Chapter 1
For the past three years, I always thought Varys Fenn was just born aloof.
But now, I saw the truth—I was merely Brianna Parker's substitute, unworthy of his tenderness.
Now that his real lover had returned, it was time for me to disappear from his life.
***
Candlelight flickered atop an exquisite silver candelabra, bathing the entire dining room in a warm, romantic glow.
For the third time, I rearranged the roses, ensuring every detail was flawless.
In the mirror, I saw myself in a flowing white gown, my blond hair cascading down like a waterfall. Varys always liked that outfit on me best.
It was our third anniversary.
A smile tugged at my lips as my fingers brushed over the carefully prepared gift on the table.
It was a photo album I'd spent three months making by hand, capturing every moment we shared.
Though Varys never lacked luxury goods, I always believed that some things money just couldn't buy.
The moment my phone lit up, I practically lunged for it.
Varys: [Jennie, something came up. I'll be back late. Don't wait for me for dinner.]
Those brief words hit me like a bucket of ice water, dousing all my anticipation.
I bit my lower lip and replied: [It's fine. Work comes first. I'll wait for you.]
The hours crept by—ten, eleven, midnight...
The steak had long gone cold, and the candles had burned down to nothing.
I curled up on the sofa and watched a boring late-night infomercial on TV.
Suddenly, a breaking entertainment bulletin flashed across the screen. "Varys Fenn, CEO of Fenn Group, has been spotted at a charity gala with a mysterious woman. They appeared very close. A new romance is swirling..."
I jerked upright, my eyes glued to the screen.
On the broadcast, Varys looked devastatingly handsome in a black suit, and beside him stood a woman. When I saw her face, the remote in my hands clattered to the floor.
She wore a champagne-colored gown, smiling with effortless grace, her features bearing an uncanny resemblance to mine.
But she was even more refined and elegant than I, like a masterpiece.
The broadcast continued, "Sources say the woman is Brianna Parker, the only heiress of Parker Group, recently returned from studying overseas..."
Brianna Parker, that name pierced through me like a dagger to the heart.
With trembling fingers, I typed her name into the search bar. Instantly, my screen was flooded with news and photos.
[Finance talent Brianna returns...]
[Fenn & Parker Groups poised for powerful alliance...]
[Childhood sweethearts rekindled? Varys and Brianna spotted together...]
My vision blurred with unshed tears. In those photos, Varys was gazing at her with a tenderness I'd never seen before.
He shielded her through the crowd, pulled out her chair like a gentleman, and leaned in to whisper in her ear with a smile.
Over the past three years, I always thought Varys was just cold by nature, only to realize that I never deserved his love.
My stomach churned violently. I rushed into the bathroom and retched over the sink, but nothing came up.
When I finally looked up, my reflection in the mirror stared back at me—ghostly pale, eyes red and swollen. That white gown now looked utterly ridiculous on me.
Now I understand why, when we first met three years ago, Varys fell for an ordinary girl like me; why he'd always unconsciously stroke my eyes; why sometimes, when he looked at me, it was as if he was seeing someone else through me. From the very beginning, I, Jennifer Yates, was never anything but Brianna's substitute.
Now that Brianna had come back, it was time for me to disappear from their life.