For years, these people have treated Poppy like dirt in front of Elwin, and he had said nothing.
Every time Poppy complained, he always dismissed her.
"You're overreacting, Poppy."
"You're being disrespectful, Poppy."
"That's just how my family are, Poppy."
"You just have to endure Poppy."
"They have a point Poppy..."
Well, tonight was the last damn straw. She will not be here to take their insult and constant bullying anymore.
Elwin Cole could go fuck himself and his family. She does not give a fuck anymore. Poppy wiped her tears.
This would be the last time she would waste her tears on a man like him.
They used to be inseparable before, but ever since Elwins returned, he became distant and cold to her.
If the Cole family didn't want her, fine. They could all go to hell. By tomorrow, her lawyers would prepare the divorce papers. And oh, she wasn't just walking away, she would make them pay for every sacrifice she'd made. Every penny, every sleepless night, every tear? They owed her.
Poppy dragged herself to their bedroom and collapsed onto the bed. One sniffle sounded in the quiet room, and then came another. She's spent years loving a man who never loved her back, and in the end, he was marrying someone else.
Betrayal ached in places she didn't know could hurt. But this would be the last time she cried over Elwin Cole.
She wiped her tears roughly. He didn't deserve her. She would learn to forget him and everything they've shared. From now on, Elwin was dead to her.
A moment later, the door creaked open and a dark tall figure entered the room, quiet steps approached the bed.
Elwins hair was slightly ruffled, and in his hands was a tray of food. He was told by the maids that Poppy had barely had anything to eat since morning and when she did step out to eat, she was greeted by his stupid decision.
"Eat this, Poppy," he said, setting it on the nightstand. His tone was casual as if he hadn't just agreed to marry someone else behind her back.
"I hope you don't take what my mother said to heart. She didn't mean any of it."
Poppy stared at him like he had grown a second head. This man must really be a moron.
"I don't need your food. Aren't you supposed to spend the night with your new wife?" Poppy asked, sitting up with slow, deliberate movements because of the pain she still felt.
Elwin didn't flinch at the icy tone. "If you're not okay with me marrying Camela, you can leave. But I'm not going back on my words."
"Camela has helped me so much. It is only right I pay her back with marriage." Elwin said. According to his family, while Poppy lavished her inheritance buying designer bags and expensive things, Cemela has worked tirelessly to support his education.
It is the reason he had been so nice to her all these years.
She should have been the one he married but he was already betrothed to Poppy at the time and couldn't change anything.
A slow smile stretched across Poppy's face. The type that confused Elwin. "Perfect," she said. "I'll have my lawyers send over the divorce papers tomorrow."
Elwin froze. His eyes widened slightly.
Lawyers?
Divorce?
Was this one of her tricks again to scare him or show him how upset she was? He smiled. Poppy will never divorce him, in fact, by tomorrow, she'll be fawning all over him again. Begging him not to be married to Cemela.
If there's one thing Elwin was so sure of, was that Poppy loved him with all of her heart.
For their five years of marriage, never once has he touched her, yet every month she begs for his sperm just to give him a child.
"Good for you." Elwin's said coldly and stepped inside his closet. Poppy only stared at his figure disappear and smiled bitterly.
This was her goodbye to him.
####
The next morning, something felt wrong.
Poppy blinked at the ceiling, confused. Her body didn't feel sore. No cramps. No dizziness. No pain. Her chest no longer hurt her from the betrayal and her nostrils were free for the first time in months after her everyday cries.
She sat up fast, the bed creaking under her, and not in the way she was used to.
She looked down and then froze.
Her chest was flat.
Her arms… were muscular.
Her hands… not hers. Since when did she have such big arms.
"What the hell…?" she whispered lifting her hands to her hair as she noticed how short it was. Did Linda and Sharon cut her hair again.
"Huh." Poppy sighed but then paused at the sound of her voice.
It was deep.
Not just deeper than usual. It was Elwin's deep voice.
Panic slammed into her chest.
She jumped out of bed and ran to the mirror, and there it was. Her face drained of all colours as she stared back at the person staring at her.
Her eyes turned wide. "Elwins Cole." She whispered cupping her face with both her hands.
"No, no, no…"
Her hands gripped the sink.
"This isn't real. I'm dreaming."
But everything felt real. Too real. She tried pinching herself and yelped when she felt pain.
She backed away, her mind spinning. Her breathing quickened.
Just then, a groan came from the bed.
She spun around to see a woman sitting up slowly, rubbing her eyes.
Her hair was long and black.
Her face pale.
Her freaking face!
Poppy was staring at herself on the bed!
And just immediately, their eyes locked. Both people froze as they stared at each other.
Then...
"AHHHHHHHHH!!!"
They screamed at the same time.
"What the hell is happening?!" the woman shrieked.
"I don't know!" Poppy shouted, or rather, Elwin's voice shouted.
She stumbled backward. Her heart, Elwin's heart, thudded like a drum.
The woman on the bed gripped her head. "Why do I sound like..."
Her eyes went wide.
"You… you're me!"
"And you're me!" Poppy yelled.