Chapter 9
“Sophia, from now on, stay away from us,” William said coldly.
“You are no longer welcome in the Carter family.”
Sophia sobbed, desperate now.
“William, I did it for you!”
“We grew up together. I’m the one you truly love!”
But no one was listening anymore.
James and William walked past her, straight to me.
James stared at me, his face full of regret.
“If only I had seen her for who she really was… then none of this would’ve happened.”
I scoffed.
“If it weren’t for her, I never would’ve met either of you.”
“My life would’ve been peaceful.”
“James, you have no idea–I was going to get rid of the baby myself.”
“Because you were never worth risking my life for.”
James froze.
“Lillian, your nose…”
I wiped it absently.
Blood.
Then my legs gave out.
I collapsed into James‘ arms.
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When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed, staring at the sterile white celling.
I turned my head slowly.
James was slumped against the side of the bed, dark circles under his eyes.
“…Water,” I croaked.
His head snapped up.
The moment he saw me awake, he nearly knocked over the chair scrambling to get me a drink.
“Lillian, you’re okay?”
“The doctor said you can’t get emotional. Your heart might give out.”
“This is all my fault.”
The door swung open.
William entered, pausing when he saw me awake.
“I need to talk to her alone,” he said.
James hesitated, but when I gave a nod, he sighed and stepped out.
William knelt beside my bed, looking up at me.
“You don’t look good,” he murmured.
I met his gaze.
“Does that mean I finally don’t look like Sophia?”
His jaw tightened.
I remembered college–when William first confessed to me.
Back then, I had seen him as my savior.
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Chapter 9
I never realized I was just a stand–in.
The moment Sophia returned, he discarded me without a second thought.
“You don’t look like her at all,” William whispered, his voice strained.
“Back then, I thought I loved her.”
“I thought… you were just a substitute while she was gone.”
“But when I let you go, something felt… wrong.”
“When you married James, I told myself I was too busy to attend.”
“But the truth is, I couldn’t bear to see it.”
“When you disappeared, I realized–I never loved Sophia.”
“The person I truly loved was you.”
His voice was barely above a whisper.
“Lillian, can we start over?”
I gave him a sad smile.
“You do realize I don’t have much time left.”
William’s grip on my hand tightened.
“Then let me be with you for every second of it.”
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Chapter 10
Chapter 10
