Wake Up in a Novel | Read Free Preview

Read chapters 1–3 of Wake Up in a Novel free. Unlock the full ebook when you are ready to keep going.

Chapter 1 — Awakening in the Novel

When Freya Stone woke up, her head felt like it was exploding. She rubbed her head and sat up, only to recoil in shock at the sight before her.
In front of her were rows upon rows of bags, and the floor was covered with countless clothes. Lying on the bed, she felt as if she were in a sea of bags and clothes. Except for the small empty space beneath her, there was almost no place to step.
Didn't I die?
Freya stared blankly at the ceiling, her mind recalling the despair she felt when she was stabbed to death by a thug, the pain in her heart making it almost impossible to breathe. Indeed, she had died, absolutely no mistake about it.
But the scene before her eyes wasn't fake either.
So, did I transmigrate?
Speaking of transmigration, Freya felt that this scene looked very familiar. Where have I seen a room like this before, packed with bags and clothes?
As she thought about it, Freya suddenly widened her eyes and sat up from the bed again...
That novel!
Two days before her death, Freya had read a novel titled "The CEO's Gentle Devotion." In the book, there was a minor character who didn't even qualify as a supporting female character, and she had the same name as Freya. That was why she remembered it so clearly.
This minor character was the wife of the novel's antagonist, a brainless gold-digger who only knew how to spend money. Her existence was meaningless, serving only as a blemish on the antagonist's otherwise perfect life.
At the end of the novel, it was mentioned that the antagonist had been defeated by the male lead. The final scene depicted the minor character lying in a newly rented room, surrounded only by the bags and clothes she had bought in the past, the last things the antagonist owned.
Freya still remembered that passage.
"The only things Louis had left were his wife lying in the bedroom and her expensive bags and clothes. But Louis himself knew that this woman, who never paid him any attention except when she wanted money, would soon leave him with her bags and clothes. He had failed, and he would end up with nothing."
So, I've transmigrated into the epilogue?
Freya looked around, her eyes aching from the overwhelming array of colors. But if converted into money, it would still be a considerable sum for her.
She was grateful for the minor character's past habit of shopping sprees, as these items were now left behind. If she had bought houses or cars, they would have been frozen or seized by now.
Rubbing her temples, Freya thought of the now-bankrupt antagonist and sighed deeply. The antagonist's character, family background, and even abilities were impeccable. It was just that he was in competition with the male lead in business, and with the female lead's help, the male lead had foreseen all his plans, leading to his bankruptcy. He was quite an unfortunate fellow.
The reason the minor character had married Louis was purely because her grandpa had once saved his grandpa. Out of gratitude, Louis had married her after she became an orphan.
The minor character was beautiful but only cared about money. After marrying Louis, she had no sense of being a wife and only spent the money he gave her on shopping. The two of them lived separate lives, and now that Freya had taken over, she didn't have to worry about being exposed or Louis giving her a hard time.
Looking at the bags and clothes around her, Freya sighed again. This was probably the most luxury goods she had ever seen in her life, but unfortunately, she had no interest in these things.
Moreover, these items belonged to Louis. The money he gave was out of care for his wife. She wasn't his wife, and now that she was here, she couldn't just take the remaining wealth and leave while Louis was at his lowest point. Besides, the minor character had no relatives, and Freya had just arrived here with nowhere to go.

Unlock the full story →

Chapter 2 — Organizing Things

Thinking about the description of Louis in the novel, Freya felt that no matter what, she couldn't abandon him at this moment. In the past, Louis had provided for the minor character, and now that she had taken her place, Freya believed it was her duty to do the same. She could work to support him. If she were to leave, it would only be after he had his own income or career.
After spending some more time sorting out her memories and thoughts, Freya got up and began tidying up. The minor character had been completely clueless about household chores. Two days ago, upon learning that Louis had gone bankrupt and that she would no longer receive money, she had done nothing but cry and drown her sorrows in alcohol. All the things she had brought with her were haphazardly piled up in the two-bedroom apartment Louis had recently rented.
It was a miracle Louis had such a good temper and didn't hold it against her. Otherwise, anyone would have been driven mad by the chaos of this place, where there was barely any room to step.
Organizing all of this was a massive task. It took Freya a full three hours to stuff everything into a corner of her room. The pile now reached the ceiling, with over a hundred bags and more than eighty sets of clothes.
Looking at the mountain of luxury goods she had stacked up, Freya wished she could trade the clothes for more bags. After all, bags were easier to sell than clothes.
When she woke up, it was two in the afternoon. Now, it was already past five. Feeling her stomach growling, Freya rummaged through the bag on the coffee table by the door and found her ID card, bank card, and a few hundred dollars.
She didn't even bother checking the kitchen. Louis and the minor character had just moved in a couple of days ago, and neither of them knew how to cook. The kitchen was undoubtedly empty. She would have to find food herself.
She could have ordered takeout, but after some thought, Freya decided against it. The apartment had only been roughly tidied up, and she still needed to clean it properly later. The tables and chairs probably weren't clean, and she didn't want to eat while inhaling dust.
Although the apartment Louis had rented was small, the neighborhood was quite nice, with good security and a convenient location. There were plenty of restaurants downstairs. Freya casually ate a bowl of noodles and, remembering the scarce supplies she had seen in the bathroom, stopped by a nearby supermarket on her way back. She returned carrying a bag of daily necessities. She had also bought items for Louis, choosing colors and styles based on what she remembered he preferred.
Back at the apartment, she started cleaning again. When she opened the door to Louis's room, she found that aside from a few more items on the bookshelf and desk, the room only contained a bed and a few essentials. Freya sighed helplessly. It was hard to imagine how this man, who had grown up in luxury, could endure such a life now.
There wasn't much to organize in his room. After a quick look, she wiped the desk, arranged the documents neatly, and then closed the door, returning to the living room to continue cleaning other areas.
By the time she was finally done, it was already ten.
After washing up, Freya set her late-night snack on the coffee table in the living room, planning to relax and enjoy the food she had brought back.
Just as she unwrapped the food and was about to take her first bite, the sound of the front door opening echoed through the room. Freya looked up and met a pair of eyes as dark and clear as glass.

Unlock the full story →

Chapter 3 — First Meeting

The owner of those eyes looked at Freya expressionlessly, his gaze sweeping across the room unintentionally. A flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes before his attention returned to Freya.
At the same time, Freya took in the man before her. He was extraordinarily handsome, living up to the lavish praise the author had used to describe him. However, his striking appearance was overshadowed by his aura. For the first time, Freya understood how someone could resemble an ancient nobleman, someone who could effortlessly transform into a dashing swordsman with a sword, a commanding general on the battlefield, or a dignified scholar with a book in hand, making others feel ashamed of their own inadequacies.
Unconsciously gripping the fork in her hand, Freya felt a wave of nervousness. She was an imposter, after all.
Is it possible that someone like him wouldn't notice something's off about his wife?
His eyes seemed as though they could see through everything.
"Did you hire a cleaner? Do you still have enough money?" His voice was like the clinking of jade, carrying a hint of husky magnetism.
Freya instinctively shook her head and murmured, "No, I cleaned it myself."
"You cleaned it?" He was visibly surprised.
"Yes, I did it myself," Freya replied, taking a deep breath and looking up. He was staring at her with clear astonishment in his eyes.
Their gazes met for a moment before he was the first to look away. He took off his coat and hung it on the hook by the door. "Do you still have enough money?"
"Yes, I do. What about you?" Freya asked reflexively. He looked at her in surprise again, then replied gently, "I do."
After that, silence fell between them. Louis glanced at the food Freya was eating on the table and suddenly said, "I'm sorry."
"What?" Freya was caught off guard. Following his gaze, she quickly shook her head. "No, there's nothing for you to apologize for."
Louis walked over and sat down on the couch across from her. He spoke carefully, "The property issues have mostly been resolved. All the movable and immovable assets under our names have been seized. Although there's nothing left, we don't have any debts either, so you don't need to worry about that. I still have thirty thousand dollars left. After everything is settled, I'll start earning money as soon as possible. Your card should have sixty thousand dollars on it. I've already paid six months' rent for this apartment. If you want a divorce, I'll give you another twenty thousand, and you can stay here until you find a place to rent."
Freya knew that Louis had already gone above and beyond for his wife. Their total assets now amounted to only ninety thousand dollars. What he meant was that if they divorced, he was willing to give her eighty thousand dollars and allow her to stay here. He certainly wouldn't take the bags and clothes, which meant he would be left with only the apartment and ten thousand dollars.
Seeing her silence, Louis added, "From now on, I'll set aside a portion of my earnings for you every month. At least three thousand, okay? I'm not sure about the future, so that's all I can promise for now. If I ever manage to rebuild my fortune, I'll compensate you."
Freya quickly shook her head. Louis fell silent, his entire demeanor quieting. Realizing that her gesture might have been misunderstood, she immediately explained, "No, I don't want a divorce, and I don't need you to give me money. Don't worry, I still have enough to get by. I've accepted the situation and will spend more carefully from now on. I'll also earn money myself. You don't need to put so much pressure on yourself. Ordinary families don't actually spend that much in a month."

Finished the preview?

Unlock the full ebook now and continue the story right away. Get instant access after purchase — no shipping, no waiting. Delivered as PDF and EPUB for reading on phone, tablet, or desktop.

👉 Unlock the Full Story — Wake Up in a Novel ($15.99)