Almost Love

Chapter 2---Discovery

Chapter 2-----Discovery

Honestly, these past few years since I came to Virelia, Elliot Grant has taken excellent care of me.

I still remember the first time I went to school and was called bastard by classmates. He was the first to rush to school and stand up for me, forcing the person who insulted me to apologize in front of everyone.

He remembers my birthday every year. Along with the blue princess dress, he would always give me a butterfly hairpin. When I asked if there was any special meaning behind it, he simply told me, "You look great in blue." After that, almost all my dresses were blue.

He would often cancel social events just to spend holidays with me, watching fireworks together.

When I had nightmares, he would stay by my side, softly comforting me, telling me not to worry, that he'd always be there for me.

I thought he must really, really like me.

When I turned 20, I was grown up, and after loving Elliot for so many years, I finally confessed my feelings. We became a couple.

After we started dating, he treated me even better than before. I thought he loved me for sure, but everything changed on my 22nd birthday.

I prepared candles, a cake, and cooked his favorite steak. Every year, he would always come home early for my birthday, so I expected no less this time. After everything was ready, I waited at home, quietly.

By 9 p.m., he still hadn't come back, so I called him.

"Elliot, where are you?"

"Chloe, I have some things to take care of, go to bed..." Beep, he hung up.

Before I could even mention it was my birthday, the call was over. I waited. And waited. By midnight, I was worried. What if something had happened to him? As I was lost in my thoughts when a sudden thunderclap filled the air, and rain began to pour.

Unable to sit still anymore, I rushed out, afraid something had happened to him. I hopped in a cab and went to his office, but there was no one there. I then went to his apartment, the one he often stayed in.

Just as I got to the door, I saw Elliot stepping out of the car. I was about to call out to him, but then I saw him open the other side of the car door to help a woman out.

I couldn't make out her face, but her outfit struck me. She was in a blue dress, and her hair was styled in a half-bun, held by a blue bow. Her fair skin made her look delicate. She leaned against Elliot's shoulder, and he gently wrapped his arm around her, holding the umbrella over her, even though he was getting drenched.

When Elliot looked at her, his eyes were soft, tender. They walked into the apartment together.

At that moment, I should have confronted him, demanded to know who she was. But my legs wouldn't move. I was afraid of the truth.

I stood there, in the rain, thinking of all the little things he had done for me over the years.

No wonder he was so shocked when he first saw me.

No wonder he gave me blue dresses and butterfly hairpins every year.

No wonder every time he looked at me, it felt like he was seeing someone else.

No wonder, when he was drunk, he would say, "Don't leave me, I'll take care of you."

So this is how it was. It all made sense now. How foolish, how naive.

Suddenly, it hit me. I rushed back home, ran straight to Elliot's room, and pulled out a small box from the bookshelf. Inside, I found photos of a woman. I was stunned when I saw her face—she looked just like me. Her height, her skin, her body shape, even the mole at the corner of her right eye are the same.

Every photo had a note on the back: "My love—Tina Reynolds."

I had always been a stand-in. All the kindness he had shown me over the years, every smile and every gentle word, was never truly meant for me. It was simply because I resembled someone else.

Now that I finally understood, all I could do was cry. It turns out some people don't deserve love.