01
For five years, I had been Arnold Bowen’s lover and he never once looked at anyone else. I thought nothing
would ever change.
But that day, in the heat of passion, Arnold gripped my chin with his hand.
“Riley, this is the last time.”
His indifferent attitude stung my eyes.
I fought back the bitter taste in my throat and looked at Arnold. “Do you have another lover now?”
Arnold laughed, carefree yet gentle. “Not anymore. She’s back.”
“Now that the real one is back, what’s the point of needing a substitute?”
After our passion had faded, I curled up into Arnold’s embrace, expecting the familiar comfort.
But he didn’t pull me in like he usually did. Instead, he yanked the blanket away and shoved me off the bed.
He looked at me without a care in the world. “Riley, this is the last time. Pack up and leave on your own in a bit.”
Confusion clouded my mind as I stared at him.
“I don’t want her to be upset because of your presence,” he added flatly.
I forced myself to look at Arnold, the bitterness rising in my chest. “So, you’ve found another lover now?”
Arnold’s smile widened, both reckless and gentle. “I don’t need anyone else. She’s back.”
“Now that the real one is back, what’s the point of needing a substitute?”
Looking at the smile on his face, I couldn’t help but feel the deep irony.
It turned out, his first love, his ideal woman, had returned.
The year he looked at my face, his eyes blurred with emotion and asked if I wanted to stay by his side.
Without thinking, I nodded, lost in his tenderness.
Later on, I learned the painful truth: in his eyes, I was nothing more than a substitute.
Five years had passed and I had convinced myself that time would eventually allow me to settle into his heart.
But I never imagined I would never measure up to the one he truly cared for.
“Get up and pack your things. I don’t want any of your stuff left in the villa to upset her.”
“Oh, and don’t bother staying at the company either. The manager position was never yours to begin with. If you want to stay, just take an entry role at the company.”
I stared at Arnold as his mouth moved, but my mind was completely blank.
I had imagined this moment countless times–the scene of her return and the inevitable outcome of me leaving.
But I never expected that, even the work I had struggled for years to achieve, he would take it from me and hand it over to his white moonlight.
As if reading my thoughts, Arnold sneered.
*Riley, is it really that hard to give up a position? This was always your reward for sleeping with me.”
“Now that I don’t need you anymore, the reward should be taken back.”
With just a few words, Arnold dismissed all my efforts, reducing me to nothing more than a vase.
My nails dug into my palm, the sharp pain grounding me and dulling the bitterness that had welled up in my chest.
I took several deep breaths, steadying myself before I spoke again. “Fine, I’ll resign.”
Arnold scoffed, then casually reached into a nearby drawer and pulled out a necklace.
I recognized it immediately. He had taken me to an auction last month, where the highlight of the event had been this very necklace.
STAMO
Ryny My Sue Destery
I took several deep breaths, steadying myself before I spoke again. “Fine, I’ll resign.
Arnold scoffed, then casually reached into a nearby drawer and pulled out a necklace.
I recognized it immediately. He had taken me to an auction last month, where the highlight of the event had been this very necklace.
face of the
The diamond sparkled brilliantly under the lights. He had turned to look at me, his face flushed and bought it for seven million five hundred thousand dollars.
Now, Arnold carelessly tossed the necklace onto the floor, his gaze mocking.
“She doesn’t like these tacky things, so I’m giving it to you.
My heart twisted in pain. So, I had been nothing more than a fool to think I had any place in his world.
The room was silent, except for the sound of my steps as I walked over and bent down to pick up the necklace. After all, it was a seven million five hundred thousand dollar necklace. I told myself it was just compensation for all the years I had spent with him.
I swallowed my hurt, forcing down the lump in my throat as I walked out of the room.
Behind me, I heard Arnold’s voice, tinged with derision.
“Of course, something as tacky as that should be with someone as tacky as you.”
I made my way downstairs, gathering my belongings. Then, as I did, a photo slipped out from the necklace.
