My best friend and I transmigrated into a romance novel together. She became the unloved, simping wife of the scheming Second Male Lead. I became the stand-in lover for the psycho Villain. On the surface, we acted heartbroken and unrequited. Behind the scenes, we swiped their black cards and lived like queens. We lived this life of luxury for three years, until the real heroine—the "One That Got Away"—returned. Knowing that both the Second Lead and the Villain would go mad for her, my best friend knocked on my door late one night with a small bag. "I saved enough money. How about you?" Me: "Almost. But I can spend yours." So, we planned the perfect fake deaths. Three years later, my best friend had the misfortune of running into her ex-husband at a nightclub. I panicked: "I'll cover you! Run!" I turned around and slammed right into a solid chest. The psycho Villain calmly removed his tie and slowly bound my wrists. "You worry about running yourself first." Chapter 1 When Liam Sterling suddenly came home, Chloe was in the middle of showing off her new pink diamond ring. Seeing Liam’s signature Maybach pull into the driveway, Chloe shoved me. "Quick, quick! Hide!" Feeling like an adulterer caught in the act, I scrambled into the walk-in closet. Just as I hid, Liam pushed the door open. Chloe, who had been happily flaunting her wealth seconds ago, now had red-rimmed eyes and a look of utter despair. Hearing the door, she gave a tragic smile. "So, you know how to come home." Liam strode over to her. He looked down at her coldly. "Lily is missing." "Chloe, I told you. Lily is just a student I’m sponsoring." "If you have a problem with the Sterling family, take it out on me. Don't target innocent people." Chloe understood. Her eyes widened in disbelief. "You think I kidnapped her?" Liam closed his eyes. "She disappeared right after calling you. I have no choice but to suspect you." His phone rang. He answered, glanced at Chloe, and said, "Okay, I'm coming." He turned to leave. Chloe lost control, rushing forward to grab his hand. "Liam, I swear I didn't do it." Liam’s eyes were like ice. "I will investigate. Until the results are in, I won't see you again." Tears fell instantly from Chloe’s eyes. "Can you leave tomorrow?" Her eyes were red, her tone begging. "Today is our wedding anniversary. Can't you stay just one night?" Liam was silent for two seconds, but eventually pulled his hand away. "I'm sorry. The police have a lead on Lily. I have to go." The door slammed shut. Chloe screamed brokenly, "Liam Sterling! Come back!" We stayed silent for two seconds, listening to his footsteps fade away. "Oh my god, finally." Chloe wiped her tears and let me out of the closet. I applauded. "That was Oscar-worthy, sis." Chloe rolled her eyes. "Cut the crap. The situation is bad. We need a plan." "The heroine is back, and she's starting her drama. My guy is already abusing me emotionally, yours won't be far behind." I asked, "You mean..." "We have to run," Chloe said firmly. "If we don't run now, we’ll have the money but no life to spend it." Chapter 2 Chloe and I are both transmigrators. She married the scheming Second Male Lead, Liam Sterling, through a political alliance. For three years, he treated her like air. I was the stand-in for the psycho Villain, Adrian Locke. He kept me in a Manhattan penthouse for three years because I looked like his first love. We had no complaints about our roles. The Sterling family was old money and politics—untouchable. Adrian Locke controlled the underworld and legitimate businesses—a mad dog everyone feared. Their common trait? They were rich. Filthy rich. For three years, we acted heartbroken while secretly spending their money like water. But the game had changed. The heroine, Lily White, was back. According to the plot, Chloe’s husband Liam is Lily’s loyal knight. My boyfriend Adrian is even worse. Lily is his obsession. He would kill gods and buddhas for her. "If we don't leave now, it'll be too late," Chloe said. "Lily isn't simple. She staged this disappearance to frame me." "Liam is just cold, but what about Adrian? That psycho is capable of anything." I shivered. True. Once, Adrian took me to a poker game. A guy looked at my chest for too long, and Adrian had his legs broken and threw him into the Hudson River. I was just a stand-in, and he was that possessive. If he thought I hurt his precious Lily, I’d be dead ten times over. We had to go. Hurting my feelings is fine. Hurting my physical safety is absolutely not. Chloe looked at me. "Did you save enough?" I shook my head. "No. But I know you did. I'm planning to spend yours." Chloe: "..." Luckily, she was my best friend. She was ready to be my sugar mama. We discussed escape plans. Only one was viable. Faking our deaths. We knew too many secrets about the Sterling and Locke families. If we didn't "die," they would never stop looking for us. "Who goes first?" I asked. "Me first, you later," she said. "Why not me first?" I argued. "I want to get it over with." Everyone knows the second person has to clean up the mess for the first. Chloe said, "Rock, paper, scissors." She won. "Best two out of three." She won again. I grumbled, "Fine, you die first!" Chapter 3 Chloe went off happily to prepare for her death. I went home to pack. I kept my most valuable items in the basement safe. But as soon as I entered the basement, someone covered my eyes. Adrian tied his tie around my eyes and whispered in my ear: "Where did you go?" He smelled faintly of blood and gunpowder. Probably just handled some "business." Even after three years, I was instinctively afraid of him. My voice trembled. "I went to buy you a gift." I opened my hand. A silver rose brooch lay there. It wasn't expensive, but Adrian seemed happy. He picked me up and placed me on the Steinway piano. "What do you want to hear today?" I said obediently, "I like whatever you play." Ten years ago, Adrian’s father hated his illegitimate son so much he threw him into an illegal asylum. Adrian was abused daily. He wanted to die. Until he found a rose garden in the asylum with an old piano. He played there every day, and a girl outside the wall would listen. That girl was Lily. ... After I came to Adrian, he planted a garden of roses for me. He made me wear white dresses and listen to him play. Today, his music was erratic. Halfway through, he stopped violently, grabbed my calf, and pulled me into his arms. I slammed onto the keys; the discordant sound drowned out my gasp. Adrian kissed me. It was aggressive, possessive, chaotic. He said, "Next time, you don't leave without my permission." "Mm..." I answered obediently, but Adrian didn't seem reassured. He tore my dress and crushed me into his embrace. ... I have to admit, I was luckier than Chloe. Chloe only got the money. I got... other benefits. ... But I couldn't let Adrian know. When he held me, sweating, and kissed my cheek, I suddenly started crying. Adrian kissed away my tears, his voice low. "Why are you crying?" I asked, "Do you love me?" Adrian’s face went cold. For three years, he gave me everything I wanted. But we never talked about status or love. I was a stand-in. A stand-in needs to be beautiful and, most importantly, sensible. Asking a sugar daddy for his heart is very insensible. Adrian was silent. Silence was the answer. But I pushed. "Adrian, am I the woman you love most?" Adrian stood up and got dressed. Watching him head for the door, I cried, "Where are you going?" Adrian stopped. He turned back, his expression cold, as if the man who just made love to me wasn't him. "Maya, you crossed the line." Chapter 4 A canary has no right to question its master. I had performed well for three years. But today, I acted like I wouldn't give up. I called him dozens of times after he left. He rejected every call. I breathed a sigh of relief. Great. Adrian was punishing me. That meant for at least three days, he wouldn't answer my calls or come to the penthouse. My escape safety margin just increased significantly. I packed my valuables and moved them to a safe location. Late that night, Chloe came to find me. "Are you ready?" "Ready." Chloe checked everything one last time. "Okay." She nodded with satisfaction. "Time to die." Chapter 5: Liam's Perspective A lot happened that day. First, Liam's men found an unconscious Lily in an abandoned warehouse in Brooklyn. Lily was clutching a pearl. Liam’s pupils shrank when he saw it. He recognized that pearl. On their wedding anniversary a year ago, to save face for both families, he bought Chloe a custom vintage gown covered in intricate embroidery and pearls. The pearl in Lily’s hand was from that dress. "Boss, could Mrs. Sterling really have..." his assistant whispered. Everyone knew it was a political marriage, but Chloe loved Liam obsessively. Jealousy is terrifying. Seeing Liam treat her coldly but Lily warmly, could she have snapped? Liam closed his eyes. "Hospital first." On the way, Lily woke up. Seeing Liam, tears soaked her white dress. "Liam," she said. "Thank you for everything, but we shouldn't see each other anymore." Liam asked gently, "Don't be afraid. Did you see the kidnapper's face?" Lily paused, then shook her head. "No, I can't say." She bit her lip, eyes misty. "Liam, everyone says you run New York, but I know you have difficulties too." "I know her family helps your business... so please don't fight with Chloe because of me." Liam’s hand tightened silently. It was Chloe. It really was her. He had held onto a sliver of hope, but now it was gone. Lily watched his expression. She sobbed softly. "Liam, please don't blame Chloe. She only did it because she loves you too much..." Just then, the phone rang. Liam could barely suppress his anger. "Hello."
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