Chapter 1

Years ago, Chester Sampson had a huge fight with his first love.

Hurt and angry, she left the country without looking back. To get back at her, he married me—no one but his ever-faithful follower.

Five years into our marriage, she returned.

They made sure everyone saw their reunion online. And he even moved her into the house that was meant to be ours.

Everyone whispered that I was just a side character in their epic love story—a pitiful stand-in.

I never complained or explained, just playing my part as the perfect, obedient wife.

But one night, the wine unlocked a pain I couldn't contain. I found myself holding a faded old picture, sobbing without control.

He grabbed my wrist, his eyes red-rimmed, and choked out, "Eunice, you do love me... don't you?"

I slapped him hard across the face. "You?" I sneered, voice cold. "Don't tell me you actually thought you deserved my love."

*****

I always knew Chester Sampson's heart was with Theresa Spencer. He only married me to make her jealous, hoping she'd return from overseas.

Our wedding felt rushed and impersonal. I walked down the aisle with a distracted groom by my side.

After we got married, I threw myself into playing the role of the substitute.

When he drank, he'd hold me close and whisper words of love—only to murmur Theresa's name at the end.

He loved sketching me, but whenever I lifted my gaze, he'd gently turn my face away. "Stay like that," he'd say. "From this angle, you look most like Theresa."

But gradually, something between us started to shift.

Meals quietly became my favorite dishes, and my closet started filling with clothes picked out just for me.

His sketches began to feature my smiling face. Then on my birthday, with fireworks lighting up the night sky, he whispered "Eunice" again and again—until I felt utterly swept away.

Before long, all his friends were treating me as his wife, as one of their own. He'd just pull me closer, acknowledging it with that silent smile of his.

Everyone was convinced Chester had finally fallen for me. That all changed on our fifth anniversary, when Theresa came back from abroad.

*****

For our anniversary, Chester's friends organized a get-together at the Moonlight Club.

We bumped into Theresa right there in the hallway.

A guy dressed in head-to-toe flashy designer logos was steering her toward a room. "Stop trying to disappear," he told her. "Get back in there and have a drink with them. We need to get this contract signed."

Theresa's eyes were red, and she was clearly reluctant, but she stumbled along anyway.

The man noticed Chester first. "Mr. Shaw," he called out warmly, "it's been too long!"

Chester gave a brief nod, but his gaze lingered on the woman in the man's arms.

Theresa looked up suddenly and saw Chester. She seemed to freeze for a moment before dropping her head, heavy tears falling silently to the floor.

The man gave an awkward laugh. "My girlfriend is throwing a fit. Sorry you had to see this." Then he muttered under his breath at her, telling her to stop making a scene.

Someone from our group chimed in with a smug tone, "Well, look who it is. Theresa. Life hasn't been kind since you left Chester, has it?

"Maybe you should ask Chester for a business deal. That will save yourself from being paraded around by your boyfriend.

"Chester used to be head over heels for you. He wouldn't just stand by and do nothing. Right, Chester?"

Chester shot him a frosty glare. "Keep running your mouth in front of my wife, and you can leave."

He pulled me closer, brushed a kiss against my ear, and whispered gently, "Don't listen to him, honey. You're the only one I love."

His friends cracked up, joking that the lovey-dovey display was almost too much to watch.

But only I could feel how tightly he was gripping my shoulder.

Theresa's eyes brimmed with tears as she shot me a look full of jealousy and resentment.

Just then, the door to a nearby private room flew open, and a heavyset, drunk man stumbled out.

His eyes lit up when he spotted Theresa, and he yanked her into his arms. "We've been waiting for you to join us for drinks. Get in here," he said, his hand already groping her waist.

The guy dripping with tacky designer gear flashed an apologetic smile and trailed after it into the room.

Chester's expression turned to ice as he watched, his fists clenched so tight that his knuckles turned white.

Right before she disappeared inside, Theresa glanced back at him, tears in her eyes, and silently mouthed his name.

Her boyfriend shoved her impatiently. "Stop wasting time. If you mess up this deal, I'll make you pay for it."

Before he could finish speaking, Chester slammed into him. The force of the kick sent both him and the guy clutching Theresa crashing to the ground.

Chester's punches rained down on them without mercy.

He didn't stop until they were barely conscious. "If you ever lay a hand on her again," he snarled, "I'll kill you."

People in the private room heard the commotion and came out to see what was going on.

I could see things were about to get out of hand, so I rushed over and tried to convince him to leave.

But he pushed my hand away sharply. "Get away from me."

I stumbled back, hitting the wall, and could only watch them in stunned silence.

Theresa sobbed as she threw herself into Chester's arms. "Chester, I'm so scared. They're all being horrible to me. Please, take me away from here."

Chester looked down at her for a long moment, and then slowly pulled her into his embrace, holding her like something precious he'd thought was lost forever.

Clutching my aching stomach, I watched them walk away, too stunned to process what had just happened.

Now that his first love was back, he didn't want me anymore.