Aurora tried once more to open her eyes but failed again. After several tries, she finally managed to let in the light.
However, a splitting headache tortured her, and unfamiliar memories flooded her mind like fast-forwarded movie clips.
"My daughter Aurora, I'm sorry. Your unhelpful father cannot provide you with the best life."
"Daddy, please don't say that—"
"You have to marry him, my dear. This is the only way to keep you safe."
"No, Dad! How can I marry an older man? He already has six wives. You can't do this to me."
"Aurora, please, he is the only one who can give you a good life and safety."
"I can't accept this, Dad. I'm twenty-two! You don't need to worry about my future. I can take care of myself without anyone's help. Please, I'm begging you, stop this nonsense. Dad, please..."
"Aurora, I'm sorry. We can't cancel this marriage arrangement. You've already signed the marriage contract with him."
"That's impossible, Dad. I never signed anything—"
"Do you remember the document I asked you to sign a few days ago?"
"Dad, how could you do this to me? I'm your daughter! Why would you trick me into signing that paper? This is unfair..."
"My daughter, please listen; I'm dying—"
"I can't believe it! You can't fool me using that excuse, Dad!"
"Oh dear, Aurora, please check these papers."
"Oh my God... Dad, I'm sorry... Dad, okay, I accept..."
"My dear daughter, this is the best way to keep you safe. Only HE can protect you from my enemy. Please listen to him—"
.
.
.
.
.
.
Strange memories flooded Aurora's mind, tormenting her thoughts. It felt like an endless collection of memories was being transferred to her, gradually making each one feel like her own.
Soon, the panic that had consumed her faded, but now confusion replaced it.
'Do these memories belong to someone else? Why are these unfamiliar memories appearing in my mind?'
Even though the older man called her Aurora, she clearly remembered that she had never met him.
She tried to open her eyes but quickly shut them again when the light blinded her.
After adjusting to the brightness, she saw an unfamiliar, chubby woman with a round, pale face in her line of sight.
"Thank goodness you're finally awake, young miss," the woman's voice trembled with sobs. "I thought you were dead. If you hadn't woken up, I would have called a doctor to check on you."
Her crying grew louder, adding to Aurora's confusion.
'How could this woman know my name? Why is she crying? Wait, earlier, a truck collided with my car, and then there were explosions, the fire...'
Aurora shivered, recalling the moment when the flames consumed her.
Confused, Aurora glanced around and realized she was lying in an unfamiliar bedroom. She turned to the round-faced woman once more, who was still in tears.
"I'm sorry, but who are you?"
"M-Miss, you don't know me? Are you kidding?"
Aurora remained silent, responding with a frown.
"Oh my god," the woman's face went pale. "Miss, you fell asleep in the bathtub and nearly drowned. If I had arrived any later, you might...die!" Her cries grew even louder.
Aurora could hardly believe what she was hearing. She knew the woman who had drowned in the bathtub was dead, yet here she was, living in that person's body.
'God! I really have come back. Am I alive again—in someone else's body?' She felt all the blood in her veins run cold, utterly shocked by the bizarre situation around her.
"Miss, how could you not remember me?" The woman began to panic again, gripping Aurora's hand as tears started flowing down her cheeks once more.
The woman cried even harder, making it difficult for Aurora to recall her memories. However, she was certain that this woman had a connection to the Aurora in her mind—the owner of this body.
"Miss Aurora Spencer, are you really forgetting me? Seriously, miss? I'm Tina. I've been taking care of you since you were a baby."
Tina paused to wipe away her tears, her teary eyes still fixed on Aurora.
"After your father passed away, I'm the only family you have left, Miss..." Her voice trailed off when she saw Aurora waking up and struggling to make her way to the bathroom.
"Miss Aurora!? Wait, let me help you! What are you doing? Why did you lock the door? Please open the door, Miss..."
Tina shouted as she knocked on the bathroom door multiple times, worried her young Miss might fall asleep in the bathtub again, putting her life at risk.
"Please open the door, miss..."
Aurora ignored Tina. She was too shocked to look at her reflection in the mirror. The strange memories flooding her mind had confused her earlier.
However, everything became clear when Tina called her Aurora Spencer. Her name was not Aurora Spencer; it was Aurora Moon.
'This is impossible, right?'
Aurora pinched her cheeks hard, causing her to scream in pain. She quickly covered her mouth when she heard Tina about to call security.
"I'm fine, Tina! Just give me a moment..." She felt strange hearing the young Aurora's voice; it sounded soft and weak, so different from her own, which was confident and sharp.
Her knees felt weak as she stared at the young Aurora's face in the mirror. The girl looked ethereal and beautiful, almost like an elf. However, her small, pale face resembled the one she had in her teenage years.
This young girl's pale skin contrasted with her own. She remembers Aurora Moon, her old self, and her slightly tanned complexion from extensive outdoor martial arts training.
The most noticeable differences were in their hair and eye color. While her hair was light brunette and her eyes were gray, this young woman had long, wavy, ash-gray hair and mesmerizing blue eyes. Looking into her reflection, she felt something pulling at her soul.
After observing herself in the mirror, a knot suddenly formed in her stomach as she recalled Young Aurora's memory.
'What the hell! I'm married as the seventh wife? What kind of joke is this?'
"Miss Aurora, if you don't open the door now, I will call your husband!" Tina's voice snapped Aurora out of confusion.
She opened the door to see Tina's relieved smile.
"My husband? Do you know him?" Aurora asked, trying to remember Young Aurora's memory. However, she realized she had never met him and didn't even know his name.