Chapter 1
After college, my sponsor told me I didn’t look like Sophia anymore–and just like that, he dumped me
I was devastated.
Itraveled across three states, all the way crying, just to find him.
But when I arrived, I was stopped at the entrance of his wedding.
To Sophia.
I was crushed.
And right when I thought I couldn’t take it anymore, his younger brother, James, pulled me up off the ground.
In front of everyone, he dropped to one knee.
“Ive loved you for years, Lillian,” he said. “There’s no room in my heart for anyone else.”
After we got married, I brought James a homemade lunch at work, hoping to surprise him.
Instead, I stumbled upon a hidden section in his office.
And on the wall?
A chart comparing every single feature of mine to Sophia’s.
James came back from a meeting just as I overheard his assistant say.
“Mr. Carter, Sophia’s heart transplant was a success, but we told your wife it was for your mother.”
“Are you sure about this? It just doesn’t seem right…”
James lit a cigarette, exhaling slowly.
“I couldn’t marry Sophia,” he muttered, “but I can at least make sure she’s alive and well.”
“As for Lillian, I owe her. I’ll spend the rest of my life paying that debt.”
13:30
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But sir, your wife agreed to the surgery because she thought your mother was dying. She didn’t even hesitate.”
“Now she has an artificial heart,” the assistant continued.
“She’s so weak she can barely stand some days. And she… she can’t have kids anymore. Mr. Carter, your wife truly loves you.”
James cut him off. “Shut up.”
He took a long drag of his cigarette, masking whatever emotions flickered across his face.
“She should be honored to give Sophia her heart.”
I clamped a hand over my mouth, trying not to make a sound.
The chart on the wall detailed every resemblance between Sophia and me–from the length of my hair to the way I dressed.
So that’s why James always insisted I keep my hair at a certain length, why he had opinions on my makeup and clothing choices.
He was shaping me into her.
I glanced down at the pregnancy test hidden inside the lunchbox I’d brought for him.
Two pink lines.
I had come here to surprise him, to tell him he was going to be a father.
Instead, I’d torn apart the illusion of our perfect marriage.
James sighed.
“Let’s not talk about this anymore. I need to call Lillian and see what she wants to do for her birthday.”
My phone buzzed in my pocket.
My hands were shaking as I scrambled to silence it.
I couldn’t let him know I was here.
I held my breath, heart pounding, until he and his assistant finally left the office.
13:30
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Then, I stapped out and Beaded home
“Where’d you go? Jaimes asked as soon as I stepped inside.
Tve been waiting for you”
I barely had time to take off my shoes before he wrapped me in a warm embrace.
I forced a smile and gently pulled away.
His gaze landed on the bag Id set down.
He picked it up, curious
“What’s this?*
Inside was the lunch I’d spent the entire morning preparing for him.
And the pregnancy test
“just some trash,” I saad quickly, smarching it from his hands
“But I saw it,” he said, frowning
“It’s a lunchbox, isa’t it? Lillian, dut gan muake this for me?
James ruffled my hair, his face hit of affection
He always knew when I was planning a surprise for him.
But this time, he had no chue
I soused the entire bag into the trash and turned to the housekeeper
“The trash is full. Could you take it over, please?”
james hooded custused, about to say something, but fout him off.
Tm bazing out to meet wat friends. You’ll have to handle lunch yourself.”
The moment I stepped out the door, my tears finally spilled over.
I sobbed the entire ride to the hospital.
My doctor rushed to meet me as soon as I arrived.
“Lillian, I told you before–you’re too weak to carry a child.”
“You have an artificial heart.”
“You’ve only got a year left as it is.”
“Giving birth would shorten that even more.”
I wiped my tears and smiled at her.
“I’m not having this baby for him. And I’m done with that house.”
I took a deep breath.
“Schedule the procedure. I want to terminate the pregnancy.”
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