The Substitute Strikes Back

“Ms. Lewis, these are the results of your premarital check-up with Mr. Hughes. We recommend scheduling surgery soon, so you might want to let your family know...” The moment I received the diagnosis, my mind was a whirlwind of chaos, leaving me utterly lost. I fumbled with my phone, scrolling through my contacts, wanting to call my boyfriend, Kevin, but unsure of how to begin. Suddenly, the phone rang—it was Kevin. Grasping it like a lifeline, I answered eagerly, but was met with Kevin's icy tone. “Jean's been upset lately. I'm taking her on a little getaway. Don't contact me unless it's important, and let's put the wedding on hold for now.” With that, he hung up, not waiting for any response from me. Soon after, I stumbled upon Jean's social media update. She and Kevin were enjoying a carefree cruise vacation. The girl in the photos beamed brightly, while the man gazed at her with deep affection. To rub salt in the wound, Jean sent me a few private photos. There was Kevin peeling shrimp for her, the two of them in an intimate embrace, and even a half-naked photo of Kevin. His chiseled abs were on full display, wrapped in nothing but a towel, radiating an irresistible allure. Fuming with anger, I dialed his number, demanding to know my place as his fiancée. All I got was his impatient voice. “Winnie, stay in your lane. Don't ask questions that aren't yours to ask. I thought you were sensible, but you're just as petty as anyone else. Do you even know your own worth? If this continues, I might need to seriously reconsider our wedding.” Before I could say more, he hung up. That was just like him—decisive and unyielding. I chuckled bitterly. How could I ever expect him to give me an explanation? After all, in his eyes, I was just a tool to fend off public gossip. His heart had always belonged to his foster sister, Jean, the one he could never marry in the open. Falling for Kevin was never part of the plan. Kevin was a prodigy from a young age, collecting awards like they were nothing. Meanwhile, I was just a girl working tirelessly to pay for tuition and living expenses. We seemed worlds apart, and that was the truth. But that night, when Kevin chased away the thugs, a light entered my once-dark world. Our worlds began to intertwine, and I started to notice his every move, drawing closer to him, intentionally or not. Falling for him was easy; he was so bright and outstanding, a single smile from him made my heart race. So, I buried myself in management studies, entered various entrepreneurship competitions, all to increase my worth and join his company, becoming his right-hand woman. But I was naive. How could a few years of effort compare to those groomed from childhood? Yet somehow, I ended up as Kevin's personal secretary, handling his daily affairs. Thanks to my previous silent observations, I knew his every move, making the job a breeze. Kevin was taken aback by my performance, arching an eyebrow and teasing, "Are you my secret admirer or something, knowing me inside out like that?" We spent years working side by side. There were moments when I felt restless, itching to climb the corporate ladder and prove my worth, but I couldn't bear the thought of leaving this boy behind. Then came the day that flipped our world upside down. Love from someone up high often sweeps in like a grand spectacle but leaves you empty-handed. On an otherwise mundane day, as the office buzz was winding down, Kevin pulled off a jaw-dropping proposal. We weren't even in a relationship, and before this proposal, we hadn't shared any private moments. I had always kept my feelings for him under lock and key, trying to stay cool and collected. But then it happened— The office was a sea of red roses, and the electronic billboard screamed "I Love You" in bold letters. He approached me slowly, dressed in a custom-tailored suit, and knelt on one knee, holding a diamond ring the size of a pigeon egg. "Will you marry me?" It was a scene straight out of a fairy tale. If you could ignore my work-stained clothes and disheveled hair, that is. The cameras flashed incessantly, and everyone rushed to report the classic tale of a prince falling for his Cinderella. I believed it, my heart swelling with happiness, even thinking I was the heroine of the world, and with tears in my eyes, I said yes. Later, everyone said I was lucky, managing to snag a wealthy and handsome man like Kevin after just a few years of work, ensuring a future free from worries. For once, my parents were all smiles, pushing me to have a son ASAP to lock down my spot in the family. But it never crossed my mind—if he really loved me, how could he miss my pollen allergy? The one who adored vibrant red roses was always his precious sister, Jean. I glanced at the diagnosis notice in my hand, a bitter taste in my mouth. Stomach cancer. I'd never had the chance to enjoy good food growing up, and now that I finally had money, it seemed I wouldn't be able to enjoy it after all. I stumbled home in a daze, only to be met with a barrage of scolding from my mother as soon as I walked through the door. "Look at this mess! You're on the brink of marriage, and your fiancé's off gallivanting without you. How am I supposed to show my face? You can't even keep a man, what good are you?" I opened my mouth weakly. "The wedding's postponed, no need to rush. He's not out playing; it's for work." Faced with my mother's questioning, I lied, unsure if I was deceiving her or myself. She shot me a sideways glance, dripping with disdain. "Hmph, always with the excuses. Since you're back, go make dinner. Can't you see there's work to be done..." Before she could finish, my stomach churned violently, and I dashed to the bathroom, retching over the sink. At first, my mom was all scorn, but then she switched to a fawning grin, like she'd struck gold. "Win... could it be that you're expecting? Oh, you should have said so sooner! Quick, go sit on the sofa and rest. I'll whip up something delicious for you. Our little grandbaby's gotta eat like royalty, you know." I couldn't be bothered to argue with her. The relentless stomach pain left me with no energy to engage, so I quietly lay down on my bed. Ever since I started working, the company dorm had been my home. Over time, my once cozy room had transformed into a chaotic storage space, a graveyard for forgotten dreams. I gazed at my once cherished desk, now a relic buried under a mountain of robot and airplane models. These were the remnants of my brother's endless playtime adventures. A bittersweet memory surged through my mind—there was a Barbie doll I had adored. My mother had dangled the promise of a Barbie doll before me, a prize for my academic triumph. I did achieve the top rank, but by then, the Barbie had been snatched up by someone else. Without batting an eye, she used the money to buy my brother the latest robot, even though he ranked dead last. "As the elder sister, you should give way to your brother. What's the big deal? We're family. If your brother has it, it's like you have it too. His happiness is your happiness, right?" she had said. That once-coveted robot now lay abandoned, but the sting of disappointment and injustice clung to my heart like a shadow. "Dinner's on the table! Come and get it," my mother called out, placing dish after dish on the table, all seasoned to my brother's spicy preference, with nothing I could stomach. As soon as I sat down, she placed a chicken drumstick on my plate. "Win, look at how thin you've become. You need to eat up and put some meat on those bones, alright?" "Why should that woman get my drumstick? Give it back! I want it!" My brother, Mike, snatched it away before it even touched my bowl, cursing me as he did. "Even your fiancé's ditched you, and you still have the gall to show your face here? Shameless," he sneered, taking a big bite of the drumstick. My mother flushed with embarrassment, shooting Mike a warning glance while trying to smooth things over with me. "Oh, Mike's just spoiled by me, haha. You know how kids are, always running their mouths. Don't take it to heart. Mike, apologize to your sister. We'll need her fiancé's support in the future." "No way! Her fiancé doesn't even like her. Otherwise, why would he be out with another woman? I think Win is just unwanted." "Enough!" I finally snapped, slamming my chopsticks onto the table. Mike, ever the troublemaker, wasn't fazed. He stood up defiantly. "What? Can't handle a little truth bomb? Everything I said is true, you old hag." He moved closer, trying to shove me off my chair. In the scuffle, I suddenly felt dizzy and blacked out. When I finally came to, the sterile scent of the hospital hit me, and I found myself lying in a stark white bed. The first thing I saw was Jean, standing by my side with teary eyes. "Sis, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have asked Kevin to take me out before your wedding, causing all this trouble for you... But I just can't imagine life without him after you two get married. I just wanted a few more moments with him before everything changes..." "Enough, Jean. It's not your fault," Kevin interrupted calmly. "Winnie, what's your game here? Faking a faint just to get me to come back? How petty can you be? She's my sister, and you're jealous of her? And lying to your mom about being pregnant? Have I ever touched you? I can't believe you're just another vain, superficial woman. I really misjudged you." Kevin's words cut through me like a cold, merciless blade.Jean's lips twitched slightly when she heard Kevin declare he hadn't touched me. I lay there, utterly drained, my gaze fixed on the ceiling, drowning in regret for every choice that brought me to this point. When Kevin proposed, it sparked a whirlwind at the company. My colleagues' eyes brimmed with suspicion and malice. "Hey, did you hear? That's our future boss's fiancée." "Seriously? She seems so plain. What does the boss see in her?" "I heard she's his personal secretary. Must've used some tricks..." "When there's work, the secretary handles it. When there's not, the secretary gets handled, huh? Haha..." "Shh, stop it. She's looking over here. Let's go." And just like that, the rumors spiraled wildly, painting a target on my back for everyone's disdain. The company was no longer a place for me. I once asked Kevin to clear things up, but he couldn't care less. "With me here, there's no need for you to work. Just handle the house and meals," he remarked offhandedly. With that single offhand remark, years of my hard work crumbled into insignificance. I was forced to resign. After resigning, Kevin solemnly promised to take care of me for life, ensuring I'd never want for anything. But it was only that—never wanting for anything. Under his direction, I moved into his house, spending my days cleaning and cooking his favorite meals. Kevin was as finicky about his meals as any romance novel's aloof CEO, plagued by severe stomach issues and an endless list of allergies. So, I meticulously planned his meals, even earning a nutritionist certification to do it right. After all, doing things perfectly had always been my style. One day, I packed two meals, aiming to share lunch with Kevin and k****e our relationship. As I neared his office, the sound of a heated argument between a man and a woman reached my ears. "Brother, why are you marrying Winnie? Don't you love me?" "Jean, don't..." "I don't care. You can't marry her. I'm the only one who can marry you. Didn't you promise to always be there for me?" "I'm sorry, Jean, but we can't be together. You'd face too much criticism... It would break my heart." "Not being with you is what will kill me..." "Mmm..." The room was filled with the unmistakable sounds of intimacy. Gritting my teeth, I flung the office door open. Jean was ensnared in Kevin's arms, the two of them entwined in a fervent embrace. Kevin's face flickered with panic at the sight of me, but he swiftly masked it, barking out his reprimand. "Winnie, what on earth are you doing here? Didn't I make it clear not to enter my office without permission? Why aren't you at home where you belong?" I stood frozen, clutching the steaming meals, as if I'd been cast into an icy abyss. Even now, his first instinct was to scold me. Jean disentangled herself, her cheeks flushed, stammering out a feeble defense. "Sister, it's not what you think, we..." I cut her off abruptly. "Oh, is that it? You two are the kind of siblings who can lock lips, huh?" Jean's eyes brimmed with tears, her gaze pleading with Kevin, as if she was on the verge of breaking down. "No, we, we..." "Enough, Winnie. She's my sister." I felt like I had just heard the world's biggest joke. "She's your sister, and I'm your fiancée. Is this really how you treat me?" "How can you even compare to her?" Kevin's words hit me like a sledgehammer, obliterating every last shred of hope. I couldn't stand the humiliation any longer and fled home, tears cascading down my cheeks. Turns out, there's no such thing as a fairytale ending. The glamorous proposal was just a cover for something so disgusting. I wrapped myself in a blanket, mocking myself with the thought, "At least I have his body, if not his heart. He does make for good arm candy. And Kevin has never treated me poorly." So, I resigned myself to being a puppet stand-in, clinging to the meager scraps of affection Kevin occasionally threw my way. Seeing that I never brought up the incident again, Kevin felt even more justified in being with Jean, even daring to bring her home, leaving traces of them everywhere. But this time, I resolved that enough was enough.