When His First Love Returns

Chapter 1 True Love Returns

My marriage to my current husband was a business arrangement.

The day his true love returned to the country, I, the stand-in, knowingly packed my belongings and moved out of the villa, initiating divorce proceedings.

Unexpectedly, he chased me all the way to my family home and fiercely covered my mouth.

"Divorce? Don't even think about it!"

*****

Xavier Lannister and I were bound by a marriage of convenience. I didn't love him, nor did he love me. Our story was doomed from the beginning. So, after the wedding, I spent most of my time indulging myself, happily playing the role of the wealthy wife, never interfering too much in Xavier's private life.

When Xavier returned, I was lounging on the sofa, watching TV. He slipped off his shoes, hung up his coat, and I greeted him with a glass of water.

"Would you like some water?"

Xavier took the glass, drank a sip, and looked up at me.

"Yvonne, were you up late again last night?"

How did he know I stayed up until 3 a.m. binge-watching? I definitely covered my dark circles!

"Your eyes are bloodshot. It's not hard to guess."

I was momentarily speechless, about to offer an explanation.

"Are you going to say it's because you missed me?" Xavier predicted my response.

Damn, why wouldn't he let me finish!

"Mrs. Lannister, I'm right here in front of you. You don't need to pine away for me anymore. Happy?" Xavier reached out and playfully pinched my cheek.

I stuck my tongue out at him, feigning petulance. "It's better when you're not home! Then nobody bosses me around!"

As soon as the words left my mouth, Xavier suddenly fixed me with a serious look. "Did you eat properly while I was away?"

I felt like a child caught doing something wrong, too guilty to speak.

Xavier gleaned the answer from my reaction. His face darkened as he summoned Wendy and instructed her to inspect my diet and lifestyle.

My vehement protests were completely ineffective, so I made a face at his retreating back.

Wendy chuckled, watching us. "Mr. and Mrs. Lannister have such a good relationship."

Do we? I didn't think so.

I knew Xavier still held someone else in his heart. His kindness towards me was solely due to my resemblance to her.

Xavier's first love had gone abroad during his university years. He remained obsessed with her for a long time before finally moving on. I shared a certain resemblance with this woman, a resemblance Xavier noticed upon our first meeting, which led to his swift decision to enter into this marriage of convenience with me.

I wondered if he constantly saw her in me, even at home.

I never dwelled on these questions. As long as I fulfilled my duties and didn't yearn for more, my relationship with Xavier would remain stable, just like it was now. I didn't want to upset this balance.

*****

A few days later, I woke from my afternoon nap to a barrage of missed calls from my best friend, Whitney Reed.

As soon as I answered, she couldn't contain her excitement. "Yvonne! Guess what? I heard Xavier's ex-girlfriend is back in the country!"

I jolted upright.

Ex-girlfriend? As far as I knew, Xavier only had one significant ex—that overseas-educated first love, Stephanie Lowe, a dancer making waves in the international scene.

"Are you talking about Stephanie Lowe?"

"Yes! Check the news! Your husband was photographed with her!"

What?!

I clicked on the news link and saw the paparazzi photo taken outside an upscale restaurant with Stephanie and Xavier in it. Stephanie gazed at him adoringly, while only Xavier's blurred profile was visible.

The headline screamed: "Shocking! Romance Revealed Between Rising Dance Star and Wealthy Heir!"

It was front-page news.

I wasn't surprised.

I knew all this time that my place by Xavier's side was entirely dependent on my resemblance to Stephanie. Now that the original had returned, it seemed I, the stand-in, should gracefully step aside.

Unfortunately, my marriage to Xavier was complicated. Even if it were to end, it would take time.

I assumed he would eventually approach me to discuss the matter.

However, I didn't expect that within two hours, the headline would vanish from the news site without a trace.

As I puzzled over this, Xavier returned.

He seemed to have rushed back, his forehead beaded with sweat. He burst through the door and, seeing the news article on my screen, his expression soured.

"You saw it?"

"If you're referring to the news about your rendezvous with Stephanie…"

He interrupted me. "It's not like that!"

He seemed eager to explain, but I cut him off with a calm demeanor. "It's alright. You don't need to explain anything. Our marriage was a business arrangement; there's no love between us. Stephanie's back, and it's perfectly fine for you two to rekindle your relationship. Just be careful not to get caught by the paparazzi. It would affect both the Lannister and Jackson families' reputations."

Xavier's face instantly darkened. "Is that really how you feel?"

"Shouldn't I feel this way?"

Men are truly strange creatures.

Xavier fell silent for a moment, his face growing increasingly grim.

"So you're saying you have no feelings for me, that you don't care who I'm with?!"

Should I care, or shouldn't I...?

I was confused. I was the stand-in, wasn't I? Shouldn't Xavier be saying something like, "This isn't your concern. Just be a good Mrs. Lannister"? Why did he seem so angry?

Xavier seemed genuinely upset and continued to ignore me. He usually asked me to tie his tie before he left for work, but for the past few days, he'd left without a word.

Since he insisted on this one-sided cold war, I couldn't be bothered to appease him and continued to enjoy my life at the villa.

Then, one day, an unexpected guest arrived.