After I donated a kidney to the man Chloe truly loved, my girlfriend, who had given me the silent treatment for a month, finally agreed to make up. She even arranged a get-together with drinks as a reward. Her best friend, Brittany, chuckled, “Chloe, you really know how to play your cards. Liam isn’t just obedient, he’s totally devoted to you. Such a good man, are you really going to let him go and marry Julian instead?” Chloe scoffed, a cold sneer on her face. “He’s nothing but a placeholder. The only reason I haven’t gotten bored all these years is because of his face—it’s a near-perfect double for Julian’s.” Their eyes met, and they shared a knowing smile. “Then why not have Liam be a groomsman at the wedding? At least it wouldn’t be a total waste of him following you for eight years.” Chloe let out a dismissive laugh. “A joke! What’s his status? Does he really think he’s fit to stand next to Julian?” “This little gathering is just a pat on the back for helping Julian out. Consider it a thank you for all his devotion to me over the years.” I’d heard Chloe’s entire monologue right outside the door. When I calmly pushed it open, I didn’t argue. She had no idea. Today was the last day I was *her* placeholder. Tomorrow, the girl I’d always loved was coming back.
The moment I stepped inside, everyone’s eyes locked on me. A shared look of disdain flickered across their faces. I took it all in, though I plastered on a clueless expression as I handed Chloe the dessert she’d specifically asked for. The next second, her face hardened, and her words sent the room’s atmosphere plunging to freezing point: “Liam, the ice cream’s completely melted. You bring it to me now? Are you intentionally trying to gross me out?” Before her words even finished, the dessert—which I’d waited an hour in line for and walked two miles to get her—was violently slammed into the trash can. I glanced down. The ice cream was barely soft, it hadn’t melted enough to affect the taste at all. Brittany, Chloe’s best friend, saw this and handed me a drink, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “You clearly don’t care much about our dear Chloe, do you? Why don’t you chug three glasses as a penalty to prove your sincerity?” Others chimed in, their faces twisted into mocking grins. I touched the bandage wrapped around my lower back, hesitated for a moment, then took the glass and downed it in one go. As soon as I set the glass down, Brittany handed me another one, brimming full. I frowned instantly, not reaching for it. That first glass had pushed my body to its limit. If I drank any more, something serious would happen. I looked at Chloe, hoping she’d explain my situation. But she just watched, a cold mask on her face, with no intention of speaking up for me. Brittany saw my hesitation and sneered, “Chloe, looks like your boyfriend isn’t all that devoted after all, is he? Just two measly drinks, and he’s dragging his feet.” Chloe shot me a cold, displeased glare, then stepped forward and slapped me across the face. “Liam, what’s your problem today? Usually, you can hold your liquor just fine!” “And here I was, so kind as to throw a party to reward you! Is this how you treat me? You won’t even drink three glasses for me!” At her words, I turned my head, my eyes darkening. I’d thought that after I’d sacrificed a kidney, she’d change her usual bossy attitude toward me. But no, it only got worse. She completely forgot I couldn’t drink now. I met her gaze, gently reminding her, “Chloe, my kidney incision hasn’t healed. Don’t you know I can’t drink?” Her eyes flickered with surprise, but it quickly vanished in the dim light of the room. Then she said indifferently, “Can’t drink just because you donated a kidney? Do you think everyone in this room is stupid? If you want to avoid drinking, find a better excuse.” Brittany chimed in sarcastically, “Exactly! I see everyone else drinking just fine. Why can’t you? Or are you just refusing on purpose? All this liquor on the table, it’s Chloe’s heartfelt gesture for you.” As she spoke, a full table of drinks appeared, nearly a hundred glasses. Seeing the cold indifference on her face, with no thought for my well-being, I immediately decided to turn and leave. But Chloe’s clique wasn’t about to let me walk away. They ordered someone to hold me down and force-fed me the liquor. The strong alcohol burned my throat and chest, a tearing, agonizing pain. I frantically looked to Chloe for help, but she just watched, a detached observer, as if I were a stranger. Just when I thought I was going to be completely ruined by these people, Chloe, who’d been as still as a statue, finally moved. The next second, she walked over and grabbed the glass that was being forced into my mouth. I thought she’d finally had a change of heart, that she was going to stop this absurd charade. Instead, she said coldly, “Hold on a minute, Julian’s calling.” The moment she answered the phone, Chloe became soft and gentle, like a completely different person. “Okay, I’m heading out to get you dessert now. Wait for me.” At that moment, a wave of dizziness washed over my head, and my consciousness began to fade. Just as Chloe hung up, I collapsed right in front of her. Everyone else started to panic. Chloe frowned, glanced at me, then at the two-thirds of untouched drinks on the table, and said with utter disdain: “Don’t mind him. He’s just faking it, trying to get out of drinking.” “I need to go get dessert for Julian. I’m leaving.” Chloe walked out without a backward glance. Brittany then kicked me twice. When I still didn’t react, she finally realized something was wrong and scurried away in a panic. The others, seeing this, also found excuses to slip away. I was left alone, abandoned in the room. Eventually, it was the cleaning lady who called 911 for me. When I woke up, my phone suddenly vibrated with a new message.
It was from Julian. I tapped it open, and there it was: a picture of him and Chloe with their marriage certificate. My fingers clenched. I stared at the photo, frozen, until the screen went dark. All these years Chloe and I had been together, for various reasons, we’d unspokenly avoided any talk of marriage. We’d fallen in love at first sight, our feelings growing rapidly. In our social circles, we were considered the “perfect couple.” We hiked together, camped together, even traveled together. We did everything a typical couple would do. I thought I’d live happily ever after. I just never imagined those days would end so soon. I started noticing her demands becoming stranger, but I indulged her, letting her have her way, not thinking too much of it. At first, she just wanted to control my outfits. I figured she thought my style was bad, so I just let her. Later, she escalated to controlling my preferences, dictating my manners, and even specifically hiring a private coach for me. That’s when I started to suspect something. After a little digging, I learned about Julian. Only then did I understand that everything she’d done for me before was actually for Julian. From that point on, I often felt that when she looked at me, she was looking *through* my eyes, at someone else. For eight long years, we never acknowledged the unspoken truth. Until Julian returned to the country. Once he knew I existed, he pulled out all the stops to impress Chloe. He repeatedly mocked me, saying I was nothing more than his stand-in. Photos like the one I just received? I’d lost count of how many I’d gotten. Chloe pushed the door open, wrinkling her nose as she stepped in, a thermal container in her hand. Her voice was dismissive. “I thought you were dead. Didn’t expect you to have so many lives.” She saw my gaze land on the container in her hand and said coldly, “I spent all afternoon making this chicken soup for Julian. It’s not for you. Besides, you’re awake now, so you don’t need it anyway.” She paused, her eyes darkening, then forced a sweet smile. “Since you’re fine, then the cake for Julian’s birthday tomorrow is on you. Don’t disappoint me again.” Before I could answer, she walked out, carrying the thermal container. She’d always been like that with me. I’d grown used to it over the years. She’d once hired a private pastry chef to teach me, wanting me to be more like Julian. I’d picked up the basics. But of all the elaborate desserts I’d made for her, not once was she satisfied. She even took a cake I’d spent an entire day on and fed it to a dog. She’d coldly glanced at the mess on the floor and declared without shame, “Liam, you’re truly useless. You can’t even handle such a small thing. You really can’t even hold a candle to Julian.” Thinking of this, I called out to her, “Don’t you dislike the cakes I make?” She turned to face me, her voice impatient. “If Julian hadn’t specifically asked you to make it, do you think you’d even have the chance?” She was right. If it weren’t for Julian, she’d probably make it herself, or at the very least, order a custom one. There’s no way it would fall to me. Before I could open my mouth again, all that was left was the sound of the door slamming shut. Smelling the lingering scent of chicken soup that didn’t belong in my hospital room, I suddenly remembered Julian’s room was just one floor above mine. One floor away, he was in a luxurious VIP suite with full amenities and gourmet recovery meals. He certainly didn’t need Chloe’s measly bowl of chicken soup. And me, her placeholder? The moment I was pushed out of the operating room, Chloe had intended to leave me to recover on a gurney in the hallway. It was only after my surgeon strongly insisted, and she got annoyed, that she grudgingly got me the cheapest, cramped room, barely a yard from the bathroom, where the constant stench assaulted my senses. Just then, a nurse pushed the door open and said coldly, “Liam, bed 12? Someone’s handled your discharge papers. Please pack up and leave quickly. Someone will be here to sanitize the room in half an hour.” I froze, looking up at my unfinished IV drip. I hadn’t expected Chloe to act so fast, unable to wait even an afternoon. I ripped out my IV line, enduring the discomfort in my body, quickly packed my meager belongings, and prepared to leave the hospital. The moment I stepped out of the hospital, I received a demanding message from Chloe: “Go to the bakery immediately. I’ve already arranged for the cake ingredients to be prepared. Text me when it’s done.” I stopped, read the message, then tapped my screen and calmly deleted it. This cake? Consider it my wedding gift to them. I’d just hung up the phone with the artisan bakery when a SnapChat message popped up. I assumed it was Julian again, flaunting something Chloe had done for him, and I was about to block him. The next second, my top SnapChat conversation vibrated with a new message: “I land tonight. Can you pick me up?” Seeing the familiar tone of voice, I was a little stunned. I pinched myself hard, thinking I was seeing things. I only had two pinned conversations on SnapChat: Chloe’s, and that of the girl I’d always loved since my youth. In the eight years I’d been with Chloe, she never spoke to me with such patience. In my memory, only she spoke to me like that. But didn’t she say she was moving abroad permanently and would never come back? If she hadn’t made that decision back then, things wouldn’t be like this between us now. After all, I’d confessed my feelings to her. I stared at the message for a long time, composing myself before quietly replying with a single word: “Okay.”
After putting my phone away, I grabbed the flowers and headed straight to the airport, completely forgetting everything Chloe had told me to do. It wasn’t until later that night, when Chloe hadn’t received the cake I was supposed to make and her meticulously planned birthday party for Julian was ruined, that she blamed it all on me. She stormed in, Julian following behind her. She kicked the door open, slamming it against the wall, and screamed: “Liam, how many times is this? What new stunt are you pulling now? Where’s the cake I told you to make?!” I glanced at the door, still rattling from her kick, and replied calmly with two words: “I forgot.” Chloe saw my demeanor and instantly erupted. The thought that Julian had been humiliated because I hadn’t shown up with the cake made her furious. She stepped forward and slapped me twice, yelling: “Do you have any idea how much you embarrassed Julian? Everyone was whispering and pointing at him! And here he was, still concerned about your feelings, telling me not to get mad at you!” “Julian is such a good person, why would you treat him like this?!” “I’m giving you half an hour. You *will* make a cake to apologize, or I swear, I’m not done with you!” With that, she slammed the door shut and left. Watching her defiant back, I couldn’t help but think of my own birthdays. She’d never been this invested. I never got the special treatment a birthday person deserves. Instead, I had to bake *her* a cake, and if it wasn’t to her liking, I’d be punished with standing all night. I let out a bitter laugh. As I walked out of the room, I saw her sitting in the living room, meticulously peeling an orange for Julian, carefully removing every bit of pith before handing it to him. Julian saw me but didn’t make a sound. Instead, he smirked triumphantly as he took the orange from Chloe and ate it. “Chloe, let’s set our wedding for three days from now, okay?” Julian asked gently, but his eyes were fixed on me, full of triumph. Chloe, her back to me, said dotingly, “Okay, whatever you say.” Hearing this, his grin widened, and he asked again: “How about we invite Liam to our wedding? What do you think?” This time Chloe didn’t answer immediately. Julian saw the hesitation on her face. He instantly pouted, sounding wronged. “I just want his blessing. That way our wedding will be perfect, and you always said you’d give me a perfect wedding, didn’t you?” Chloe fell silent at his words. Then, remembering something, she nodded in agreement. Julian’s lips curved into a smirk, and he looked at me. “Liam, did you hear that? Chloe and I sincerely invite you to our wedding.” At his words, Chloe turned her cold face back to me. Her eyes seemed to freeze for a moment when she saw me, then she scoffed. “Since you heard it, I won’t repeat myself. Be there on time, don’t make us a laughingstock again.” I clenched my fists, meeting Chloe’s indifferent gaze. Eight years of my devotion, and in the end, I didn’t even get a formal breakup. I gave a self-deprecating laugh, then nodded. On the day of the wedding, I showed up dressed to the nines. The moment the newlyweds appeared, they became the center of attention. Guests lavished them with praise, calling them a match made in heaven. Chloe accepted it all with a radiant smile, but when her eyes landed on me, that smile vanished instantly. Chloe’s face turned sour, and she frowned, accusing me, “Liam, are you trying to steal Julian’s spotlight by dressing like that? Don’t forget, today is Julian’s and my wedding. Julian is the groom!” “I knew this would happen; I shouldn’t have agreed to let you come! I thought you’d know your place, but I never imagined you’d stoop to such lengths just to cause drama!” At her words, murmurs rippled through the guests. Those who didn’t know me accused me of being shameless. Those who did vowed to kick me out. Julian, however, wasn’t angry. He even generously spoke up for me, “Chloe, if he wants to be my groomsman, then let’s let him. It’s a way of thanking him for taking care of you all these years, and it justifies his outfit today.” With that, Julian shot me a provocative look. Chloe frowned, about to argue, but then heard the whispers around her and reluctantly gave in. She checked her watch and said with extreme reluctance, “Aren’t you going to get ready? Is this where you’re supposed to be standing?!” A staff member came forward to escort me away. Before I’d taken two steps, Julian’s voice stopped them from behind: “Wait. His outfit is actually quite good. How about we have him deliver our wedding rings later?” At his words, my body stiffened. Deliver the wedding rings. That’s what the ring bearer does. Was he trying to make me watch them exchange vows, then watch Chloe marry him with my own eyes? I glanced at Chloe. She said nothing, a silent agreement. The ceremony began quickly. Watching Chloe on stage, touched to tears by Julian’s words, I couldn’t help but sneer. The stage was set. It was time for the main act. Chloe, let’s see how long you can keep that smile. The next second, the officiant excitedly announced, “Now, let’s give a big round of applause for our special guest who will present the wedding rings to the happy couple…” A thunderous applause erupted. The couple on stage smiled, filled with joy, waiting for me to bring them their rings. I smirked, took the gift box from the staff member, and slowly walked forward. I heard the whispers around me, but with each step, I moved further away from the altar. Moments later, I turned and knelt on one knee in front of a slender, unfamiliar woman. The entire hall gasped in shock. Chloe, realizing what she was seeing, instantly turned pale, losing her composure as she shrieked: “Liam, do you know what you’re doing?!”
🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296927”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic
Leave a Reply