Ten years. That's how long I’d been living her life when my sister suddenly came back. The whole family stared at her in stunned silence. She let out a yawn, running a hand through her perfectly messy hair. "Thirteen countries," she said, her voice dripping with casual exhaustion. "God, I'm beat." Her eyes scanned the room, a flicker of impatience in them. "Where's Jake? He must be in elementary school by now, right? Why isn't he here to see his real mother?" Jake. Her son. The son she gave birth to, only to fake her own death on her wedding day, leaving him and her fiancé behind. The fiancé was from the Stone family—old money, one of New York’s unshakeable dynasties. My parents, terrified of the fallout, decided to solve the problem by packing me, a fresh college graduate, into a wedding dress and sending me down the aisle in her place. For ten years, I had been the perfect wife, the devoted mother. Now, watching my sister stand there, radiating an unshakeable sense of entitlement, I felt my parents' anxious gaze shift to me. I offered a faint, placid smile. "Jake and his father are in Miami for the weekend." … At my words, my sister Vera's brow furrowed in annoyance. "Didn't I tell you I was coming home? Why didn't you tell Ethan I was back?" I took a calm, measured sip of my tea. The years had forged me into something new; I was no longer the invisible girl living in her sister's shadow. My silence seemed to infuriate her. She shot to her feet, her voice sharp and piercing. "Nora Collins! What is that supposed to mean? Don't you forget, the engagement was with me. Now that I'm back, do you really think you get to keep your place as Mrs. Stone?" I glanced up at her, a small smile playing on my lips. "I don't know what you're talking about, Vera. My husband and I are very happy." It was true, in a way. Over the last decade, I had stood by Ethan Stone's side at countless charity galas and corporate dinners. Our reputation as a loving, devoted couple was cemented in our circle. Ethan himself had leveraged his image as a dedicated family man to win over numerous business partners. There might not have been passionate love between us, but we were bound by something far more resilient: mutual interest. And that was the source of my confidence. Vera’s face twisted in disbelief. She pointed a trembling finger at me. "Nora! Have you no shame? He's your brother-in-law!" I set my teacup down with a quiet click. "No," I said, my voice even and calm. "He's my legally wedded husband." My gaze was steady. I rose from my chair, unwilling to continue this charade. My parents stood by, wringing their hands, utterly lost. Vera whirled on our mother, clutching her sleeve. "Mom, she's lost her mind! Ethan and I were college sweethearts! If it weren't for me, if it weren't for the Stones, how do you think our family's company would have ever gotten this big?" My parents had always favored Vera. But now, my mother risked a nervous glance in my direction before speaking, her voice barely a whisper. "But... you ran out on the wedding, Vera. You faked your death. We didn't hear a single word from you for ten years." "There was no bride," she continued, gaining a sliver of courage. "If it wasn't for Nora stepping in, the Stones would have become a laughingstock. They would have ruined us! Our company would have been finished!" Vera's face froze. "I... I just wasn't ready to get married," she stammered. "But I'm back now, aren't I?" She tried a different tactic. "And you know how arrogant the Stones are. They already looked down on our family, and I was pregnant before we were married. If I'd gone through with it then, they would have tormented me!" My own voice was cold as ice. "Why did you come back?" Vera looked at me as if the answer was obvious. "They've accepted you now, so they'll have to accept me. It's perfect! If I marry Ethan now, his parents won't dare treat me poorly. And Jake can finally be with his real mother. It's better for everyone." She closed the distance between us in two quick steps, grabbing my hands. Her eyes, the same almond shape as mine, were filled with a guileless sincerity—a naivete born from a lifetime of being spoiled and adored. A cruelly innocent naivete. "You're free, Nora!" she declared, squeezing my hands. "You can finally go find your own happiness." I stared into her eyes, my face a mask of stone. She truly believed it. She believed that I, the overlooked younger sister, existed only to sacrifice for her. A bitter laugh escaped my lips as I wrenched my hands from her grasp. "I'm perfectly happy with my life, Vera," I said, my voice low and sharp. "You're the one who needs to face reality." With that, I turned and walked out of the house that had never felt like a home. I didn't know what Vera was feeling, but I could guess it wasn't pleasant. And I knew her well enough to know she wouldn't give up this easily. I drove back to the Stone residence, a bone-deep exhaustion settling over me. The last few weeks had been a blur of late nights at the office, pushing a new project over the finish line. When my parents' message—Vera's back—had arrived an hour ago, my body had gone rigid. I always knew this day might come, but the reality of it still left me breathless. I stepped inside, shrugging off my coat and hanging my bag. My eyes fell on a pair of men's dress shoes by the door. I froze for a second before schooling my features into a practiced, welcoming smile. "You're back?" a warm voice called out. I turned to see Ethan. He was dressed in simple black silk pajamas that did little to hide his broad shoulders and trim waist. He was a handsome man—tall, with refined features and kind eyes framed by gold-rimmed glasses. He was frowning slightly, a look of concern on his face. "You look exhausted. Haven't you been sleeping?" I managed a smile. "Just a lot going on at work. Did you and Jake have a good time?" Ethan closed the distance between us, pulling me gently into his arms. He rested his chin on my shoulder, his warm breath ghosting across my neck. His long fingers traced patterns on my back. "Jake had a blast," he murmured. "He's already crashed. The only thing missing was you. We'll have to go again, all three of us." His voice dropped lower, a current of intimacy running through it. "I missed you." I leaned against the warmth of his chest, but inside, I felt a chilling cold spread through me. As his lips brushed the nape of my neck, my body tensed. All I could hear were Vera's words, echoing in my head. Before, I would have responded to his affection. Tonight, I couldn't. I pushed back gently, creating a small space between us. "I..." I trailed off, because I felt it—the subtle, instantaneous stiffening of his body. I sensed his displeasure immediately. After a moment's silence, Ethan smoothly finished my sentence for me. "You've been working too hard," he said with a smile. "Go take a hot shower. You need a good night's sleep." He had given me an out. He leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead. I nodded and turned, heading for the stairs. Behind me, the man standing in the shadows watched my retreating form, his expression unreadable, the air around him turning heavy and cold. The next morning, I left for work as usual. Just as I was pulling out of our gated community, I saw a familiar figure. My hands tightened on the steering wheel, my brow creasing. Vera saw my car and darted right in front of it. I slammed on the brakes as a chorus of angry horns erupted from the cars behind me. It was the peak of rush hour. A security guard hurried over, trying to pull Vera away. But she clung to her spot, her voice rising to a frantic shriek. "Nora Collins! Stop ignoring me! How can you live with yourself, sleeping with your own sister's husband?!" Her shrill accusations drew stares from every direction. I pulled the car over to the side, out of the flow of traffic, and got out. My face was a cold mask. Vera, seeing she had won, flashed a triumphant smile and casually tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "What's the matter?" she taunted. "Embarrassed? Or are you just scared Ethan will kick you out when he finds out I'm back?" "Vera," I said, my voice like ice. "You are seriously disrupting my life. This is your final warning. Stay away from me." She laughed, completely unfazed. "Oh, stop pretending. You're terrified. You've spent your entire life in my shadow, jealous of everything I had. It's only natural you'd want to take my place." She took a step closer, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "But here's the thing about imposters, little sister. They always get found out. I'll wait right here for Ethan. Once I explain everything, he'll forgive me. I know he will." Her eyes gleamed. "And Jake... he's my son. I carried him. We have a bond of blood that you can never, ever break. You will never replace me." I said nothing. I just got back in my car. This time, she didn't stop me. In the rearview mirror, I saw her standing there, a confident smirk on her face. A shiver ran down my spine. Vera had always been a spoiled brat, a giant toddler who threw world-ending tantrums whenever she didn't get her way. I took a deep breath, trying to force her from my mind. I had spent ten years carefully building this life, this marriage, this career. A divorce wouldn't just hurt me; it would damage Ethan, too. We were a brand, and our interests were intertwined. But Ethan had the Stone empire to fall back on. I had only myself. Sitting in my office, my mind drifted back. When we were kids, Vera would spend every school break running wild outside. On the first day of a new term, her homework would be untouched. Terrified of being scolded, she would simply take mine. My parents enabled it. Nora's grades are so good, they'd say. The teachers won't mind if she doesn't turn in her homework. But Vera's different. To protect Vera's fragile ego, my efforts were hers to claim. After that, I learned to do two sets of homework every holiday. In high school, she dove headfirst into teenage rebellion—dramatically chasing the captain of the football team, getting into fights, and charming her way into every teacher's good graces. Her grades were terrible, but her personality was magnetic. She had a legion of friends and a safety net for every mistake. I, on the other hand, had to be careful. Every step I took was calculated. In college, she met Ethan at an off-campus music festival. They formed a pop-up band, playing gigs in dimly lit bars. While I was juggling three part-time jobs to pay my tuition, they were on stage, drenched in sweat and spotlight, living out some wild, youthful fantasy. I thought graduation would be my escape. I would save up some money and finally break free from my family. Then came the night Vera stumbled home late, her face caked in heavy makeup, wearing a crop top and shorts that left nothing to the imagination. She was drunk, and she was sick. My parents rushed her to the hospital in a panic. The test results came back. Vera was pregnant. A heavy silence fell over our house in the weeks that followed. While my parents scrambled to handle the crisis, I was busy working every shift I could get to save for my last year of tuition. The only calm person in the house was Vera herself, utterly oblivious to the new life growing inside her. My parents confined her to the house, plying her with nutritional supplements and fresh fruit. A deal was struck with the Stones: once the baby was born and a paternity test confirmed it was Ethan's, there would be a wedding. The Stones, backed into a corner to avoid a scandal that could tank their company's stock, reluctantly agreed. The night before the wedding, I took a four-hour train home. The next morning, the limousines arrived. But Vera was gone. All that was left was a swaddled, sleeping Jake and a room full of furious, humiliated Stones. Ethan's face was like thunder. My parents stood frozen, their eyes darting around frantically until they landed on me like a drowning woman spotting a lifeline. "We have another daughter!" my mother blurted out. "She's a good girl! She's never even dated!" "That's right! Nora!" my father chimed in, his voice desperate. "Your sister's gone! You have to take her place. There's no other choice!" I stood there, stunned, my mind unable to process their words. They were already grabbing my arms, trying to drag me into the dressing room to force me into Vera's wedding gown. I fought back, a cold fury rising in me. The first twenty years of my life had been lived in her shadow, and now they wanted the rest of it, too? Tears of rage and betrayal stung my eyes. For the first time in my life, I broke. I screamed, wrenching myself free. "Why me?! Why do I always have to be the one to pay for her mistakes? It's always been this way!" My father slapped me, hard. "She is your sister!" I stumbled back, my cheek burning. My mother was sobbing. "What your sister did was terrible, Nora, we know that. But you can't just stand by and watch our family be destroyed! The guests are all waiting for a bride!" I felt hollowed out, dead inside. "I won't do it," I bit out from between clenched teeth. "I will not get married." No matter how much they begged or threatened, I refused. Finally, in a last, desperate act, I grabbed a fruit knife from a platter and pressed the cool blade to my throat. "If anyone tries to force me," I whispered, my eyes wild, "I'll die right here." Everyone froze. I didn't know if they were afraid of me dying, or just afraid of the scandal a death would cause. I didn't care. I was about to graduate. I was so close to being free. The standoff was broken by Ethan. He asked to speak with me alone. They cleared the room. It was just the two of us. Half an hour later, the door opened. I emerged, dressed in the white gown, my face blank. I placed my hand in his. I walked down the aisle with a smile more painful than any tears, and completed the ceremony. Snapping back to the present, I stood at the floor-to-ceiling window of my office, gazing down at the city below. It had taken me ten years of clawing my way up to earn this view. A sudden chill ran through me, followed by a pair of arms wrapping around me from behind. I jumped, but the familiar, warm scent of sandalwood relaxed me. "What are you thinking about?" Ethan's deep voice murmured beside my ear. "I came in and you didn't even notice." I smiled. "Just thinking about the investor conference tomorrow." He turned me to face him, his hands gentle on my shoulders. "I have complete faith in you. Everyone knows how capable you are." I tilted my head. "What brings you to my office? Isn't the head office busy?" "Things are quiet. I came to pick you up. And to tell you Jake wants to see that new animated movie tomorrow." I nodded, my mind elsewhere. Ethan leaned down and brushed his lips against mine. I returned the kiss with a sweet smile. When we got home that night, there was no sign of Vera. Her silence was unsettling. I figured my parents, desperate to protect the family company, had finally decided to lock her down. The past few days had left me mentally and physically drained. I fell into bed and was asleep almost instantly. Sometime in the dead of night, a strong arm pulled me close. I murmured a complaint, my eyelids too heavy to open. The next day, the conference hall was a glittering sea of champagne flutes and influential figures. I moved through the crowd, networking, shaking hands, before finally slipping away to the private lounge in the back for a moment of peace. Jake was sitting patiently on the sofa. His face lit up when he saw me. "Mommy! Are we going to the movies right after this?" I smiled, tweaking his nose playfully. "Of course. When have Mommy and Daddy ever broken a promise to you?" His giggle was a balm to my frayed nerves. Seeing him eased the sense of dread that had been clinging to me all morning. Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open to head back out. My eyes landed on a familiar figure across the ballroom, and I froze. Vera was clinging to Ethan's arm, talking animatedly. His back was to me, so I couldn't see his expression. Then Vera saw me. She pointed a dramatic finger in my direction, her voice a raw, desperate cry that sliced through the ambient chatter. "I'm his wife! She's a shameless imposter who stole you and our child from me!" In an instant, every eye in the room was on me. The entire ballroom fell silent, as if someone had hit a mute button. The clinking of glasses, the hum of conversation—it all vanished. Dozens of gazes hit me like spotlights. I saw the flicker of shock in the eyes of business partners, the confused whispers among my own employees. Worse, the event photographers had already swiveled their cameras in our direction, ready to capture every micro-expression for public dissection. Blood rushed to my head, then drained away, leaving my limbs cold and heavy. Vera stood beside Ethan, her face a mask of tragic victimhood, tears welling in her eyes. She clutched his arm, her voice choked with sobs but loud enough for everyone to hear. "Ethan, tell them! Tell everyone we were the ones in love! I was just foolish back then, I wasn't ready... but that doesn't give Nora the right to steal my life!" A wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd. "Who is that woman? I thought Mr. and Mrs. Stone were the perfect couple." "Did you hear that? She said their son is hers..." "Get this, get this! This is tonight's headline!" Ethan remained silent. My hand, holding a champagne flute, tightened until my knuckles were white. Vera's venomous gaze found me. "Nora! You knew about Ethan and me! You knew Jake was my baby! How could you be so opportunistic? Are you that desperate for a man? You'd even steal your own sister's fiancé just to marry into money!" Her words ignited the room. The whispers grew louder, full of speculation and judgment. I felt their gazes bore into me, dissecting me. It took me a moment to find my voice. "Vera, this is not the place for your theatrics," I said, my tone dangerously low. "What you're doing is slander. I can sue you." She smirked. "Really?" Just then, two figures emerged from the crowd. My nails dug into my palms, but I felt no pain. My parents. They walked forward, and my mother began pleading with me. "Nora, honey, just get a divorce. This marriage was a mistake from the start! Don't let it ruin your entire life!" My father added, his voice thick with disappointment, "Have you no heart? Your sister has never known hardship. How can you bear to make her watch the man she loves spend his life with her own sister? You'll... you'll drive her into a depression!" A sarcastic smile twisted my lips. Who was it that begged me to be the substitute bride? Vera never knew hardship, so I deserved it? My entire life had been ruined by them. At that moment, Ethan stepped forward. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders, his voice deep and resonant, cutting through the chaos. "My wife, from the beginning to the end, has only been one person: Nora Collins." Vera’s face contorted with rage. "Ethan! You... have you forgotten everything we had?" My expression was glacial. "Had?" I repeated, each word deliberate. "What did you have, Vera? Let me say this one more time. This is not a stage for your drama, nor is it a ladder for you to climb." Vera looked at me as if I'd said something utterly hilarious. "Climb?" she scoffed. "Yes. Or did you not come here because you saw how successful your 'brother-in-law' has become and decided you wanted a piece of it?" My words shifted the entire dynamic of the room. A wave of understanding passed over the faces in the crowd. "So the sister is just jealous of the younger one's success." "No wonder we've never heard that Mrs. Stone even had a sister." "And those parents... clearly they have a favorite. They're playing favorites so hard it's pathetic." "Making a scene like this today... they were trying to publicly humiliate Mrs. Stone." Vera was speechless. My parents' faces grew paler by the second. She gritted her teeth, pointing a trembling finger at me. "Nora! Don't you dare slander me!" Then she turned her gaze back to Ethan, her eyes filled with a desperate, pleading love. "Ethan, do you really feel nothing for me? Not even a little bit of what we used to have?" The air around Ethan grew dangerously cold. His eyes, sharp and unforgiving, locked onto Vera's tear-filled ones. He said nothing. Within moments, several security guards were rushing toward us. The head of security, sweating profusely, addressed Ethan. "Mr. Stone, my apologies. This woman claimed she was a relative of Mrs. Stone. That's the only reason we let her in." Vera's eyes darted around warily. "What do you think you're doing?! I'm Jake's biological mother! I have a blood tie to this family!" I cut in sharply. "Do you have an invitation to this conference?" My sudden question left Vera momentarily stunned. I pressed my advantage, my voice ringing with authority. "You don't even have an invitation, yet you come here and cause a scene. Security, please escort her out." There were too many reporters here. Above all else, the Stone family's reputation had to be protected. The financial stakes were immense. I watched, stone-faced, as the guards dragged a hysterical, screaming Vera from the ballroom. I let out a slow, shaky breath. Ethan gently squeezed my hand, a silent gesture of comfort. I managed a weak smile in return. The guests, all seasoned professionals, quickly moved on, the drama of a few moments ago already fading into the background hum of business. Ethan led me toward the lounge. "Don't worry," he said, his voice calm as ever. "The tabloids won't touch this. Tomorrow's headlines will only be about what a strong, united couple we are." He was always so composed. I met his deep, steady gaze and saw not a flicker of lost control. It was the cool, calculating calm of the Stone heir, the man who had long since shed his youthful recklessness. It was terrifyingly rational. A bitter smile touched my lips. Wasn't that the very reason I'd agreed to this partnership in the first place? Composing myself, I reached the door to the lounge. Ethan paused, leaning in to press a soft kiss to my forehead. "Rest for a bit. We'll go home together after the conference ends." I smiled and pushed the door open. The scene inside made my blood run cold. My voice came out as a strangled cry. "Ethan! Jake's gone!"
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