Theater: NovelMaster | Language: English | NEW
Synopsis
My name is Chloe Sinclair.
The year I turned twenty, I died.
They held a funeral for me, erected a gravestone, and completely erased me from this world. Meanwhile, dressed in mourning attire, I stood before my own grave, listening as my father, Arthur Sinclair, and my mother, Evelyn Sinclair, said they had "nothing to say."
Later, I lived again.
Rising from the ashes of another corpse, shining in the ripples of the Seine, and in the fleeting instant a paintbrush pressed against the thin calluses on my palm once more.
It took me over twenty years to realize one simple truth: in this world, some are born to be the light, while others are born to be the shadow.
Yet, light can grow from shadows too.
If you have ever had your name erased, your life stolen, and yourself reduced to someone else's stand-in, please remember—
Living on is the best revenge.
Chloe's POV
Fire was everywhere.
Thick smoke billowed out from behind the easel, the scorching heat searing my skin with intense pain. Covering my nose and mouth, I dashed toward the door, only to find it blocked by a collapsed, burning shelf.
I reached for my phone to call for help, but flames consumed the room, blinding me to everything.
"Serena!"
I screamed at the top of my lungs. "Serena, are you there?"
The only response was the sharp crackle of burning wood.
Smoke flooded my lungs. I doubled over, coughing violently, dark spots dancing across my vision.
Right before my consciousness sank into the void, a sharp, violent pain struck the back of my head.
"Serena! Serena!"
I bolted upright in bed, cold sweat soaking my hospital gown.
A stark white ceiling. The sharp stench of disinfectant.
A hospital.
Before I could make sense of what was happening, a bundle of black clothes was tossed onto my bed.
"Now that you're awake, put them on."
My entire body froze.
The voice was ice-cold, but I recognized it instantly. It was Julian Vance.
"Julian?"
Julian stood beside the hospital bed, dressed in a sharp suit, his profile aloof, his face devoid of emotion.
My heartbeat fluttered into chaos.
Julian was my sister Serena's fiancé, and the man I had kept hidden in the depths of my heart since childhood.
I had buried these feelings for over a decade, never daring to breathe a word to anyone.
The Vance and Sinclair families had been close for generations, making this union a natural match. The entire city was waiting for their wedding.
Meanwhile, my reputation was notoriously tarnished—a slacker, a rebel who smoked, drank, and frequented clubs. Julian undoubtedly saw me the same way. Throughout their years of engagement, he had never stayed alone in a room with me, nor had he ever spoken more than a few complete sentences to me.
Now, with just the two of us in the room, I didn't even know where to place my hands.
"You have five minutes to change."
Julian spoke.
"Change?"
I pushed myself up, a dull ache throbbing at the back of my head.
"Julian, why am I in a hospital? Where's Serena?"
Julian didn't answer. His gaze grew colder as he looked down at me.
"Four minutes left."
I had no choice but to pick up the clothes on the bed.
The moment I shook them open, the blood in my veins ran cold.
All black, solemn in design. It was mourning attire.
"Whose funeral is this for?"
Julian finally looked me in the eye.
"Chloe Sinclair's."
I froze on the spot.
My funeral?
I was alive and well, sitting right here on this hospital bed.
Just as I opened my mouth to speak, my phone vibrated. A news alert popped up on the screen.
[Breaking News: A fire broke out last night at the private studio of renowned artist Serena Sinclair. Both Sinclair daughters were trapped inside. After extensive rescue efforts, the elder daughter, Serena, survived, while the younger daughter, Chloe Sinclair, tragically lost her life. Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair are devastated by grief and will hold a funeral for their beloved daughter today.]
I stared at the screen, my hands trembling so violently I could barely hold the phone.
"Julian, I'm alive. What... what is going on?"
"Chloe Sinclair is dead. She died in the fire."
Julian looked down at me, like a judge delivering a sentence.
"From this day forward, only Serena Sinclair exists in this world."
A sharp buzz rang in my head, and suddenly, the meaning of his words clicked.
"Serena... What about Serena?"
Julian didn't answer. He averted his gaze.
His silence was a confirmation.
Tears welled up without warning. Words failed me completely.
The one who died was Serena.
Yesterday afternoon, Serena had come to the studio to talk to me. The conversation went poorly, ending on a bitter note.
After Serena left, my mood was terrible, so I took a pill.
As the medication kicked in, I fell asleep.
When I opened my eyes again, I was lying here.
So it wasn't a nightmare. It was real.
The studio really caught fire, and my sister, Serena... had burned to death?
It felt as if a massive boulder had slammed into my chest, the agony choking my sobs.
"Arthur Sinclair and Evelyn Sinclair also believe that you were the one who died," Julian said, as though blind to my tears.
"I don't intend to tell them the truth."
I pressed my lips together tightly.
I understood his logic.
Serena and I were twins, yet our destinies were worlds apart.
From the moment Serena was born, she smiled at everyone, melting our parents' hearts.
I, on the other hand, wailed non-stop from the moment I hit the ground, throwing the entire household into chaos.
Growing up, Serena was sweet-tongued, beautiful, and praised by all. Whenever relatives visited during the holidays, they always gathered around Serena, showering her with flattery.
As for me, even when serving tea and water, no one spared me a second glance.
The favoritism of Arthur Sinclair and Evelyn Sinclair was entirely natural.
Over the years, I had always been disposable in the Sinclair family.
Serena, however, was their pride and joy, their very lifeblood.
Letting them believe that it was Chloe Sinclair who died would allow them to heal after a brief period of grief.
If they knew it was Serena who had perished, they would never be able to bear the devastation.
Julian's arrangement was indeed the best choice for Arthur Sinclair and Evelyn Sinclair.
And so, without even consulting me, he made the decision for everyone.
"The funeral begins at ten," Julian said, turning toward the door.
"The moment you step out of this room, you are Serena Sinclair."
Clutching the mourning attire, I watched his retreating back.
Tall, aloof, only a few steps away, yet separated from me by an impassable chasm.
This was a man I never dared to covet, not even in my wildest dreams.
Years ago, when Julian visited our home as a guest, I caught a glimpse of him from afar and completely lost my heart.
Yet I knew better than anyone that only Serena, shining brilliantly under the spotlight, was worthy of him.
Someone like me wasn't worthy. Even looking at him felt like a desecration.Chloe's POV
When I stepped out after changing into the mourning attire, Julian was already waiting outside the room.
Keeping my head down, I followed him into the car.
The ride was utterly silent. The driver focused on the road, while Julian rested his eyes against the back seat, never glancing at me again.
He didn't even bother to offer an explanation.
And I didn't dare to ask.
Julian had always been a man of absolute authority, icy and unyielding. In his presence, I had never dared to breathe too loudly.
Sitting on the opposite side, I gripped my seatbelt tightly, fixing my gaze on the window.
The streetscape rushed past in a blur. My mind was entirely consumed by memories of the fire in the studio and the horrific reality that Serena was gone.
The car drove out of the city and entered Silent Vale Cemetery, an upscale burial ground nestled halfway up the mountain.
Once the car came to a stop, Julian stepped out without looking back. I hurried to catch up.
From a distance, I saw a dense crowd of mourners dressed in black.
The person they had gathered to mourn was me.
The sheer absurdity of the thought made me dizzy. Walking with my head bowed and my mind drifting, I bumped right into Julian's back.
Stumbling back, I looked up directly into his cold face.
"Remember," Julian said, looking down at me. "From now on, you are Serena Sinclair, my fiancée."
The word "fiancée" struck my ears, sending my heart racing unpredictably.
Before I could compose myself, he seized my arm and pulled me in front of him.
Julian raised a hand, pointing not far away. "And Chloe Sinclair lives over there."
I followed his gaze.
A brand-new gravestone stood on the slope, the person in the black-and-white funerary portrait smiling serenely.
The face in the portrait was mine.
A violent jolt tore through my chest.
I desperately wanted to ask Julian: Why force me to live under Serena's identity?
Why couldn't I just be myself and let the truth be known?
The questions rushed to the tip of my tongue, but though my mouth parted, I couldn't utter a single sound.
Julian let go of me and walked straight toward the burial site.
I wiped my face, holding back the tears and the chaotic storm in my mind, and followed him.
White chrysanthemums were piled in front of the grave.
Carved onto the headstone were the name Chloe Sinclair and her dates of birth and death, signed by Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair.
Yet the person lying beneath was actually Serena.
Standing before the monument, I still couldn't accept that Serena was dead.
Only yesterday afternoon, she had stood right before me—flawlessly made up, her dress immaculate, captivating even in her anger.
Today, she was reduced to a handful of ashes behind stone.
Growing up, I had never experienced much familial warmth.
The only affection I ever received came from Serena.
When Arthur Sinclair and Evelyn Sinclair scolded me, Serena would speak up in my defense.
Whenever there was delicious food, Serena always remembered to save a portion for me.
My body trembled, my eyes burning as I forced my head up to swallow back the tears.
I hated that fire.
And I hated myself even more for sleeping so heavily that day, completely unaware that flames had erupted.
If only I had woken up sooner, would Serena still be alive?
The pastor stepped forward to conduct the service.
"The departed has moved on. May everyone find comfort in this time of sorrow."
The pastor closed his book.
"Now, will the family and close friends please step forward to bid their final farewell."
No one moved.
The guests exchanged glances, whispering among themselves, but not a single person stepped forward.
The pastor waited a moment, visibly uncomfortable.
"Does anyone wish to say a few words to the departed?"
Still, there was no response.
Left with no choice, the pastor turned to Arthur Sinclair and Evelyn Sinclair in the front row.
"Do the two of you have any final words for your daughter?"
Evelyn Sinclair kept her eyes lowered, nudging her husband with her elbow.
Arthur Sinclair cleared his throat twice and shook his head at the pastor.
A silent declaration that they had nothing to say.
A chill swept through me, sinking straight into my bones.
I looked at the surrounding guests, then at Arthur Sinclair and Evelyn Sinclair.
At their own flesh-and-blood daughter's funeral, they weren't even willing to offer a single word of farewell.
My chest felt as though it had been sliced open with a blade, the agony making me shake.
All the accumulated hurt and rage detonated inside me. I charged straight up to Arthur Sinclair and Evelyn Sinclair.
"Why?"
My eyes were bloodshot as I demanded, "Isn't the person lying in there your daughter? Why don't you have a single word for your final farewell?"
Arthur Sinclair and Evelyn Sinclair froze in shock.
The guests around us turned to stare in unison.
Pointing at the gravestone, my tears fell uncontrollably.
"Is Serena Sinclair the only daughter you care about? Does Chloe Sinclair not—"
Before I could finish, a hand clamped brutally over my mouth from behind.
Julian dragged me back by force.
I struggled frantically, wanting to scream for him to let me go.
I just wanted an explanation. Even if they lied to me, even if they just uttered a token phrase of grief, it would have been enough.
All these years, I had tried so desperately to please Arthur Sinclair and Evelyn Sinclair.
Whatever they told me to do, I agreed without hesitation.
Was this cold cruelty all I received in return?
"Be quiet," Julian warned, leaning against my ear. "Don't you dare slip up."
I instantly froze.
It felt like a hand had closed around my throat, draining every ounce of my strength to fight.
To him, my pain was utterly worthless. I didn't even have the right to question my parents.
Seeing that I had stopped struggling, Julian released his grip and draped an arm around my shoulder, turning toward the crowd.
"Hearing the news of her sister's death was a severe shock to Serena. She is emotionally unstable right now. Please don't take it to heart."
The moment those words were spoken, the doubt and suspicion vanished from the guests' faces, replaced by relief and sympathy.
"Understandable. Losing her own twin sister... who could handle that?"
"The two sisters truly shared a deep bond."
I closed my eyes, tears tracking down my cheeks.
It was also in this moment that another realization dawned on me.
Everyone present believed that Chloe Sinclair was the one in the grave.
Yet looking around, the crowd consisted solely of Sinclair family associates and Serena's friends from the art world. There wasn't a single friend of Chloe Sinclair.
I didn't have many friends, but I had true ones.
Maxine Cole and I had been inseparable for over a decade. She frequently visited our house during the holidays, and Arthur Sinclair and Evelyn Sinclair had met her countless times.
They clearly knew her, yet neither of them had bothered to inform Maxine.
In their eyes, even my funeral wasn't worth the slight effort of notifying my friends.
The chill crawled from the soles of my feet straight to my chest.
So, a person's death could be disposed of with such careless disregard.
When the funeral ended, the guests began to disperse.
Julian walked ahead, and I followed in silence.
As we passed a cluster of bushes, snippets of conversation drifted from behind us.
"Honestly, Miss Sinclair was remarkably good to that sister of hers. Even though the girl was a slacker who smoked, drank, and partied, Miss Sinclair always protected her."
"Indeed. I heard that on the day of the fire, the younger Miss Sinclair went to the studio to cause trouble and completely ruined the paintings Miss Sinclair had prepared for the exhibition. That collection took over half a year to prepare. What a waste."
"Ruining the art was bad enough, but starting a fire? It didn't matter if she died, but she nearly dragged Serena down with her. Good for nothing, a complete liability."
"If she hadn't started trouble, would the studio have burned down? To put it bluntly, she brought it on herself."
"Thank goodness Miss Sinclair survived. If anything had happened to her, the art world would have lost a true genius."
"The one who suffered the most must be Mr. Vance. His fiancée was almost taken from him. I heard he kept vigil at the hospital all night."
Listening to them, a bitter sting spread through my chest.
The voices gradually faded into the distance.
I stood frozen, the color drained from my face.
I understood everything now.
In the eyes of the world, Chloe Sinclair was the reckless troublemaker who caused the fire.
I had ruined Serena's paintings, torched the studio, and nearly killed a brilliant artist.
If the truth came out, everyone would learn that the prodigy with a boundless future was the one who died, while the troublemaker had survived.
The Sinclair family could never accept such an outcome, and Julian Vance certainly couldn't.
That was why he forced me to live on as Serena Sinclair.
He wanted Chloe Sinclair to die under a cloud of disgrace, allowing Serena to continue living in glory.
This, perhaps, was his punishment for me.
A punishment for taking the life of the woman he loved.
I clenched my fists, my chest so tight I could barely breathe.
Yet I didn't even have the right to defend myself.
If I had agreed to Serena's request that day, she would have left early and happily.
We wouldn't have argued, and I wouldn't have taken that pill out of frustration and fallen into a deep sleep.
Though I didn't know how the fire started, if I had been awake, I would have noticed the moment it sparked. I could have pulled Serena out with me.
And Serena wouldn't have died.
No matter how I looked at it, Serena's death was tied to me.
Thinking of it that way, I deserved whatever Julian had planned.
I looked up at the man walking ahead.
Julian's spine was straight, his pace steady, never glancing back at me once.
He didn't care about me in the slightest.
A profound sense of desolation washed over me.
How could I forget? The only person Julian Vance had ever loved was Serena Sinclair.
Even if I shared the exact same face, I would never catch his eye.
Just as it had been for the past twenty-two years—within the Sinclair family, and before Julian Vance, I had always been nothing more than an invisible ghost.
Weighed down by insecurity and self-awareness, I had never dared to step out of line.
As for my feelings for Julian, I never dared to touch them, burying them in the deepest recesses of my heart.
Buried for so long, I had almost forgotten them myself.Chloe's POV
Following behind Julian, we were heading toward the exit when a commotion broke out near the gates.
"Why won't you let me in?"
A girl dressed in a black hoodie was blocked outside the wrought-iron gate by security, stomping her feet in frustration.
The moment she spotted me walking out, she yelled toward me.
"Serena! Barring me from the cemetery and keeping me from seeing Chloe one last time—you've gone too far!"
I froze in my tracks.
It was Maxine Cole, my best friend.
Warm, outgoing, and outspoken, she had carried herself like a boy ever since we were kids.
I never expected to run into her here.
Just moments ago at the funeral, my heart had chilled at the thought that Arthur Sinclair and Evelyn Sinclair hadn't notified any of my friends.
It turned out Maxine had found out on her own and rushed over, only to be barred at the entrance.
My nose stung, and the words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop myself.
"Minnie..."
"Shut up! You don't get to call me that!"
Maxine glared at me through the iron gate, her eyes rimmed with red.
"Serena Sinclair! What goes around comes around. You'll get what's coming to you sooner or later!"
My heart trembled. I rushed forward, desperate to explain.
"I—"
Julian had turned back without my noticing, coming to a stop beside me.
He had clearly heard her curse; frost gathered in the depths of his eyes.
"Who are you?"
Maxine lifted her chin, completely fearless.
"I'm Chloe's best friend!"
"Chloe Sinclair's friend?"
Julian scoffed coldly.
"Birds of a feather. Neither of you is any good."
The color drained from my face.
I could bear his cold indifference toward me. I could endure him blaming me for Serena's death.
But Maxine was innocent.
"Julian!"
Gritting my teeth, I called him by his name for the very first time.
"Why do you have to talk about Maxine like that?"
Maxine didn't appreciate my defense at all. She spat at me through the bars of the gate.
"Serena Sinclair, stop being so hypocritical! Do you really think speaking up for me makes up for what you did?"
Tears spilled down her cheeks as she glared at me with pure hatred.
"If you didn't have Chloe's face, I would've clawed it to shreds already!"
I wanted to say something, yet I couldn't explain a single thing.
Maxine had never liked Serena in the past.
More than once, she had warned me, "Serena isn't as nice as she seems. Stop letting her use you."
I had never believed her, always rushing to Serena's defense.
The two of us had argued about it several times until our faces flushed red.
Now, with one twin dead and the other alive, combined with everything that had happened, Maxine naturally assumed Serena was the one who had killed Chloe.
"Maxine, stop. Please,"
I pleaded under my breath.
I was terrified of the man standing beside me.
If Maxine kept causing a scene and genuinely provoked Julian, she would be the only one to suffer.
Julian fixed his gaze on the girl beyond the iron gate, speaking without a trace of emotion.
"What's your name?"
The question was asked calmly, but it sent my heart pounding frantically against my ribs.
He was planning to settle scores later.
With the Vance family's power, crushing someone like Maxine would be easier than squashing an ant.
"Minnie, it's over now. Please don't say any more..."
Without thinking, I pleaded with my friend while frantically grabbing Julian's arm.
"Julian, let's go."
Julian looked down at my hand resting on his arm.
My palms were sweating as I forced myself to push him gently toward the car.
"The funeral just ended. I'm exhausted, and I just want to go back and rest."
Julian cast me an unreadable glance, but he didn't pursue the matter further and got into the car.
I breathed a sigh of relief and climbed in after him, not daring to look back at the gate even once.
I was afraid that one more glance would make me burst into tears on the spot.
I didn't notice Maxine watching the car pull away, looking as though she had seen a ghost.
That woman had just called her Minnie.
Minnie was her pet name. Her friends usually called her Maxine.
Only Chloe would blurt out "Minnie" whenever she panicked.
She had complained countless times that "Minnie" sounded way too soft and lacked any edge.
Chloe had stubbornly refused to change it, saying it was meant to balance her sharp personality.
Over time, it had become their private little secret—something no outsider could possibly know.
Maxine blinked, certain she hadn't misheard.
But the person who used to call her Minnie was supposed to be lying in this cemetery forever.
Staring at the receding taillights, her heart beat faster and faster.
Something wasn't right.
Something was terribly wrong about all of this.
The car drove back into the city, finally pulling up in front of a luxury residential complex.
Hidden Creek, one of Los Angeles's premier luxury addresses. One residence per floor, home exclusively to the wealthy and powerful.
Julian led me upstairs and pushed the door open.
"From now on, this is where you live."
The apartment was bright and spacious, tastefully decorated, every detail speaking to its owner's exquisite taste.
Standing in the entryway, my feet felt rooted to the floor; I couldn't bring myself to step inside.
"Can I... not live here?"
I asked hesitantly.
"It feels too unfamiliar to me."
Julian glanced at me.
"This property is under Serena's name. When she was busy with work, Serena stayed here."
He walked in a couple of steps, his tone flat.
"I've already had her personal belongings packed away. Daily necessities, clothes, and jewelry will be delivered shortly."
"There's no need."
I waved my hands hurriedly.
"I have clothes. All my clothes are still—"
Before I could finish, a sharp, icy gaze locked onto me.
Julian turned around, his face grim.
"Chloe Sinclair, you've forgotten again."
"From now on, you are Serena Sinclair. Serena has impeccable taste in fashion. Put away those clothes of yours."
I clutched the hem of my shirt.
"To the outside world, you are Serena."
Julian continued,
"Your every movement, every word, and every deed cannot tarnish Serena's reputation—including what you wear."
He took a step closer, looking down at me.
"Serena is my fiancée. You may be wearing her identity now, but we both know full well you're just an imposter."
"Don't covet things that don't belong to you."
"Do you understand?"
Lowering my head, I nodded weakly.
"I understand."
Julian said nothing more, turning on his heel and leaving.
The door shut, and his footsteps faded away. Unable to hold myself up any longer, I collapsed onto the sofa.
I had never dared to covet anything to begin with. Why did he feel the need to remind me?
Growing up, good things never came my way. I was already used to it.
Even my feelings for him were something I only dared to bury in my heart, keeping them hidden until they rotted away.
I looked around the room.
Her things had been cleared out, but Serena's traces could never be erased.
Nail holes dotted the walls where paintings once hung, a faint trace of perfume lingered in the air, and even the indents on the sofa bore the imprint of its owner's habits.
Living here felt like living inside Serena's shadow.
I slowly stood up and walked over to the full-length mirror in the entryway.
The person in the reflection was pale, yet her features were identical to Serena's.
I raised a hand, tracing the face through the cold glass.
"Serena Sinclair,"
I said hoarsely.
"How I wish we could turn back time."
"If I could do it over, I would agree to whatever you said that day. I wouldn't make you angry."
"If you asked me to paint, I'd paint for you. I'd paint for the rest of my life, as long as you were alive."
Tears surged forth, streaming down my face.
As for that secret...
I closed my eyes.
I would just give it up.
Our secret—I would let it rot in the depths of my heart. I would protect Serena for the rest of my life and never let her reputation be tarnished.Chloe's POV
Ever since the funeral, I had been staying at Hidden Creek.
The official story was that following the death of her twin sister, Serena Sinclair was so consumed by grief that she had to put all work commitments on hold and take an extended leave to recover.
There was no need to attend exhibitions anymore, and gallery collaborations were paused.
Interviews were declined, and even social media updates were halted.
The public expressed endless sympathy, praising Serena for her deep sisterly devotion, mourning so intensely for her sibling.
Only I knew this was merely Julian's arrangement.
He was afraid that, carrying Serena's name, I would make a misstep in public and ruin her reputation.
Locking me away was the safest option.
And I was more than happy to stay indoors.
After all, I could never pull off Serena's dazzling confidence or universally adored charm; the moment I opened my mouth, I'd probably give myself away.
The days drifted by. Aside from a few couriers delivering supplies, Julian never showed up.
In the blink of an eye, over a month had passed. I had almost started to think he had completely forgotten about this imposter.
One night, I had finally managed to fall asleep.
I had always suffered from insomnia, but after Serena's accident, it had gotten even worse. I often lay awake all night, easily startled by the slightest noise.
Suddenly, rustling sounds came from outside the door.
Any drowsiness vanished instantly. I sat up from beneath the blankets, every nerve in my body pulled taut.
I was the only person living in this apartment.
Security was airtight. Who could possibly be entering in the dead of night?
The sounds drew closer, reaching the living room.
Staring intently at the bedroom door, my breath came faster and faster.
In the next instant, a wave of terror washed over me as I remembered something.
I hadn't locked the bedroom door!
Gritting my teeth, I kicked off the covers and sprinted barefoot toward the door.
The footsteps outside were approaching just as fast.
Just as my hand touched the handle, before I could turn it—
"Click." The doorknob twisted from the outside.
My scalp prickled with dread as the door was shoved inward with tremendous force. A scream escaped my lips.
"Shh."
A familiar, deep voice floated down from above.
I snapped my head up.
The hallway sensor light was on, illuminating his face.
It was Julian.
His tie was loosened, his shirt wrinkled, and a heavy stench of alcohol washed over me.
My racing heart sank with relief, only to seize up in panic once more.
Why had he come here in the middle of the night, and why was he so drunk?
"You've been drinking?"
Gathering my wits, I asked softly.
"I'll go get you some water."
I stepped sideways to skirt past him.
As I brushed past, a hand clamped around my wrist, violently yanking me back.
"Serena..."
I stumbled into a scorching embrace.
My whole body went rigid.
"Julian, you have the wrong person!"
I shoved against his chest, but his frame didn't budge. Instead, his iron-like arms tightened around me.
"Serena..."
He called again, resting his chin on my crown and rubbing lightly. His voice was soft and slow, dripping with drunken tenderness.
I froze.
In all my twenty-two years, I had never seen Julian like this.
In my memory, he was always cold and aloof, a man of few words who radiated an aura warning everyone to keep their distance.
People said the heir of the Vance family was unfeeling and detached.
It turned out that was all a lie.
He, too, could say someone's name with such gentleness.
It was just that the name belonged to Serena Sinclair.
I pressed my lips together, a deep, pervasive ache spreading through my chest.
I envied Serena.
Outsiders only ever saw Julian's pride and coldness.
Such soft-spoken tenderness was reserved solely for Serena.
In the dark, a thought surfaced without warning:
"What if I could also..."
Jolted with horror, I ruthlessly crushed the thought.
What was I doing?
After staying in my place for so many years, was I really growing greedy now?
"Chloe Sinclair, that doesn't belong to you. Don't covet it."
"Don't betray Serena."
I was already useless enough. If I became so greedy that I tried to steal Serena's fiancé, I would despise myself.
I warned myself repeatedly, suppressing those forbidden impulses with all my might.
Serena was radiant and beloved by everyone, the center of attention wherever she went.
I was awkward with words, unloved, lingering in the shadows for twenty-two years.
How could I ever be worthy of Julian?
I wasn't worthy.
"Stop fooling yourself."
While my mind was reeling, a sudden heat pressed against my lips.
Julian was kissing me.
The sharp sting of liquor flooded my senses, his scorching heat searing into my lips with terrifying realism.
This wasn't a dream.
My mind went completely blank; I even forgot to push him away.
"Serena..."
His lips brushed against mine, his voice husky from alcohol.
"You taste... so sweet today."
A chill ran down my entire body.
He thought I was Serena.
He was drunk, mistaking me for someone else.
He believed the woman he held and kissed was his beloved fiancée.
[Paywall]
Chapters (4)
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Watch & Promotions
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