Episode 1

A sudden, disembodied voice echoed through the opulent room, startling Avery out of her skin. "Welcome, Avery Lee, to the fictional world of The Price of Passion."

Avery whirled around, searching for the source of the voice. "The Price of Passion?" she echoed, bewildered. Wasn't that the very book she'd been editing just moments ago? A shiver ran down her spine. "The supporting female character even has the same name as me," she thought, a strange sense of foreboding settling in her stomach.

"Since you fainted suddenly in real life and became comatose," the voice continued, "you are currently inhabiting the body of the supporting female character. As long as you complete a mission, you can return to the real world."

"A mission?" Avery's voice trembled slightly.

"Yes," the voice replied. "You must make the male lead, Jaxon Tan, fall in love with you completely."

Avery stared at the empty space, processing this bizarre information. "This… this isn't a dream, right?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"No, it's not a dream," the voice assured her. "By the way, I am Abby, the novel system assigned to guide you."

A beat of silence followed. "Today is your wedding anniversary," Abby continued. "Unfortunately, the male lead, Jaxon Tan, is currently celebrating the birthday of his first love, who's abroad."

Avery's initial shock began to morph into something else. A sly smile played on her lips. "So, you're saying that as long as Jaxon Tan falls in love with me, I can go back to my real world? Back to a salary of three thousand dollars a month, a tiny flat, and a boss who drives me crazy?"

"Erm, yes, that's correct," Abby stammered, a hint of uncertainty creeping into her voice.

Avery's smile widened. "But if he doesn't fall in love with me," she mused, her eyes gleaming with a newfound glint, "I get to stay here, right?"

"Well, yes," Abby confirmed hesitantly.

"And I have access to all the money I want," Avery continued, her voice laced with excitement. "Millions of it, at my fingertips! Every day, without lifting a finger!"

A mischievous glint lit up her eyes. "Plus, I can have my pick of men," she added, counting on her fingers. "A cold villain, a bodyguard who makes me feel safe, and even a clingy superstar who's younger than I! And let's not forget the alimony if Ms. Milly, this first love of Jaxon's, comes back and snatches him away."

Avery threw her head back and laughed, a sound that echoed eerily in the vast room. "This is perfect! The rat race is finally over!"

A flicker of concern crossed Abby's voice. "But this life is… well, it's not real, you know?"

Avery waved her dismissively. "No, no, no," she scoffed. "You don't understand. Life is like a dream anyway. My life of luxury starts now!"

With a newfound determination, Avery skipped out of the room, a stark contrast to the timid character she was supposed to embody. The opulent surroundings no longer filled her with fear, but with a sense of giddy anticipation.

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