New face, new me

Antiseptic stung Ruby's senses as she woke up, her chest tight and breathing shallow. The beeping of machines pulled her out of darkness. She slowly opened her eyes to harsh lights and surroundings: white walls, sheets, and monitor hum. A hospital.

As she sat up, she felt pain on every part of her body and whined. memories began to flash in.

How am I even alive? She looked down at her immobile body, encased in layers of tightly wound white bandages like a cocoon. The fabric pressed against her skin, restricting her movements and making her feel trapped. Her limbs felt heavy under the weight of the bandages. The only openings were small slits around her eyes and nose, allowing just enough air to pass through and giving her a limited view of her surroundings.

The soft creak of a door pulled her back to the present. A doctor entered, his eyebrows raising slightly in surprise to find her awake.

"How are you feeling, Miss Johns?"

"Not... dead, I guess." Her voice cracked, each word scratching against her parched throat. "What happened to me?"

"You were in a serious accident—a very severe one. Your body sustained substantial burns. Luckily, someone found you and called for help," the doctor replied, adjusting the machines as he checked her vitals.

"Your body was severely burned. That's why you're completely covered in bandages."

Burns. She felt a chill down her spine. Ruby looked down again, her mind spinning, trying to piece together what he'd just said. "So… I'll be… like this?" Her voice broke.

Ruby looked down again, her heart sinking as reality set in. Does that mean I will be living with a burned body? How will I even start over with this?

"We recommend reconstructive surgery. It's the best option to help you regain as much normal appearance as possible."

A flicker of hope ignited within her. "Really? How much will it cost?"

The doctor's face remained impassive. "Fifty thousand dollars in total. You could start with a thirty thousand upfront payment."

The spark died. Her chest tightened with frustration. Where in the world would I get that kind of money? "I… I don't have that kind of money," she murmured.

The doctor shrugged slightly. "Perhaps you could reach out to a wealthy relative?"

She clenched her teeth.

I have no family. They abandoned me and my sister orchestrated in ending my life.

"You said a stranger found me," Ruby's voice trembled slightly. "Is the person… still here?"

The doctor nodded, adjusting his glasses. "Yes, he's been waiting nearby."

Ruby's brows furrowed, a flicker of curiosity sparking in her eyes. "Can I see him?"

"Of course." The doctor gave her a gentle smile before stepping out, leaving the room in quiet.

The silence seemed to deepen as soon as he left, pressing down on her like a heavy weight. Ruby let out a shaky breath, sinking back into the pillows. Her bandaged hands lay useless by her sides, every part of her feeling trapped, bound, like a prisoner in her own body.

Her gaze lingered on the window across from her bed, and she noticed a shadow—a figure shifting just outside her room.

 Who could it be?

The door creaked open, and she looked up to see a figure slip in. The sight of him was almost otherworldly.

He was tall, his pale skin giving an ethereal glow. His hair was an unnatural, pure white, falling in soft waves down his neck, stark against the dark, rich fabric of his suit—a tailored, black coat that shimmered like velvet. with delicate silver embroidery curling across the collar, intricate patterns that hinted at a wealth she could barely imagine. A single ring gleamed on his finger—a blood-red stone set in silver.

 Ruby's body tensed up as his manly wooden scent flooded the room. Every move he made was deliberate and precise, as if he was completely in control of every step he took.

But it was his eyes that held her captive. Deep, crimson red, as if molten fire had been poured into them, they glowed with an intensity that was both mesmerizing and unnerving. His gaze seemed to cut right through her, piercing and unreadable, yet carrying a flicker of dark amusement that made her pulse quicken.

Ruby swallowed hard, the words barely forming in her throat. "I… I heard you're the one who saved me. Thank you," she managed, her voice almost a whisper.

Without a word, he reached over to the small remote by her bed and pressed a button. Instantly, the room filled with the voice of a news anchor, her tone clipped and serious. Ruby's body stiffened as the words washed over her.

"The country is still buzzing with the news of the death of model Ruby Johns, involved in a tragic accident, allegedly due to reckless speeding. Was she simply trying to outrun her karma?" The anchor's tone was sharp, biting, and Ruby's stomach twisted painfully. She could feel the man's gaze on her, steady and unreadable, but she was trapped, unable to look away from the screen as the voice continued.

"This same woman whose scandalous images spread across the internet, whose actions led to the termination of her engagement to William. Could her charming persona have been a façade all along? Has she been using these indecent acts to further her career?"

Ruby's throat constricted, a whisper escaping her lips. "Stop… stop…" Her voice was broken, barely audible.

But the news anchor continued, relentless. "Some say she actually wanted to end her life because of the shame. Others say it's what she deserved. Stay tuned for more updates."

"STOP!" Ruby cried, her voice rising with desperation.

He clicked the TV off, and the silence that followed felt like an enormous weight. She was left trembling, her heart pounding as her gaze finally lifted to meet his. He took a step closer, his presence filling the room. His intense, crimson gaze held hers, unreadable but somehow electric.

"It so happens, Miss Ruby, that you and I have something in common."

Her wrapped body trembled. "And what's that?" she managed, her voice a fragile whisper.

A dark smile touched his lips. "Revenge."

Ruby looked up at him, a spark of hope kindling through her haze of despair. "Are you…offering to help me?"

He tilted his head, and for a brief moment, his gaze softened, though amusement lingered. "Help? I'm offering you a chance to reclaim what was taken from you. To rise from the ashes, they tried to bury you in."

A shiver ran down Ruby's spine. She could feel the weight of his words, the power behind them. Her hands gripped the sheets, feeling the gravity of what he was offering.

"But," he added softly, his voice now a murmur that seemed to wrap around her like a warning, "you must decide if you're willing to pay the price. For once you step onto this path, there's no turning back."

He pulled out a document from his file, moving with the same deliberate slowness as before, and placed it on her laps, opening the front page. Her eyes darted to what was written. A marriage contract. Her throat tightened.

"What... what is this?" She stammered, the confusion thick in her voice.

"I can give you what you want," he said, his red eyes boring into hers. "A new face. A new identity. A chance to make them pay. But..." He paused, letting the word hang in the air, heavy with implication. "You'll be bound to me for four years. After that, you're free."

Her mind reeled. "This is ridiculous," she breathed, shaking her head.

"Don't you need money for your plastic surgery?"

Ruby's expression paused. That's true, if she doesn't want to live the rest of her life with a completely scarred body, she needs to do this plastic surgery immediately.

His expression didn't change. "I'm offering you a blank check. A way to fight back, unless you want to watch them walk away unscathed." He stepped back, settling into a chair, his attention briefly flicking to his phone as if this conversation was routine for him.

Ruby's thoughts spiraled, images of betrayal flashing through her mind. Her parents who just loved her for the money she brings. Her sister who she loved with her heart conspiring with her model rival to ruin her life and also aiming to kill her. William, discarding her like she was nothing. And Sonia, her cruel smile, her words still fresh in her mind: You'll never redeem yourself. Everyone believed her lies.

Anger surged through her, hot and suffocating. Why did they always get away with it? Why did I have to be the one left to burn?

His gaze rested on her again, waiting. He was offering her a way out. A way to be free.

"Why me?" Ruby asked, her voice quieter now, raw with the weight of everything.

"I need someone with nothing left to lose," he replied, his eyes never leaving hers. "No family ties. No complications. And you..." He let the words hang, but she already understood. She was just going to be a pawn to him, just as much as she needed him.

She stared down at the contract, her fingers trembling. Could I really do this? Could I tether myself to this stranger for four years just to claw my way back?

She thought of everything she had been through—every lie, every tear. She had nothing left to lose.

"I have been given another chance. Why should I waste it? They tried to kill me. And they must not get away with it"

"Are we going to... fulfill marriage rights?" she asked.

He didn't blink. "Read the contract."

She did. No children. No intimacy. Just a show for the world. She let out a shaky breath, her heart hammering in my chest. This was it. Her way out.

With a deep breath, she nodded. the man stood up and gave her a pen and she managed to scrawl her name at the bottom. She handed him the contract.

He glanced at the signature and smiled, a small, satisfied curve of his lips. "Very well," he said, tucking the papers back into the file. "I'll notify the doctor."

As the door swung open again and the doctor entered, She felt her pulse quicken. This was my chance. I am going to come back in full force. New face, new me.

***

A full week has passed

Ruby laid still on the hospital bed, her face entirely wrapped in gauze pads, save for two small openings at her nostrils. Her whole body have been treated with plastic surgery and have been unwrapped, apart from her face.

Her breath was slow and measured, though her mind raced. What do I look like now? The thought looped in her head, her hands instinctively gripping the sheets beneath her.

The door creaked open, followed by the soft click of shoes on the tile floor.

"Are you feeling any discomfort, ma'am?" A gentle voice broke the silence, pulling her from my thoughts.

She shook her head. That had to be the doctor.

"It's time to take off the pads," he continued, his voice calm but encouraging. "Are you ready?"

She gave a small nod, her heart suddenly pounding in her chest. "Ready or not…" she inhaled deeply through the gauze, her chest tightening with anticipation.

She felt his fingers lightly peeling away the layers of bandages. Slowly, carefully, each layer came off until the cool air kissed her skin for the first time. Her breath hitched, and then, after what felt like an eternity, he handed her a mirror.

Her fingers shook as she took it from him. For a moment, she just stared at the mirror, too terrified to look at the reflection waiting for her.

She exhaled, steeling herself, and then lifted the mirror to her face.

Het eyes widened. The face staring back at her—it was... stunning. Her skin was flawless, her cheekbones higher and sharper than before, her nose more refined. Her lips, fuller and perfectly shaped. But it was the eyes, her same amber eyes, that held her gaze. It was her, but it wasn't. she looked... unrecognizable. she looked beautiful.

"Are you satisfied with the result?" the doctor asked, pulling her out of her trance.

Ruby nodded slowly, unable to tear her eyes away from the mirror. "Yes," she whispered, her voice filled with awe. "How could I not be?"

"Good," he said with a kind smile. "You'll be discharged soon. But if you notice any discomfort or anything unusual, don't hesitate to call."

She nodded again, barely registering his words as he left the room. She couldn't stop staring at her reflection, her fingers lightly tracing the outline of her new face. It felt surreal, like she was looking at someone else.

The sound of footsteps approaching made her look up, and she saw him—the handsome red-eyed man, standing at the door.

"Do you like your new face?" His voice was low, casual, as if they weren't talking about something so life-changing.

Ruby nodded, then hesitated, realizing something. "I never got your name," she said softly, trying to mask the flutter of nerves his presence stirred in me.

"Logan," he replied simply, stepping closer.

She nodded. Logan. Somehow, it suited him.

He moved to sit beside the bed, his red eyes studying her intently. "Have you thought of a new name for the marriage certificate?" he asked, his tone businesslike, but there was a weight behind the question.

Ruby hadn't thought about that. She blinked, trying to push away the lingering awe of her new reflection. A new name. A new identity. She thought for a moment, and then it came to her.

"Isabelle," she said. "That would be my new name."

Logan nodded, as if it was already decided. "Are you fit to go to the court now to finalize the certificate?" His gaze flicked over her, assessing.

Already? She wasn't sure what she had expected, but there was something so abrupt about it. Still, she couldn't find a reason to refuse. This was part of the deal.

"I'm fit," she replied, sitting up a little straighter.

***

An hour later, Ruby stepped out of the courthouse, clutching the marriage certificate in her hand. It all felt like a dream, like she was watching someone else's life unfold. she glanced at the name printed on the document—Isabelle. A name she barely recognized but would have to grow into.

Logan's deep voice snapped her out of my thoughts. "I've gotten you new SIM cards," he said, handing her an expensive looking phone along with a sleek black card and some cash. "One of the conditions of the contract is to cut all ties with your past life."

She stared at the items in her hand, the reality sinking in. No going back. "Can I... keep my old SIM card? Even if I don't use it?" she asked hesitantly, feeling a strange attachment to that small part of her former self.

Logan gave a slight nod. "Sure. But don't breach the contract. No contact."

"I won't," she whispered, tucking the items into her bag.

"You'll be assigned a personal assistant and a bodyguard soon," he continued. "My assistant sent you a message with the address of your new house. If you need a ride, just text him. For now, get new clothes and other things for yourself. We shall see each other soon."

Ruby nodded, feeling overwhelmed by how quickly things were moving. Logan's driver opened the car door for him, and without another word, he slid into the backseat. As the car sped off, she found herself staring at the black card. A black card. The man had to be wealthy beyond comprehension.

She exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of it all, then flagged down a taxi to take her to the mall.

***

An hour later, she found herself in the dressing room, surrounded by clothes she had never dreamed of wearing before. Bold colors, sleek fabrics, cuts that drew attention. No more dressing to blend into the background. She wasn't that timid, invisible woman anymore.

she ran her hands over a dress—deep crimson, fitted at the waist—and stared at her reflection in the mirror. The new her didn't beg for attention, but she didn't shy away from it either. She smiled; the kind of smile that felt foreign but empowering.

She stepped out of the dressing room, intending to grab another outfit, when a voice froze her in place.

"Ruby? What a surprise seeing you here."

A cold shiver shot down her spine. That voice… she knew it all too well. Sonia.