She Became His World by Turning Me Into the Villain novel Chapter 3

**TITLE: Married by Mistake, Loved by Fate — by L. Winters**

**Chapter 3**

The following day brought an unexpected twist to my already complicated life. It turned out that Summer was not merely Ethan’s new neighbor; she had also enrolled in our school. The news rippled through the halls like wildfire, igniting curiosity and excitement among my classmates.

We had just received our exam results, and as our homeroom teacher began to announce the scores, I felt the familiar mix of anticipation and anxiety. Typically, I found myself nestled somewhere in the middle of the class rankings, but this time, to my utter disbelief, I had achieved the highest score in English. The moment our teacher’s voice rang out in praise, a wave of exhilaration washed over me, but it was short-lived. Just then, Summer appeared in the doorway, and the atmosphere shifted dramatically.

“HOLY CRAP, since when do we have someone that gorgeous at our school?” one student exclaimed, eyes wide with surprise.

“Use your brain! She’s obviously a transfer student; otherwise, we would’ve seen her before!” another chimed in, nodding sagely.

In that instant, it hit me—Summer was not just Ethan’s neighbor; she was about to become a significant part of my daily life as our new classmate.

What I never anticipated was that when it came time to claim our seats, Summer would choose to sit next to me.

“Nora,” she said, her voice laced with a hint of urgency, “you’re the only girl I know in this class, so you’ve got to help me out, okay?”

I could hardly believe my ears. “I know you’re close with Ethan, so maybe you guys…” I hesitated, unsure of how to finish that thought.

Her smile was radiant, bright enough to chase away the winter chill that had settled in my heart. It felt like the sun breaking through the clouds, and I found myself unable to conjure up a single reason to decline her request.

From that moment on, a new dynamic emerged, with Summer wedged into the space between Ethan and me. I had never been particularly popular in school, but with Summer’s arrival, it was as if everyone had suddenly decided that she and Ethan were destined to be together, even though my heart whispered otherwise.

“The class beauty and the class heartthrob obviously belong together—what is Nora even doing trying to wedge herself in there?” a voice murmured behind me.

“I’m telling you, she’s just a nobody trying to go after a guy way out of her league,” another chimed in, the disdain palpable.

Yet, despite the whispers and the judgment, I genuinely treated Summer like a friend. One day, I mustered the courage to ask her if she thought I wasn’t good enough for Ethan.

“Of course not, Nora. Why would you even think that?” she replied, her expression softening. “Sure, you’re not the pretty type, but Ethan doesn’t care about stuff like that.”

Then, with a conspiratorial grin, she added, “By the way, Ethan wants to take you to the amusement park this weekend. He’s too nervous to tell you himself, so he asked me to let you know—don’t forget, okay?”

Even though Ethan and I shared an unspoken connection, this would be our first official date. My heart raced at the thought.

That day, I decided to leave school early, driven by a mix of excitement and determination. Despite the torrential rain outside, I ventured across town to a mall, intent on finding the perfect gift for Ethan. After some searching, I settled on a tie, and when the salesclerk asked if it was for my boyfriend, I felt my cheeks flush as I nodded.

On the day of our planned outing to the amusement park, I chose to wear a pale yellow sundress, letting my hair down from its usual ponytail. As I stood by the entrance, waiting for Ethan, a wave of uncertainty washed over me. Had I gone too far in my efforts to impress him?

As the minutes turned into hours and the sky grew darker, Ethan still hadn’t arrived. My heart sank with each passing moment, and every text I sent felt like it vanished into a void, unanswered.

By the time I decided to check on him, worry had replaced my excitement. The streets were enveloped in darkness, and as I hurried along, I slipped on a patch of mud. My pale yellow dress was instantly splattered with dirt, and the tie I had so carefully chosen flew from my grasp, landing in the muck.

When I finally reached Ethan’s apartment and pushed open the door, my heart sank further. There lay Summer on Ethan’s bed, while he stood beside her, stirring a mug of cold medicine.

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