Chapter 1

In Newford City's wealthy circle, there was a new prank everyone had become obsessed with.

My boyfriend, who had always treated me with such care, supposedly got into a car accident on his way to buy me flowers. Before he "died", he made me promise to look after his younger brother.

But his brother looked exactly like him. And because of that, I eventually developed feelings for him too.

It wasn't until one night, when he got drunk and muttered something in his sleep, that the truth finally hit me.

There had never been a car accident. There had never been a younger brother. It had been him the entire time.

When I broke down, he didn't even flinch.

He just sneered and said, "Please. Playing with you was already doing you a favor. A broke girl like you should've been grateful I kept you around for three years."

And just when I finally lost all hope and decided to walk away, that was when he completely lost it.

*****

"William's little plaything is about to show up. All of you better keep it together and don't blow the whole act."

The warning slipped through the cracked door. My hand stalled on the handle, and I instinctively pulled back.

"Come on, you've said that a dozen times. Relax. As long as William's not done playing, we're not stupid enough to mess it up."

Playing? Mess what up?

I frowned. A prickle of unease crawled up my spine.

A man chuckled, "William really outdid himself this time. Who comes up with a fake twin brother just to keep a girl hooked? And every time Jessica bends over backward for him out of guilt, you have no idea how hard I have to hold in my laughter.

"Honestly, if William weren't still having fun, I'd spill the truth to Jessica myself. I'm dying to see her face when she finds out Alex and William are the exact same person."

The room erupted in laughter, but I felt like I had been dropped into freezing water. My whole body went stiff.

I wasn't stupid. I understood exactly what they were saying the moment the words left their mouths.

But God, how I wished it was all just a misunderstanding.

I took a long, shaky breath and forced myself to pull it together before pushing the door open as if I hadn't heard a thing.

Alex had clearly had too much to drink. He was passed out on the couch.

I walked toward him as calmly as I could, fighting the tremor in my throat. Then I tested him with a soft call. "William?"

Alex didn't even open his eyes. He just answered with a quiet, instinctive "Yeah."

That one sound told me everything.

I stood there completely blank, not even sure what expression I was supposed to make.

We had been together for three years. He had lied to me for three whole years.

I had believed William died because of me. For countless nights, guilt crushed me until I could hardly breathe.

To make up for it, I stayed by Alex's side and let him do whatever he wanted to me, without a shred of dignity, never daring to complain.

And all of it—every tear, every nightmare—had just been part of his little performance.

I was nothing but the clown on his stage, spinning around while the whole world laughed at me.

The fury hit me so hard it nearly blinded me. I grabbed the glass on the table and threw the entire drink in his face.

The cold shock sobered him a little. His eyes snapped open, and he glared at me. "Jessica, what the hell is wrong with you?"

My fists tightened, nails digging into my palms. "Alex—no, William. I'm not losing it. How long were you planning to play me?"

William's eyes widened. His expression shifted instantly. "How did you find out? Who told you?"

Most of his drunken haze disappeared. He slowly sat up, scanning the room with a dark look.

The friends who had been bragging so loudly just moments ago immediately looked away, guilt written all over their faces.

I let out a cold laugh and swept a glance across them.

I snapped, "Tell me, William. Are you delusional or just pathetic? The heir of the Eaton family, and the only way you can feel important is by screwing with a woman like me?"

His face twisted, ugly and tight.

For three years, weighed down by guilt, I had done everything he wanted without a word of protest.

He had never seen me like this.

William narrowed his eyes, a flicker of embarrassment flashing through them before anger took over.

He shot back, "Jessica, who the hell do you think you are? You think you get to talk to me like that? You should be grateful I even kept you around for three years."

Of course. He had used my guilt to chain me to him, and now he dared to act like he had done me a favor.

I swallowed hard, forcing back the tears burning at the corners of my eyes. "In that case, do me a favor and let me go. From now on, don't ever show up in front of me again."

I turned to leave the second I finished speaking.

"Jessica!" William shot to his feet and slammed the table aside, roaring my name. "Who told you you could walk away?"

The friends who had caused the whole mess exchanged a look and suddenly grabbed me by the arms.

"Jessica, be smart. Don't make this worse."

"William choosing you was the best thing that ever happened to you."

I let out a laugh—sharp, humorless—and gave them a mocking look. "If you think it's such a blessing, why don't you ask William for a new script and take turns being his toy for three years? How does that sound?"

"You—"

The color drained from every single face in the room.

A vein throbbed on William's forehead, anger twisting his expression. "Jessica, get over here. I know you're just upset right now. As long as you come to me, I'll forget everything you said."

Even now, he sounded like he was doing me a favor, as if he was certain I wouldn't dare leave.

In his eyes, I must have been completely worthless.

I couldn't keep up the illusion of being calm anymore. I snapped and started struggling like a madwoman.

I shouted, "Let go of me! Let go! William, you bastard! What gives you the right to crush my dignity like this? Who do you think you are?"

The rage inside me hit so hard that I fought with a strength I didn't even know I had. Two grown men could barely hold me down.

Someone shoved me in the chaos. I tripped and crashed onto the floor, landing hard.

A dull pain shot through my lower abdomen. I gasped twice, trying to pull myself up.

Tears spilled before I even realized it, dropping one after another.