Chapter 1
Celia's POV:
I was an actress so far down the cast list that nobody knew my name.
I was also the kept woman of Everett Prescott, the hardest man to please in Briarhaven, and a substitute for the woman he really wanted.
In my last life, Vanessa Langley had returned from abroad. Terrified I'd be thrown out, I stormed into the Prescott residence with a pregnancy test report, convinced a baby would finally make him spare me a glance.
Everett had announced in front of everyone that the child wasn't his.
Later, without his protection, I was tricked into boarding a yacht. The wind over the sea was fierce that night. As seawater flooded my nose, I discovered that a single thought really could be the last thing you hold onto.
'If only I'd never fallen in love.'
When I opened my eyes again, I was sitting across from Everett with a ring box clenched in my hand.
It was the day I'd tried to pressure him into marrying me, the day he'd first decided I was becoming a nuisance.
"Mr. Prescott, when are we going to...?"
The word "marry" caught on my tongue. I forced the question in a different direction.
"Uh, I mean, when are we going to break up?"
Everett looked up. He'd just returned from a meeting, his expression as tight as his tie. He looked at me as if I were a pawn that had suddenly moved itself.
"What did you say?"
"Ms. Langley is back."
I slipped the ring box farther behind my back and gave him my best professional smile.
"It wouldn't be appropriate for me to keep living here. Don't worry. I'll cooperate with the handover and make sure your life goes on without a hitch."
I was Vanessa's substitute. Plenty of people in the industry called me "Vanessa's lookalike" behind my back.
Supposedly, Everett had chosen me because the mole at the outer corner of my right eye looked so much like hers.
In my last life, I couldn't stand hearing that. I'd turn on anyone who mentioned it. Looking back, I'd made a terrible bargain, throwing away my life to compete with a man's old flame.
Everett stared at me for a long moment. His voice turned cold.
"Don't bring her up."
Then I remembered. Vanessa had come home, but she hadn't come to see him. Everett was already in a bad mood, and I'd managed to hit exactly the wrong nerve.
I immediately lowered my head.
"I'm sorry. I overstepped."
He seemed displeased. Leaning back against the sofa, he said coolly, "Behave yourself, and I'll make sure you're well taken care of."
In my last life, I'd mistaken those words for affection.
This time, all I heard was an employment contract.
My monthly allowance ran to seven figures. Holidays meant gifts like jewelry and handbags, and career opportunities were available on request. A bad-tempered boss was fine as long as the pay was good enough.
I nodded earnestly.
"Of course, Mr. Prescott. I'll do my best to be an exemplary employee. I won't cause the company any trouble."
His brow twitched.
"Celia Whitmore, what game are you playing now?"
"Nothing," I said sincerely. "My only plan now is to focus on my career."
Everett said nothing more.
Somehow, though, his usually icy expression grew even darker.
