After the uneventful dinner, I hurried back to my room and zoomed in front of the dresser.
Reflected in the mirror was a woman with porcelain skin and pink lips, shoulder-length brown hair, and brown eyes.
But they were all fake.
My hair was supposed to be long and purple, and my eyes the lightest amethyst.
However, I had cut my hair short and dyed it brown, and I wore contacts ever since my eyesight deteriorated. I knew Cole liked women with shoulder-length brown hair and brown eyes just like his mother.
~sigh . . .~
What an idiot I was.
That didn't matter anymore! What was important right now was to determine if I really had traveled back in time.
I pinched myself and relished the sharp sting.
I . . . I really did go back to the past!
I checked my phone and found that I was back six months before my debut into high society!
I didn't know whether to be thankful that God had given me another chance or to curse the fact that I had only six months to change my fate of being banished to who knows where.
I scratched my head and groaned in frustration.
If I wanted to survive this life, I had to prevent the Rosette from throwing me into the gutter. But with such little time, there was only one thing I could think of . . .
Sinclair Rosette.
Sullivan might be the head of the family, but it was Sinclair who made the final decisions. As long as the old man was alive, he remained the unshakable monarch of the Rosette Empire.
Sullivan secured his current position when he married Sophia Kingston, merging their families and bringing even more power and influence to the Rosette family.
In exchange for that marriage, however, Sophia made a contract with Sullivan that he would not cheat and that she would remain his only wife. There could be no mistresses and illegitimate children in their marriage.
Sophia couldn't bear any more children after giving birth to Sophie, and Sullivan needed to please his father, Sinclair, to secure his position as the next head of the Rosette family.
Tied with only one heir and his contract with Sophia, the 'lovely' couple made the decision to adopt me so they could protect Sophie from the dangers inherent in the Rosette family, where your relatives were often your greatest enemies.
My role was to act as a shield, taking any threats aimed at the true heir, Sophie.
Sullivan wanted to ensure that Sophie stayed alive until she made her debut into high society, where she would be proclaimed as his next heir. By doing so, he could secure her engagement to Cole Fay, thus consolidating the Rosette and Fay's power within his hands.
This strategic move would ensure he would be the head of the Rosette Empire, and continue dominance over the family, making them untouchable in their sphere of influence.
Everything was orchestrated to maintain his grip on the family's fortune and legacy, using me and even his own daughter as a pawn in his grand scheme.
In this elaborate game of power and deception, I was nothing more than a disposable piece, placed to protect the real heir while being kept in the dark about my true identity.
It was a bitter realization, but one that fueled my resolve to change my fate and reclaim my life.
Sinclair always valued tradition and blood connections. He was an old man, but he prioritized family and their fortune over anything else.
Too bad that grandfather didn't do anything when I was thrown away. I guess because the Rosette blood really didn't run in my veins.
Sinclair didn't really care about me; his end goal was always the Fays. As long as Sophie and Cole married, Sullivan's position as the head of Rosette was as good as sealed in stone.
For me to get my life back after being discarded, I needed Sinclair on my side, even for just a brief moment.
I had never even met this elusive old man in my past life.
Sullivan definitely inherited his father's cold and calculating nature. Otherwise, the Rosette family wouldn't be as powerful as they are today.
But of course, not as powerful as the Fays.
I sighed the heaviness in my chest into the ceiling, hoping God would hear my plea and help me once more.
Rather . . . if you're going to turn back time, at least give me years to prepare for my impending demise!
I shook my head and began to formulate a plan. Procrastinating and pointing fingers wouldn't solve my problem.
What did Sinclair care about besides blood family and ensuring that the Rosette legacy remained forever?
Anything that would expand the Rosette's power and influence would make the old man happy.
Then there was only one way I could think of . . . and that was to use my past knowledge to make a name for myself and, hopefully, catch the old man's attention within the next six months.
I needed to find a way to gain Sinclair's favor. It was the only way to secure my place and protect myself from being cast aside again.
My mind raced with possibilities, trying to remember any details that could help me navigate this perilous situation.
There had to be something, some way to change my fate.