

Looking at that face I'd touched countless times, I felt lost

Elijah had no choices except marrying me..

My family, the Wrights, was drowning because of my brother's gambling addiction.

We were on the brink of financial ruin.

To save the family, and more importantly, my brother's future, my parents drugged me and delivered me to a drugged Elijah at a charity gala.

The Strong family valued reputation above all.

So Elijah was forced to marry me.

For three years, my parents pressured me constantly.

I was forced to borrow money from Elijah, clean up my brother's messes, and hurry up to have a baby to trap Elijah.

Their threats, Elijah's indifference,and the whispers swirling around town

These all drove me into seclusion, turning me into that timid, rigid Mrs. Strong.

Those three years I repaid whatever debt I owed the Wrights for raising me.

And Anna's arrival maybe it was Elijah's compensation.

I should be relieved.

No more threats from my family.

No more dread that Elijah would finally file for divorce.

But something inside me screamed, a soundless wail that left me adrift.

I was lost watching Elijah and Anna.

Maybe thanks to Anna's protagonist halo, that brutal crash that killed me barely tortured her.

Aside from a two-week hospital stay, she was perfectly fine.

I expected Elijah to confirm she was okay and bolt back to his precious merger.

Surprisingly, he brought his laptop and files to the hospital to accompany her.

Something I'd never dared dream of, Anna achieved effortlessly.

Stuck as a ghost, I watched Anna brazenly use my body to flirt and cling to Elijah.

News of what happened in hospital spread through Scarsdale like wildfire.

Even my perpetually indifferent parents called, for once, praising Anna for "finally snagging Elijah's heart."

Over those two weeks, I saw Elijahs changes.

From icy distance to cautious acceptance.

By Anna's discharge day, she'd fully settled into my body and my life.

The doctor prescribed rest.

Elijah summoned Mrs. Miller and Mr. Henderson from the estate to help bring Anna home.

Trailing behind them, seeing the familiar Strong Manor gates, I felt dizzy.

Everyone in Scarsdale knew my identity as Mrs. Strong was questionable.

But the staff at the manor acted like they didnt know that.

They were always warm and considerate.

Mrs. Miller remembered all my favorite things.

When I was down, she'd quietly place a slice of warm apple pie beside me.

Mr. Henderson knew my family was trouble. He'd discreetly turn my parents away at the gate.

Maggie's daughter, Lily, would drag me outside to see her flower garden and kittens

I'd had the shameful thought, that if I could go back to that night, I might still choose to become Elijah's wife.

The Wrights didn't care. Elijah was cold.

But the manor staff their kindness was something to hold onto.

I never imagined that fragile peace would shatter so fast.

I watched Elijah lead Anna to the dining table.

Mrs. Miller had lunch ready.

"Mrs. Strong, please enjoy. These are all Mr. Strong's orders," Mrs. Miller beamed at Anna.

"Ms. Strong said these are good for you and told you to have plenty."

My gaze swept the table, and I froze.

Cilantro, ginger, garlic, lamb chops, shrimp...

All things I despised.

Anna's face lit up. She grabbed her fork and piled lamb onto her plate.

"Elijah! How did you know these are my favorites?"

Watching Anna dig in, a sharp pang of loss hit me.

Of course. Elijah barely knew me.

My likes, my dislikes why would he know? Why would he care?

Anna was the one truly meant for him.

Although its a random selection and it was all her favorites.

Humiliation burned me, mixed with a strange, restless anger.

Elijah watched Anna eat, a faint smile touching his lips. "Slow down. Don't choke."

Anna looked up, noticing Elijah hadn't touched his food.

"Elijah, why dont you eat?"

"Not hungry yet." He shook his head, then stood abruptly.

"Got some work to finish. I'll join you later."

A flicker of annoyance crossed Anna's face, but Mrs. Miller chimed in happily,

"See, Mrs. Strong? I told you the Mr. Strong cares."

"Before, he never behaved like this"

"I guess that accident was a blessing in disguise."

Watching Mrs. Miller's joy, I clenched my spectral fists.

She'd always hoped Elijah and I would find happiness.

But our marriage was founded on deceit, and happiness was a pipe dream.

Now "I" had survived a crash, relatively unscathed.And Elijah was suddenly attentive?

To Mrs. Miller, it looked like my "reward" after years of misery.

Anna caught the implication.

Her annoyance vanished, replaced by smug satisfaction.

"Of course," she murmured. "I am the heroine. Elijah should treat me differently."

I couldn't bear to watch her gloat, so I drifted after Elijah to his study.

Strangely, he didn't open his laptop.

He went to the safe and pulled out a thick stack of folders.

When Elijah opened them, familiar words jolted my memory.

They were my university applications.

The Wrights made its fortune late.

To make money, my parents dumped me with Grandma in upstate New York while they and my brother moved to Scarsdale.

Grandma loved books and photography, but she couldnt fulfill her desire for lack of resources..

So when she saw my spark for photography, she encouraged it fiercely.

"Go to see the world, Nina. Capture everything with your camera."

After Grandma passed, my parents dragged me back to Scarsdale.

They despised my "useless" passion and strong-armed me into majoring in Art History.

"You are a girl. Studying something practical and finding a rich husband are your jobs."

"Photography is not suitable for you."

A few dismissive words sealed my fate.

Marrying Elijah meant upholding the Strong name.

That meant I shouldnt have any scandals or no missteps.

As for photography? Forget it.

I tried to bury the dream. But a stubborn ember of resentment glowed.

I researched schools abroad, planning to apply first, then tell Elijah.

But why were these applications in Elijah's safe?

I stared at him, bewildered.

A knock sounded. Elijah opened the door, and Anna threw herself at him.

Elijah stepped back, gently disentangling himself before sitting at his desk.

"Why do you come here?"

"For you," Anna pouted dramatically. "You said you'd keep me company! What's taking so long in here?"

Elijah slid the application folder towards her. "Actually, perfect timing. Explain these."

Anna saw the files, paled. I knew why.

She'd transmigrated into Elijah's corporate thriller. There was barely a footnote of me.

To Anna, a pawn like me should stay put in my gilded cage. Why would I dream of school or independence?

She didn't know and couldn't risk exposing herself.

Elijah waited patiently, looking at her with his gentle gaze. "Well?"

I remembered countless times he'd looked at me like that.

After marrying Elijah, I deliberately avoid some works, but there were still many matters that requiring my decision.

I could handle some simple ones, but if its about Elijah I didnt know what to do.

I'd take the problem to him, seeking for his guidance.

But Elijah rarely gave direct answers. He'd dissect the issue, then fix those intense eyes on me.

"So, Nina. What do you think we should do?"

I always wanted him to just tell me. But meeting that gaze, I'd crumble, forced to think, to decide.

He didn't care about my choices.

Good or bad, he seemed able to handle the fallout.

I thought it was his competence or maybe just indifference.

Indifference to my actions, to the consequences, to whatever mess I might make.

Once, that patient, probing gaze was for me.

Now, it was for someone wearing my face.

I expected impatience. BUt with Anna, he seemed gentler.

"Nina Strong," he said, "Why did you hide the applications from me?"