It was my boyfriend Gavin’s birthday, and he was completely wasted. Someone in the crowd started chanting, urging him to kiss me. But instead of leaning in, he stared at me with glassy, unfocused eyes and slurred out the wrong name. The room fell into an awkward, stunned silence. One of his buddies let out a nervous laugh, trying to diffuse the tension. “Mila, don’t take it to heart. Gavin’s had too much to drink. Chloe’s married, for God’s sake. There’s no way anything’s going on between them.” But Gavin wasn’t done. He drunkenly pushed my hand away, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear. “The only person I care about is Chloe,” he blurted out, swaying unsteadily. “If you didn’t look like her, do you really think I’d ever have dated you?” The humiliation hit like a slap. My vision blurred, but I refused to cry in front of them. Instead, I calmly turned around, stepped out of the room, and pulled out my phone. Dialing a familiar number, I spoke evenly into the receiver: “Mrs. Rhodes? I’ve decided to leave Gavin. You can transfer the million dollars now.” 0
My dad was the Rhodes family’s driver. After his sudden passing, they took me in as their foster daughter. By the time I got to college, I had become Gavin Rhodes’ girlfriend—the golden boy of the family. People around us whispered that I was a phoenix rising from the ashes, lucky to hold on to Gavin, my so-called golden ticket. To outsiders, he seemed like the perfect boyfriend. But I knew the truth—I was nothing more than a stand-in. When Mrs. Rhodes called to confirm my decision, I gave her a firm answer. She promised the money would be wired into my account the next day. She asked me to keep the arrangement confidential and gave me time to pack my things. Not that there was much to pack. I owned little of my own. Most of the clothes in my closet weren’t even my style, just things I had been given to wear to “fit in.” I folded my few favorite outfits, placed them carefully in a small suitcase, and zipped it shut. That’s when Gavin stumbled out of the bedroom, rubbing his eyes in irritation. He clicked his tongue, clearly annoyed. “Where are you running off to now? Back to the dorms? Or some budget motel?” Then, as if it was nothing, he shrugged and added: “What’s the big deal? I only mentioned Chloe. She’s not even back yet, so your ‘Mrs. Rhodes’ title is still safe for now.” But I didn’t want that title anymore. I was about to tell him I was leaving for good when his custom ringtone for Chloe started playing. His face lit up, and before I could say a word, he was racing back to the bedroom to answer her call. “Mila,” he said as he came rushing back out, excitement plastered all over his face. “Chloe’s coming home. I’m going to pick her up right now. Since you’ve already packed, just go stay in the guesthouse next door for now.” He tossed me a key without waiting for a response. I nodded calmly. “Sure.” For a moment, he looked surprised, even a little confused, before shaking it off. “It’s only temporary,” he said quickly. “Once Chloe’s settled, you can come back.” “No need,” I replied quietly. I didn’t explain further. I’d already applied to a prestigious university overseas and was waiting for my acceptance. 0
Gavin, assuming I was just sulking, didn’t press the issue. He left in a hurry to pick up Chloe, too preoccupied to notice the finality in my words. I, however, left the key on the couch, grabbed my luggage, and checked into a five-star hotel. For once, I could afford the luxury. The money Mrs. Rhodes promised had already hit my account. I planned to stay here until graduation, and then leave this city—leave Gavin and his “perfect” Chloe behind for good. But before I could even settle in, my phone buzzed. Gavin’s name lit up the screen. “Come to Golden Maple Estates,” he ordered the moment I picked up. “Chloe wants to see you. Be here in thirty minutes.” “I’m not interested,” I replied flatly. There was a pause, and his voice sharpened with irritation. “Mila, quit being so dramatic. Have I ever asked you for much? These past few years, I’ve paid for everything—your school, your clothes, your vacations. The least you can do is show up when I need you.” Before I could respond, he added coldly, “The driver’s on the way. Be downstairs.” The line went dead. I sighed and stared at the phone, its screen now blank. For the sake of keeping my agreement with Mrs. Rhodes, I reluctantly hailed a cab and headed to the estate. The moment I stepped into the private dining room, a cake flew straight at me. I didn’t have time to dodge—it hit me squarely in the chest, smearing frosting across my sleek black dress. Across the room, Chloe stood with a little boy at her side. She was wearing a strikingly similar black skirt, the kind that looked made for her. Feigning a scolding tone, she gently nudged the boy. “Sweetheart, apologize to the lady for throwing the cake.” But the boy just stuck out his tongue and sneered. “Bad woman! You’re copying my mom’s clothes! But you’re ugly, and you don’t look as good as her!” He wasn’t wrong. Chloe, with her effortless elegance and undeniable charm, wore the dress like it was made for her. Gavin, standing nearby, frowned slightly and motioned toward the bathroom with a tilt of his chin. “Mila, why are you wearing that? Go change into something else.” 0
Chloe gave a small, amused smile and said, “Gavin, don’t be so harsh. It’s just a dress. Anyone can wear it. If Mila likes it, let her keep it.” The words stung, not because of what she said, but because I knew the truth. Gavin had bought me this dress because it was a replica of hers. He’d gone out of his way to track it down after it sold out, even paying a ridiculous price to get it secondhand. I wiped most of the frosting off my skirt with a napkin and kept my head down. “It’s secondhand anyway. Now that it’s ruined, I might as well toss it.” Chloe’s expression froze for a moment, her confident smile faltering just slightly. Then she pouted, her tone laced with mock hurt. “Mila, there’s no need to be so passive-aggressive. Sure, I’ve been divorced, but my feelings for Gavin are genuine.” She glanced at Gavin, her lips curving upward again. “Anyway, what’s the point of rehashing old stories? None of that matters now that I’m back, right?” I frowned. She had left years ago, not because of me, but because Mrs. Rhodes had fired her after finding out she was pregnant. Yet here she was, twisting the narrative as if I had something to do with it. But Gavin didn’t give me the chance to respond. Instead, he squeezed Chloe’s hand tightly and declared, loud enough for everyone to hear, “No one will ever have the power to make you leave again.” He shot me a pointed, almost accusatory look, as if I were the villain in this story. The bitterness in my chest swelled, and I excused myself under the pretense of cleaning my dress. I slipped into the bathroom, where I sent Gavin a short message: “We’re done.” But before I could leave, Gavin was already outside the door, waiting for me. He leaned against the wall, his arms crossed, a frown etched deep into his face. “What’s that supposed to mean?” “It means I’m done, Gavin,” I said, my voice steady. “Chloe’s back now. There’s no need for me, the stand-in, anymore.” His hand shot out, grabbing my wrist tightly. His laugh was sharp, tinged with disbelief and anger. “You’re breaking up with me? Do you think you have that kind of power? Don’t forget, Mila, everything you have—everything—was given to you by the Rhodes family. Even you belong to us.” He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a cold whisper. “If you leave now, people will think Chloe had something to do with it. Is that what you want?” 05 Ignoring my protests, Gavin dragged me back to the private room. Chloe lifted her wine glass with a smug smile, tilting it slightly in my direction. “I thought you’d left already,” she said sweetly, as if she were welcoming an old friend. “Thank you for taking care of Gavin while I was gone all these years.” Gavin pressed a shot of vodka into my hand. “Chloe’s toasting you. Don’t be rude.” I stared at the glass, my stomach churning. Memories from years ago flooded my mind. It was the summer before college, shortly after Chloe had left. Gavin had been devastated, spending his nights drinking himself into oblivion. One night, he got into trouble at a bar, and a group of thugs forced him to drink an entire bottle of vodka. I had stepped in, grabbing the bottle and downing it myself to protect him. The alcohol was so strong that I ended up vomiting blood from stomach ulcers. Ever since then, Gavin had been fiercely protective, forbidding me from touching alcohol. Anytime someone pressured me to drink, he would step in without hesitation. But tonight, he didn’t say a word. Chloe, meanwhile, took a tiny sip of her red wine, coughing delicately as her face turned pink. Gavin immediately rushed to her side, taking the glass from her hand. “Don’t drink anymore. I’m here. No one can force you to do anything.” Chloe leaned against him, her gaze soft and adoring as she glanced at me. “What about you, Mila? Are you not drinking? Don’t tell me you can’t handle it either?” Gavin’s voice cut through the tension. “She can drink. Mila, don’t ruin the mood.” I said nothing. Without hesitation, I downed the vodka in one shot. The burning sensation clawed at my throat and settled like fire in my stomach, but I didn’t flinch. I simply placed the empty glass on the table and turned to leave. Gavin frowned but didn’t stop me. “Gavin,” Chloe murmured, her voice soft and sweet, “it’s so late. Aren’t you going to walk Mila home?” He hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. “She’ll be fine on her own. I need to take you and the baby home.” That was it. The last thread of warmth I had for him snapped. The pain in my stomach became unbearable by the time I got back to the hotel. A staff member ended up driving me to the emergency room, where I was treated for alcohol-related gastritis. While I lay in the hospital bed, my phone buzzed with a notification. It was a message from Chloe. The photo attached showed her lying in my bed, wearing nothing but the sheets. A steaming bowl of soup sat on the nightstand next to her. Her message read: “Thanks for training him so well. My stomach was feeling off, and he even made me soup. :)” 06 When I saw her message, I was surprised to find I didn’t feel any sadness—not even anger. Just… nothing. “Wish you both the best.” That’s the text I sent back. Shortly after, Gavin called. “Mila, I didn’t sleep with her. Don’t go around saying things like that,” he blurted out, his voice tense. After a brief pause, he added, “And don’t ruin Chloe’s reputation. She’s about to start working at your college as a counselor.” “Oh, got it,” I replied flatly. I was about to graduate. None of this mattered to me anymore. My calm tone left him at a loss for words. In Gavin’s mind, I’d always been the obedient one, but I had a tendency to get a little moody when it came to him—especially when another woman was involved. I would sulk, get upset, and he’d usually respond with annoyance. But now? I wasn’t angry. I wasn’t upset. And that seemed to unsettle him. “You’d better not start anything,” he said awkwardly. “Chloe will be at your graduation ceremony. And remember, her divorce is a private matter. Don’t go spreading it around.” “Sure thing. Anything else you need me to do, sir?” I asked, my voice laced with sarcasm. Gavin hung up abruptly. What I didn’t see was him furiously throwing his phone across the room, his face red with frustration. He thought my indifference was just another one of my tricks to get his attention. In retaliation, he cut off my credit card. “When you finally understand where you stand, come beg me for money.” It was ironic. There had been countless times before when he’d tossed his card at me, telling me to “spend whatever you want.” But aside from covering basic living expenses, I’d never really used it. And now? I didn’t need it anymore. 07 At the graduation ball, Gavin showed up with Chloe, just as I’d expected. The moment they walked in, the entire room seemed to pause. Then came the whispers, the subtle glances darting between me and Chloe. “That’s Mila’s boyfriend, isn’t it? Why is he holding someone else’s hand? And… why are they dressed so similarly?” “I heard Mila’s just a stand-in. Gavin’s always been in love with her.” I hadn’t realized the champagne-colored gown I’d chosen for the night would end up matching Chloe’s. I’d picked it myself, thinking it was the perfect choice. The only person I’d shown it to beforehand was Gavin. I’d even asked him to take a picture of me in it to see how it looked. At the time, he’d been impatient, brushing me off with, “Wear whatever you want. It’s not like I care.” But now, he stood beside Chloe, treating her like she was the most precious thing in the world. Even his tie matched the color of her dress. I instinctively turned to leave, but Chloe called out to me, her voice soft and apologetic. She bit her lip, feigning guilt. “Mila, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you’d wear this dress too. I thought you wouldn’t… you know, try to copy me again. Should I go change?” Her words stopped me in my tracks. Before I could respond, Gavin strode toward me, his face dark with anger. “Mila, I thought you’d moved on,” he snapped. “But here you are, pulling this stunt. Take off the dress. Now.” “Why should I?” I shot back, standing my ground for the first time. “I bought this dress with my own money. Not a single cent of it came from the Rhodes family.” Gavin’s lips twisted into a mocking smirk. “Your own money? Mila, you’re an orphan. The only reason you’ve survived this long is because of the Rhodes family. What right do you have to act defiant now?” He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a low, menacing tone. “If you won’t take it off, I’ll have it taken off for you.” He glanced around and gave a subtle nod. From the crowd, a group of his security guards stepped forward, heading straight for me.
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