Chapter 1

Everyone in Havara City knew that the rich young heir, Matthew Grant, had married an eighteen-year-old beauty and that he spoiled her beyond reason. For three straight years, he'd been the picture of devotion: no scandals, no rumors, no other women.

In the fourth year of their marriage, his young wife, Emily Shaw, found out she was pregnant.

The positive sign on the test made her heart race with excitement. She couldn't wait to tell Matthew and went straight to his office. But just as she reached the conference room, she froze. A woman's moans drifted out from behind the door.

Emily stood there, stunned. Through the crack, she saw Matthew passionately kissing another woman.

His voice was rough and low, the way it always was when he whispered sweet things. "Baby, I've waited four years for this. Now that I finally have you, I feel like I'm losing my mind."

The woman gasped softly, "You married a college girl, Matthew. Don't pretend you've been waiting for me."

Matthew kissed her harder, his voice urgent against her lips. "That marriage certificate was canceled the day of the wedding. She was never really my wife. You were the one I wanted all along.

"My parents faked your death and forced her on me. But now that you're back, I don't need a substitute anymore. Claire, you're the only one I've ever loved."

*****

Matthew kissed her harder, pressing the woman against the door until she went weak in his arms.

Emily froze outside, her mind completely blank.

She gripped the pregnancy test so tight her nails dug into her palm until blood welled up.

All those years... she was nothing more than a stand-in.

Her heart shattered. She stumbled back, tears spilling uncontrollably down her cheeks.

When Matthew finally opened the door, he froze at the sight of her kneeling on the floor, face streaked with tears.

"Honey." He rushed over, pulling her into his arms. "When did you get here? Why are you crying?"

Emily bit her lip hard, forcing back a sob. She shook her head, hiding the pregnancy test behind her back. "I just—"

"Matthew," the woman inside called softly, "I still need to talk to you."

Matthew's eyes flicked toward the door, his tone instantly shifting. "Honey, I'm in a meeting right now. Give me a few minutes, okay?"

Without waiting for a reply, he turned and went back inside, locking the door behind him.

That was the moment Emily finally broke down. Her sobs echoed down the empty hallway, her vision blurred with tears as flashes of their past flooded her mind.

Back in college, she'd been the golden girl—confident, beautiful, and completely untouchable. Every rich heir and city socialite had tried to win her over, but she wasn't interested. She had dreams of studying oil painting abroad, not wasting time on romance.

Then Matthew appeared.

He was eight years older, heir to the powerful Grant family, known across Havara City for his money, charm, and infamously reckless temper.

The first time he saw Emily, he fell hard, and he didn't hide it. He literally blocked her car with his Maybach and told her he wanted her to be his girlfriend.

After Emily turned him down the first time, Matthew bought her entire university that same night. Overnight, he became the new chairman of the board—just so he could see her every day.

When she rejected him again, he sent her a diamond crown fit for royalty, each gem engraved with her name.

Emily began to waver. She couldn't deny that being chased so obsessively had its thrill. Eventually, she told him that if he really wanted her, he needed to prove he was serious.

So, on his twenty-ninth confession, Matthew took things to a whole new level. He livestreamed himself jumping out of his private jet, free-falling through the sky just to show her that his love for her was so real, he'd risk his life for it.

The moment she saw Matthew plunge into the ocean, Emily completely fell for him—lost in the madness of his love.

That night, she said yes. Matthew gave her everything—mansions, cars, even an art museum—and proposed on one knee, slipping a massive diamond ring onto her finger.

Emily stood there in a daze, barely processing his words. "Sweetheart," he murmured, voice soft but full of conviction, "marry me. I swear you'll be the only woman I ever love. And if I ever break that promise, may I lose everything I have."

He turned the vow into a curse, sealing it into the ring with some witch's ritual.

Emily dropped out of school and abandoned her dream of painting abroad. She became his wife in a thirty-million-dollar wedding that made headlines worldwide.

She really thought it was forever.

But now she realized she had wasted four years being someone else's substitute.

Emily's jaw tightened. She snapped the pregnancy test in half, threw it to the floor, and walked away without looking back.

*****

When Emily got back to Grant Villa, she lost control. She kicked open the door to the one room Matthew had always forbidden her to enter.

The moment the door flew open, she froze. Every inch of the wall was covered with photos—photos of the same woman.

Emily's breath hitched. The woman in those pictures looked so much like her—same face shape, same smile.

Even their hobbies matched. That woman loved painting in the garden too.

Emily walked toward the massive LED screen across the room and pressed play. The video started with her birthday party from a month ago.

Matthew had thrown her a lavish celebration, inviting half the rich kids in Havara City. In the video, Emily looked radiant, glowing with happiness.

But then the camera cut to another scene. Inside a private lounge, Matthew was kissing another woman—Claire—like he couldn't get enough of her.

Laughter echoed in the background.

"Congrats, man. Your old flame's back in the picture!" one of them joked.

"Just make sure Matt's wife doesn't find out," another chimed in. "She's still pretty young, right? No way she could handle knowing her husband's got a girlfriend he's been in love with for ten years."

Someone snorted and added, "What can you do? Emily was always just a stand-in anyway. Sure, Matt's got her wrapped around his finger, but she's no match for the one who got away."

Matthew suddenly looked up, his expression dark. "Don't you dare say that in front of Claire again."

The room went silent.

Once Claire was out of sight, Matthew leaned in and said coldly, "If any of you tell Emily what happened tonight, I'll make sure you never open your mouths again."

One of his friends frowned. "Man, what's your deal? It's your wife's birthday, and you brought your ex to your own house to show off? And now you're threatening us? That's way too much."

Matthew smirked. "Emily and I aren't really married. The paperwork was canceled the day of the wedding. Legally, I'm single. And Claire isn't some random fling. I didn't cheat, so there's nothing dangerous about it."

"Still," another friend said quietly, "if Emily finds out she's just a replacement..."

Matthew's tone turned icy. "She won't. I told you—I'm keeping them both. So keep your mouths shut."

The screen went black.

Emily stood there trembling. Her tears splashed onto the floor.

All this time—on her birthday, when she couldn't find him—he'd been in that lounge with Claire and had a good time.

When he told her he was flying abroad for urgent business, he was just lying through his teeth.

Her chest felt tight, her whole body hollow.

That night, she went to the hospital and ended the pregnancy.

When it was over, she could barely stand. Still, she dragged herself back to Grant Villa and called her mother overseas.

"Mom," she said softly, her voice shaking, "I miss you and Dad. I think... I want to come home. And I want to finish my art degree."

Miranda could hear the pain in her daughter's voice, but didn't pry. "Of course, sweetheart. I'm glad you've finally realized what really matters. I'll take care of everything. You'll be on a plane in eight days, and we'll all be together again."

"Thank you, Mom." Emily wiped her tears.

Just eight days, and she'd finally be free of Matthew forever.

But the moment that thought crossed her mind, the bedroom door suddenly opened. Emily looked up, and her blood ran cold.

"Honey," Matthew said gently, eyes filled with fake concern. "Why are you crying?"