Chapter 1
Alexander Reed, the golden boy of the city's elite, started talking about suicide after breaking up with his first love.
Then I appeared before him with a face just like hers and became his kept woman.
He lavished me with love and attention and acted like he'd move mountains for me.
But when she came back? I stood there, tears streaming, begging him, "Alex, please don't go."
He tossed cash at me and brushed my hand away with a smirk. "Be good. It was always just a game."
The second he turned around, I pocketed the money.
I turned on my laptop and typed up my report.
[Patient's mood stable. Full recovery from bipolar disorder. Treatment complete.]
Then I packed up, grabbed the ten million dollars from his mom, and prepared to disappear.
*****
An expensive cake sat on the table, candles flickering across my gorgeous profile.
Alexander's arm wrapped around my waist as he kissed my cheek with that adoring smile. "Happy birthday, sweetheart. What are you wishing for?"
"I want to stay with you forev—"
But before I could finish, our phones buzzed in unison.
[Claire Sterling's back in the country.]
As the gossip group chat exploded with the news, I looked at Alexander.
His face was a mask of icy calm, but he clenched his phone, his knuckles bleaching white, looking seriously tense.
Claire's name lit up his phone.
"Alex, I'm back. Can you come get me?" Claire's voice rang out, clear and sweet—nothing like the feigned softness I put on for him.
"Okay."
After barely a pause, he stood up.
I grabbed his hand and looked up at him, voice trembling, eyes red. "Where are you going? It's my birthday. You promised."
He gently wiped the tears, then frowned and pushed my hand away. "Be good, and find something to do. I've got something important to handle."
First time he'd ever turned me down.
"Is it because of Claire?" I asked carefully.
He halted mid-reach for his jacket and threw some cash onto the table.
"Don't make this hard," he said. "It's late. I can't let her go home alone."
I watched him leave, tears falling freely until the door slammed shut.
My sad expression vanished instantly. I grinned and quickly scooped up the cash.
Then, I pulled out my laptop.
Daily log #741: [Mood shows positive response. No issues...]
*****
Everyone knew I was just Alexander's stand-in for his one true love, Claire.
Alexander was legendary for his passionate romances.
Their relationship was the stuff of gossip—explosive together, nuclear when they broke up.
When Claire ghosted him and left the country, Alexander drowned in booze every night.
He went off the rails—street racing, bungee jumping, skydiving. If it was dangerous, he was in.
Multiple hospital trips.
People said he had bipolar disorder and needed professional help.
The Reed family tried everything, including the top therapists; Alexander threw them all out.
I'd just graduated, a counseling certification in hand, sending out résumés everywhere.
The job market was brutal. After countless rejections, I somehow ended up in front of Alexander's mother, Carol Reed.
The elegant woman studied my résumés, then looked me over carefully—her eyes lingering on my face.
"You really do look just like her," Carol said, giving me an approving nod.
Her assistant slipped a bank card into my hand.
"Here's two million dollars. I want you to date my son," she said.
Fresh out of college, I still had some pride, so I hesitated.
"Well... I was actually hoping for a regular job..."
"Help him recover, and I'll give you ten million more when it's done."
Honestly? This was as legit as any job I'd find.
"You have excellent taste, and I won't prove you wrong," I said with an ingratiating smile, tucking the card away before signing the contract.
Carol chuckled, pleased at how quickly I caught on.
A fat stack of documents then landed in front of me.
I was nothing if not a quick learner, so I studied everything about Claire—personality, mannerisms, entire background.
Claire was flawless: sweet, gorgeous, and innocent. However, a spoiled upbringing had left her bratty and arrogantly unforgettable.
That was why she could dump Alexander, walk away without a look back, and leave him obsessed.
To make Alexander fall for me, I had to be similar enough to draw him in—but different enough not to give myself away.
So I borrowed just enough of her style.