I found a side hustle as a customer service rep for an online “confession room” app. It paid ten bucks a session. One evening, a guy booked ten sessions back-to-back. “The biggest regret of my life,” he said, “is how I treated my first love.” “She went through hell with me. By the time she was seventeen, she was already dealing with chronic health issues. Later, she even fell off a pier into the ocean trying to save me. She survived, but she’s been in a wheelchair ever since.” “We’ve been married for ten years now. We live paycheck to paycheck, but we’re happy.” He took a deep breath. “But I don’t have the guts to tell her that our marriage certificate is a fake, and so is our poverty.” “While she’s stressing over rent in a tiny, run-down apartment, my actual wife is complaining that the Wagyu beef flown into our penthouse is too rich.” “While she’s terrified to have kids because we can’t afford them, my son was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He owned multiple properties before he was even a month old.” His voice was trembling. My heart gave a little jolt, too. I recognized the voice on the other end of the line. It was Julian, the man I’d spent the last ten years struggling to survive with. My husband. But the shock only lasted a moment before a strange calm washed over me. Because I had a secret of my own. One I’d kept from him for a decade. ... I turned off the voice changer on the app and said, perfectly calm, “Julian, let’s talk face-to-face.” The line went dead silent. All I could hear was his ragged breathing. “Don’t forget to leave a five-star review.” I hung up, walked into our tiny kitchen, and made a bowl of instant ramen. I added two eggs. Usually, I wouldn't waste the eggs on myself; I saved them for Julian. But today, I figured I deserved a treat. Just as the noodles were done, Julian walked through the door. I almost didn't recognize him. For years, he’d told me he worked construction out of state, only coming home every few months. Whenever he walked in, he looked like a vagrant—exhausted, unshaven, covered in drywall dust. But the man standing in the doorway was wearing a flawlessly tailored suit and expensive-looking glasses. He looked polished, elite. I didn’t say a word. I just sat down at our wobbly table and started eating my ramen. Julian stood by the door for a long time before he finally walked over. “Maya, why are you working as a customer service rep?” His voice was hoarse, probably from the adrenaline. I looked down at my chipped bowl and let out a dry laugh. “Because we’re broke, obviously. Who else would listen to people dump their emotional garbage for ten bucks a pop?” “I’m sorry, I…” “I don’t want excuses. Just give me the truth,” I interrupted. He looked down, his lips pressed into a thin line. After a long silence, he finally spoke. “I’m actually the estranged son of a billionaire family in New York. They found me seven years ago.” “My wife is the heiress to the Sterling Group. Her name is Eleanor. It was an arranged marriage to merge the companies.” “We have two kids now. A six-year-old and a four-year-old.” “The reason I kept it from you is… I just never found the right time to tell you.” My fingernails dug into my palms. “You couldn’t find the right time in seven years?” He went silent again. A dull ache spread through my chest, and I stopped talking too. I just took a massive, aggressive bite of my noodles. “Maya, let me take you out to get something good to eat,” Julian said, reaching for my arm, his eyes full of what looked like genuine pain. I shook his hand off. “Julian, you used to tell me my ramen was the best thing you’d ever tasted. You’d eat a huge bowl every time you came home.” “Now that you’re used to eating Wagyu with Eleanor, is my cooking not good enough anymore?” He clenched his fists. “Maya, I didn’t want to marry Eleanor! But I couldn’t refuse a corporate merger of that scale! I feel absolutely nothing for her; you’re the only woman I love!” No feelings, just two kids. I laughed. And as I laughed, the tears started falling. “You made me the other woman for seven years, and you call that love? How uniquely romantic.” And I was the poorest, most miserable 'other woman' in existence. Julian scrambled to wipe my tears. “Maya, please don’t think of it like that. In my heart, you’ve always been my real wife.” “Then divorce Eleanor.” He stiffened, his tone dropping. “Maya, I told you, I don't control the corporate arranged marriages.” “I swear, I’ll make this up to you. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to one of my private villas.” Buzz. The screen of Julian's phone lit up. An incoming call. The contact name was “Wifey❤️”. Seeing it felt like a needle jamming straight into my eye. It stung. Panic flashed across his face. He quickly grabbed his phone, walked over to the balcony, and covered the receiver. “Hey, honey. I’m still tied up with work. You and the boy go ahead and eat without me.” As he spoke, his entire demeanor softened instinctively. I fought back the burning in my nose and forced down huge mouthfuls of ramen. It tasted bitter. A few minutes later, Julian hung up. “Maya, something came up. I have to head back.” My grip on my spoon tightened until my knuckles turned white, but my voice remained steady. “Julian, aren't you afraid I'll track Eleanor down?” He frowned. “Maya, she’s pregnant. She can’t handle stress right now.” “Once the baby is born, I’ll explain everything.” The word pregnant hit me like a sledgehammer. A sudden, overwhelming exhaustion washed over me. I didn't even have the energy to fight anymore. “Just go. Let me cool off.” “Get some rest. I’ll come check on you tomorrow.” The apartment fell silent. After a long time, I stood up from my wheelchair, walked into the bedroom, and pulled out an old photograph. It showed two identical girls leaning against each other, smiling brightly. For ten years, I had kept this from Julian. I wasn't paralyzed. And I wasn't Maya. I was just loving him for a decade, pretending to be her. My name is Autumn Hayes. Maya was my twin sister. When we were six, our parents divorced. I went with Mom, and Maya stayed with Dad. Eleven years ago, Maya and I unexpectedly crossed paths in a coastal town. She was unrecognizable—her face scarred, her body shattered with multiple fractures. The only reason she survived the accident was sheer willpower. She couldn't bear to leave Julian behind. In the hospital room, we recognized each other instantly. When she found out I had a severe congenital heart defect and was waiting on a transplant list with no matches, she volunteered to give me hers. “If you give me your heart, you’ll die,” I told her. “What about Julian?” She touched her scarred face and looked at her paralyzed legs, offering a sad smile. “Looking like this, I’d only be a burden to him anyway.” “Autumn, live a good life for both of us.” The night before my surgery, she told me everything about her and Julian. “Julian is the best thing that ever happened to me,” she said. “If it wasn't for him, I would have been assaulted, sold off to some old creep by my gambling-addict father, or probably just wound up dead.” “I wish I could stay with him forever.” To fulfill her dying wish, and to repay the ultimate debt, I took her place by Julian’s side. From that day on, Autumn Hayes ceased to exist. Only Maya remained. As the memories faded, I pressed the photograph against my chest. In three days, it would be the anniversary of my sister's death. I was going to tell Julian the truth, and then I was going to leave forever. That night, I found Eleanor’s public Instagram account. She had posted thousands of photos, and Julian was in almost every single one. The sheer, undeniable happiness radiating from the screen made my eyes burn. July 12, 2025: Hubby skipped an international board meeting just to come with me to get my nails done! He says a woman's hands are her second face. ?✨ There were three photos attached: one of their hands intertwined, one of her playfully tugging his tie, and one of her cupping his face. Julian was just smiling softly, but the sheer adoration in his eyes was unmistakable. I instinctively looked down at the back of my own hand. There was a long, dark reddish-brown scar. On that exact same day, July 12th, I had been bitten by a venomous spider in our crappy apartment. My skin blistered terribly, and it hurt like hell. But to save fifty bucks on prescription ointment, I just washed it with soap and water. It left a permanent scar. I sniffled, pushing past the ache in my chest, and kept scrolling. March 23, 2024: Hubby is away on a business trip and can't be with me today, but he knew better than to come home empty-handed! Gifts accepted, all is forgiven! ?❤️ She posted a photo of an entire luxury Armani vanity set and a Patek Philippe watch. I glanced at the tiny, sample-sized tube of Armani lipstick sitting on my cheap dresser and let out a bitter laugh. That day was my birthday. Julian had bought me a small grocery-store cake and two bubble teas. After I blew out the candles, he presented that tiny sample tube to me like it was a grand prize. He looked so guilty, apologizing that it was all he could afford, but promising he’d buy me the real thing one day. I had actually felt bad that he spent money on it. Looking back now, it was so pathetic it was almost funny. Tears splashed onto my phone screen. I pressed my hand against my chest, right over my heart. It felt like a hollow, agonizing void, making it hard to breathe. Even though I had spent a decade acting as a stand-in, I knew deep down I wasn't in love with Julian. Every tear I shed was for my sister. I didn't sleep a wink that night. Just as the sky began to lighten, Julian texted. “I’m so sorry Maya, something urgent came up at the office. I can’t come see you today, but I promise I’ll be there tomorrow.” I didn't reply. Just as I was about to close the app and try to sleep, a friend request popped up. “Hi, I’m Julian’s wife, Eleanor. Do you have time to talk today at 2 PM?” I accepted Eleanor’s invitation. She picked a high-end designer boutique downtown. I arrived exactly at 2:00 PM. The moment I wheeled myself through the doors, I saw Eleanor trying on handbags. Julian was right there with her. My grip on the wheels tightened, and I froze in my tracks. “Honey, which of these three do you like best? Pick one for me!” Her baby bump was just barely visible. She had a sweet, radiant smile and a soft voice. She didn't look like a mother of two at all. “My wife has such effortless class, any bag looks perfect on you.” Julian casually pulled out a matte black Amex card. “We’ll take all three.” “You’re the best!” Eleanor beamed, standing on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. Julian touched his cheek, smiling with absolute indulgence. They looked like newlyweds still in their honeymoon phase. Even the sales associate couldn't help but gush, “Mr. Sterling treats you so well, Mrs. Sterling! Dropping tens of thousands on gifts without batting an eye.” Eleanor soaked it up. “My husband always says money is meant to be spent on his wife. As long as I'm happy, that's all that matters.” My breath hitched. It felt like barbed wire was tightening around my heart, slicing into it with every beat. I had heard those exact words before. Except back then, the bag Julian bought me was a knockoff from a discount bin that cost less than twenty bucks. “Excuse me, miss, please don't block the entrance.” A security guard approached me. “Sorry.” I lowered my head, fighting back tears, and quickly wheeled myself out of the store. It was pouring rain outside the mall. I bought a cheap umbrella from a kiosk and was about to head toward the bus stop when Eleanor’s voice called out behind me. “Miss Hayes, do you need me to call you a cab? I imagine you can't afford the fare yourself.” She stared at me, her perfectly manicured eyebrows raised in blatant mockery. I kept my face blank. “Mrs. Sterling, did you ask me here just to force me to watch how in love you two are?” Eleanor didn't answer immediately. She looked me up and down like I was damaged goods on a clearance rack before scoffing. “Honestly, when I first found out Julian was keeping a mistress, I wanted to kill him. But seeing you like this... you’re so pathetic, you live worse than my rescue dogs.” “And your point is?” She lifted her chin, her tone dripping with arrogance. “My point is that you should have realized today that Julian loves me. The only reason he hasn't completely cut you off is out of some misguided pity for your past.” “Do yourself a favor and get the hell out of New York.” My nails bit into my palms. “And what if I refuse to give you what you want?” Eleanor sneered and shoved my wheelchair hard. “You’re decent looking, but your legs are useless. If I had my security throw you into a homeless encampment full of men, what do you think would happen to you?” The rain-slicked pavement was treacherous. The shove sent my wheelchair careening backward, and I tumbled down four concrete steps, slamming onto the ground. My forehead and elbow immediately split open, bleeding freely. The freezing rain battered my body, and agonizing pain flared in waves. My vision went black, and I nearly passed out. “Eleanor, why did you walk so fast? I turned around after paying and you were gone.” Right at that moment, Julian walked out of the mall. Seeing me crumpled on the wet concrete, he stopped dead in his tracks, his expression freezing. Eleanor casually pointed to a sleek Maybach idling at the curb. “Your assistant texted that he pulled the car up, so I came out first.” Then, she put on a mask of deep concern, staring at me. “As soon as I walked out, I saw this poor woman fall down the stairs. She looks in such bad shape... since we’re heading that way, why don't we drop her off at the hospital?” Julian frowned, a flicker of genuine pain crossing his eyes. But a second later, he masked it with disgust. “Just call her an ambulance. Don't let her bleed all over the upholstery.” I clenched my bleeding hands into fists and forced the words out, my voice raw. “Julian... are you really worried about me dirtying your car, or are you terrified I'll scream to the world that we’ve been 'married' for ten years?!” “I'm telling you right now, you can stop the act! Eleanor already know—” “WHAT?!” Eleanor sharply cut me off, her voice pitching into a hysterical shriek. “No wonder you're always working late! You’ve been hiding a whole second family from me?!” Her eyes went wide, and she stumbled backward dramatically, suddenly clutching her stomach. “Ah! It hurts!” “Eleanor!” Panic overtook Julian. He rushed forward and caught her as she feigned a faint, then whipped his head around to glare at me, his eyes bloodshot with rage. “Maya, if anything happens to Eleanor or the baby, I will destroy you!” “Julian, she’s faking it! She already knew everything! She’s the one who pushed me!” But no matter how loud I screamed, he never looked back. By the time I managed to drag myself back to the apartment, it was pitch black outside. The scrapes on my elbow and knee were throbbing, the blood and rainwater mixing into a gruesome mess. My phone had been buzzing nonstop. Every single notification was from Julian. “Maya, you did that on purpose, didn't you?!” “I told you Eleanor was pregnant, and you still deliberately showed up to harass her!” “You better pray to God she and the baby are okay!” I didn't have the energy to argue. I powered off my phone, collapsed onto the cheap sofa, and immediately passed out from exhaustion. Sometime after midnight, I woke up to a severe fever. Through the haze, I heard a deafening crash as the front door was kicked off its hinges. A group of men in sharp black suits stormed into the tiny apartment. The man leading them was tall, with a face carved from ice. “So you’re Maya? The b*tch who upset my sister so much she almost miscarried?” Before I could even open my mouth, he grabbed me by the throat and viciously slapped me across the face, twice! “You homewrecking trash, I’m going to kill you!” My cheeks burned with agonizing pain. His grip on my throat was so tight my eyes rolled back, and blood began to trickle from my split lip, but I couldn't break free. Looking at me with pure disgust, he threw me to the floor like a ragdoll and delivered a brutal kick directly to my stomach. “AGH!” Blinding, piercing pain ripped through me. I let out a bloodcurdling scream as I felt a sudden, warm rush of fluid pour from between my legs. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” Julian burst into the apartment. “Maya! Why is there so much blood?!” His eyes widened in terror as he frantically scooped me up into his arms. I couldn't form a single word. The pain was too intense, and I blacked out entirely. When I woke up, the sun was shining through the blinds. I was lying in a hospital bed, hooked up to an IV drip. Julian was sitting in the chair next to me. The dark circles under his eyes were prominent; he clearly hadn't slept at all. “Are you feeling any better?” I gave a weak nod, but didn't speak. He reached out and took my hand. “Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant?” “I didn't know.” The room fell into a heavy silence. After a long pause, he sighed heavily. “Don't cry. We can try again.” “I’ll hire a private nursing team to make sure you recover fully.” I let out a weak, raspy laugh. “So… that’s it? We’re just going to sweep this under the rug?” Julian frowned. “If you hadn't purposely sought out Eleanor and stressed her out to the point of nearly miscarrying, her brother wouldn't have lost his temper! You brought this on your—” “JULIAN!” I screamed, my voice cracking. “Eleanor has known about us for a long time! She threatened me yesterday! She pushed me down those stairs! This whole thing was orchestrated by her!” Suddenly, the hospital room door flew open. Eleanor stormed in and delivered a stinging slap across my face. “Maya, I actually felt sorry for you at first, but now you’re trying to frame me?!” Julian immediately jumped up and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her back. “Eleanor, please, calm down! Remember the baby! The doctor said you need to avoid stress!” “Julian, you bastard! I want a divorce!” She pounded her fists against his chest, crying beautifully, like a tragic heroine in a movie. Julian’s eyes welled with immediate sympathy. He spun around and roared at me, “Maya, Eleanor is kind and forgiving! She would never do something so vile!” “The way you casually slander people makes me sick!” His words hit me like daggers, but strangely, I didn't feel the pain anymore. It just felt entirely absurd. I closed my eyes, took a breath, and looked at him. “Julian, I actually have a secret I’ve been keeping from you for ten years.” “I’m not Maya.” Julian let out an exasperated, disbelieving laugh. “Have you completely lost your mind?! Are you seriously resorting to ghost stories now?!” “She hasn't lost her mind, she’s just saying crazy things to get your attention!” Eleanor sneered contemptuously. I yanked the IV needle out of the back of my hand and slowly, steadily walked right up to them. “The real Maya passed away ten years ago.” “Today is the anniversary of her death.”
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