The Day He Chose Her
1193 Words
“Tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow might not work either.”
Allen sounded awkward.
The spark in Elena’s chest turned into a full-blown wildfire.
“What, someone dies in his family? Does he have to go keep vigil? Not today, not tomorrow—should I wait until the seventh day after the funeral to see him?”
Allen hadn’t expected sweet Miss Elena to suddenly get this sharp.
And this aggressive.
He went quiet for a moment.
“Miss Elena, I’ll take you home. You don’t need to rehearse today.”
Elena turned and walked off.
In the car, every moment she’d spent with Marcus kept replaying in her head.
The tenderness was fake.
The devotion was fake.
The money he threw at her was the only real thing.
The more she thought about it, the more wrong it all felt.
“Elena suddenly spoke, hollow, “What was her name?”
Allen tightened his grip on the wheel. “Miss Elena, ask Mr. Marcus yourself.”
“How did she die?”
“…”
“How many stand-ins have there been before me?”
“…”
“If I get in a car crash and die tomorrow, is he just going to find the next one?”
“…”
“Do you think I look like her?”
“…”
Elena let out a short laugh. It sounded worse than crying.
She leaned back, staring at the blur of the city outside. “Find me a priest. I think something dirty possessed me.”
“…”
Marcus still wasn’t picking up.
Staring at his name on the screen, Elena felt the raging anger slowly cool.
No point in beating up the go-between.
Marcus was her boss. A boss gives orders; you follow them.
If she made a scene now, she’d just look like a poor employee.
Who rebels against their boss?
Seen that way… maybe there was nothing to be mad about.
Elena went home and locked the door.
She collapsed on the couch, but her mind was a mess, running in circles.
Who was that girl?
Why did she look exactly like her?
How did she die?
Why did Marcus keep all these stand-ins?
Was he running some creepy resurrection ritual?
From what she knew, she was probably the best version so far.
Her head was about to explode.
Making money was hell. So I was dealing with it.
Marcus and Julian, those two brothers—neither of them was normal.
Julian…
A faint light flickered in her dull eyes.
Maybe she could get answers from him.
She picked up her phone.
Just as she was about to call Julian, a breaking news alert popped up.
#Song Group and Su Group announce marriage alliance
Elena’s heart jumped.
Marcus?
Her finger shook as she tapped it. The first thing she saw was Marcus and Sophia, the Su family’s eldest daughter, looking perfect together on the front page.
#Song and Su families announce engagement
#Powerhouses join forces, Song Group stock surges
#Both families reveal engagement gifts as elites send blessings
#Old money meets new capital in a high-profile move
In leaked footage from the engagement party, reporters also caught shots of the Song family’s second son—the mysterious Julian.
It was his first real public appearance as an adult.
And it was at his half-brother’s engagement party.
Compared to Marcus and his fiancée, most cameras only got blurry side angles.
Julian smiled straight at the lens and even blew a kiss.
Like he was afraid no one would notice him.
Elena cursed under her breath. Show-off.
Everyone at the party looked thrilled.
No wonder Allen said Marcus was busy.
Her head ached again.
So Marcus was engaged now. What was he planning to do with his “replacement”?
Her phone lit up.
Elio: What’re you doing?
Elena: Your brother’s engaged.
Elio: Heh. Guess you missed me already, huh?
Elena didn’t even know what to say.
A voice call came in right away. She answered.
Julian’s cheerful voice came through. “You must be heartbroken, huh? Want me to come back and comfort your wounded little heart?”
So, he was just here to laugh at her.
“I’m ready to offer you my pretty face and perfect body,” Julian added.
“No, thanks,” Elena said.
“You always turn me down. That really hurts.”
“You don’t sound hurt. You sound like you’re enjoying this. Watching me get played makes you happy, right?”
Julian laughed low. “Yeah. I’m thrilled. I’m thrilled you’re finally free from that trash and can have me instead.”
Elena frowned.
She felt nothing for Julian.
The first time was a mistake. She’d slept with the wrong guy.
The second time was a just pity for his dead mother, so she let him stay one night.
If she ever switched men, it wouldn’t be to him.
She wasn’t about to jump from one hell into another.
“Julian.”
“Yeah?”
She swallowed the harsher words. “Can you look someone up for me?”
Julian’s voice dropped into a lazy chuckle. “Sure.”
He agreed way too fast.
And right on cue, he added, “So what do I get?”
“I’ll pay you,” Elena said.
“Do I look broke?”
“Then what do you want?”
“Kisses, hugs… and maybe a little more.”
“Pick one.”
His lips curled. “Nope. I want all of it.”
The call was cut off.
She’d hung up on him.
Julian glanced at her profile picture on his screen.
Two chubby white cat paws, claws tucked into fluffy pads.
Looks harmless. Might scratch you bloody if you push it.
Cute.
He counted in his head.
Three.
Two.
One.
The screen lit up.
Elena: Fine.
Elena: You’ve got thirty minutes. Can you do it all?
Elio: Nope, babe. You know my minimum is two hours. Half an hour won’t even get me started.
Elena: … When are you coming back?
Elio: Don’t rush me, babe. I’ll be back once I’m done here.
Elio: Be clean and ready for me.
She didn’t reply.
Probably furious again.
Julian put his phone away and turned back to the fake-smiling party.
Everyone here was a big deal in New York.
Thanks to this engagement, the Song Group’s stock was soaring.
The old man was so happy his illness was practically cured. He’d even rolled out in his wheelchair to greet guests.
The butler came over and whispered that Victor wanted to see him.
Julian took a glass from the champagne tower and walked lazily toward his father.
Marcus’s mother, Isabelle, was pushing Victor’s wheelchair, chatting with guests.
Marcus stood beside them with Sophia.
They looked like one big happy family.
Which just made Julian look even more out of place.
Victor waved at him. “Julian, come here. Let’s take a family photo.”
Julian kept smiling, but his eyes turned cold.
He tilted his glass, half-smiling.
“My mom’s not here,” he said. “What kind of family photo is that?”
- Writer
