More than just his Substitute

The other woman

RAYNE.

“Good morning, Ma’am.”

I watched almost all the staff quiver as they greeted someone who had walked into the house. My curiosity grew as I sat on the dining table, trying to catch a glimpse of who it was.

It was a woman, I could tell from the noise the sole of her heels made. And the rich scent of vanilla the moment she walked into the room.

“Where’s Nolan?” She asked with a sophisticated accent, and a voice that was very low and barely inaudible.

I was forced to stand up on my feet, raising the long, flowing gown I had on while trying to look just as presentable.

Our gazes met in the next few minutes as she walked towards my direction, and I couldn’t help but drop my jaw in awe. She was pretty, — very pretty, with long blonde hair and an expensive taste in fashion. I immediately felt inferior, feeling too low and classless to compare myself with her.

“Who are you?” I heard her ask me, giving me a blank and irritated stare, “Get off that dining table and come get my bag into the room.”

The maids present exchanged glances, their expressions giving away the shock they felt. I batted my eyelashes, turning to look around me while trying to confirm if I was the one she referred to.

“Me?” I asked, pointing at myself with my fingers. She gave me another cold stare, her eyes narrowing as she took a few steps forward.

“Yes, you.” She confirmed, making me bite down my lips to refrain my rising anger. I had no idea who this lady was or the power she held in the mansion, but she had clearly mistaken me for one of the maids.

“Let me help you with the bag, Ma’am.” Anna said to her, bending over slightly to take it from her, but she halted her with her hands.

“No. I was talking to the other trash who had the effrontery to sit down at my expensive table.”

That was so rude! And for someone who looked incredibly stunning.

But, I tried to clarify something— was I the trash? And did she say her table? Who was she to Nolan, and why—?

“Babe.” I heard a husky voice call out from the living room, heavy footsteps walking in our direction as it interrupted my thoughts. I swallowed hard at the sound of the voice, — it was Nolan. But, who was he referring to?

My shock got the best of me as my eyes widened, watching him curl up with her as they kissed on the lips, — passionately. I blinked my eyelids in disbelief, trying to make sure I wasn’t seeing things.

They kissed too passionately to be siblings, so, no. They had to be something more.

“Good morning, baby.” Her voice suddenly sounded shrill and hurtful to my ears, “I’ve missed you so much.”

“When did you get here?” He asked, acting like I was completely invisible and not even giving me a glance.

“A few minutes ago,” she turned to look at me, her lips suddenly twisting into a snarl, “But, someone here has been acting so rude to me.”

Her words finally got him to look at me, — but with disappointment and questioning in his eyes. I was still very confused from all that was happening. I knew my sister, River, to be the only one he loved and wanted to marry, but who was this new, rude lady cuddling up with him in front of me? And why did she command so much respect and attention from everyone in the house?

“This is Rayne.” He introduced, turning his gaze away from me, “She’s River’s twin sister, and my— my wife.”

I could tell the word ‘wife’ was painful for him to call me. It came out with a forceful tone, and an irritated expression on his face.

“I knew she was related to River.” The rude lady said with twisted lips, “They really do look alike though, except for the— fashion sense.”

She was right, I had the worst taste in fashion, and River was the fashionable one. And from the way she spoke, I had a feeling she knew about my sister and somehow about the wedding.

“Yeah. They really look nothing alike in that aspect.” Nolan agreed with her, giving me another blank stare, “Rayne, I want you to meet Kayla, — my girlfriend.”

I felt my heart sinking in my stomach. Girlfriend? Just only after two days of getting married? It was heartbreaking and confusing thinking about all the possibilities. Had they gotten together before or after being engaged to River? Or had ‘Kayla’ been there all along?

“Your girlfriend?” I was forced to ask out again, my eyes almost popping out of their sockets, “I thought River was the only woman in your life.”

She burst out laughing, — Kayla. It was a haughty laugh with a hint of mockery that I could sense. I wanted Nolan to shut her up, or try to defend himself and the relationship he had with my sister, but he just stood there, in her arms and doing nothing.

“Really?” Kayla asked with a snort, “The only woman in his life? If there is anyone who is supposed to be the only person in his life, it’s me. River was nothing but an object to get all he wanted from his grandfather.”

“Kayla, stop—‘’

“No, she needs to know the whole truth.” Kayla cut him off his words, making him go silent immediately as she returned her gaze to me, where I stood watching and listening in shock, “Your sister was never important in his life, we just needed her to get what we wanted. And now, you’re going to face the same fate by stepping into her shadow.”

My chest heaved up and down in disbelief, already feeling my heart racing at a breakneck pace. I felt bad for my sister, even though we never got along, she didn’t deserve all the pain and betrayal she received from Nolan and his mistress.

I felt my eyes getting teary, and knowing how emotional I could be, only a few minutes before, I burst into tears. But, I didn’t want them to see how hurt I was, or how they were getting to me. I was weak, but never showed it, and I wasn’t going to let Nolan see how weak he made me after making a fool out of my sister.

My eyes went directly into his, and I knew he could see the resentment that laid within them. I never liked him, but now— I hated him, with every fiber of my being.

Kayla gave me a satisfied smile, knowing she had defeated me after doing the same to my sister. I couldn’t bear the sight of them anymore, so I pulled away from my seat, storming away in anger as my tears started to fall.

“Rayne…” I heard Nolan’s voice call after me, but I ignored him. He had no right to say my name, and absolutely no right to use me and my sister as his ticket to have all he wanted.

Absolutely no right at all…

NOLAN.

My eyes darkened the moment I saw Rayne’s countenance changing at Kayla’s words. Her eyes immediately turned red and teary, and I knew for a fact that she had gotten hurt after hearing everything.

I felt bad, but didn’t know why. I wasn’t supposed to feel for her, but I did. And it felt like I had done the wrong thing by making her cry.

The chills I felt when she looked at me were overwhelming and unexpected. Her eyes, — they held resentment towards me. And if looks could kill, then I would have died right there on the spot.

“Rayne…” I tried to hold her back from storming out, but she flinched her hands away, completely ignoring me as I caught a glimpse of the tears that had started running down her cheeks. She was crying, — and it was all because of me.

“Let her go, honey.” Kayla’s voice whispered to me, her hands turning my face to look at her, “She definitely needed to hear that.”

I swallowed hard, already feeling torn apart and weary. If only she knew that half of the words Kayla said weren’t true, if only she knew how much I loved her sister, River.

“Don’t you think that was a bit harsh?” I asked, trying to make myself feel better by convincing myself that I hadn’t done anything wrong and trying to hear Kayla’s reply. But, knowing Kayla, she was never going to admit being wrong.

“It was the honest truth.” She uttered, staring directly into my eyes as she cupped my chin with her hands, “She doesn’t belong here, and you do not love River, neither do you love her. Or are you already developing feelings for her?”

“No way!” I defended immediately, nodding my head in disapproval, “There is no way I’m ever going to fall for her when I have you.”

And it was the truth. I might have loved River without Kayla knowing, but I would never love Rayne. After all, all she did was remind me of the painful memories I had with River.

Kayla’s lips curled into a satisfied smile, as she leaned over to press her lips against mine, kissing me passionately. My hands found their way to her waist, drawing her closer into my arms and feeling her warm body with my crotch.

I was already feeling hard, and Kayla knew what the next thing to do was. That was one thing I loved about her, — she could turn me on in just a second and make sure she did all she could to satisfy me.

Feeling my hard on, she slowly moved her hands seductively to place on my crotch, teasing me. I had completely forgotten about Rayne and the guilt that was eating me up, and all I wanted at the moment was to make hot, nasty love to Kayla in my bed.

And I didn’t care if Rayne felt bad, — I was willing to let her watch me make love to another woman, and to prove to her that I didn’t love her, and never will.