The Unwanted Substitute: Watch Me Shine Now

Chapter 4

Word Count: 450 | Released on: Today at 19:43

ng of bodies to a plush booth alrea

the music, "this is my best friend, Aurora Hayes. And

n, he builds ridiculously expensive skyscrapers. And this is Grant R

he said, his voice a low baritone. "I've seen your early film work. You were bri

For years, Julian had dismissed her

nding her true voice. "But I'm

ependent films, and the nuances of scriptwriting-topics she secretly poured

complaining to Caleb Price abou

. There was a woman in a red dress, holding court in Zo

whiskey. "Holy shit

way. She looks... lethal. And she's got Ethan

: Aurora, luminous and laughing, surrounded by

ate group chat wit

s supposed to be begging you to come bac

on was ins

I told you. You o

, you might have serious

read the chat but remained silent, watching her

next week," Ethan was saying. "I have

was genuine.

ment in four years not dictate

kept poking the bear. Ca

oid of his non-response echoed with the deafening

Chapter End

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The Unwanted Substitute: Watch Me Shine Now

Rafaela Kokkotou Romance

“When the anonymous photo arrived on our fourth anniversary, I found out my life as Julian Sterling's perfect fiancée was just a lie. The first thing he did when he got home was casually shatter my entire world. Julian stood in our penthouse, looking at me with absolute coldness. "Seraphina is back. She's the one I'll be marrying." He was going to throw me aside, claiming I was nothing more than a convenient substitute for the press and his powerful family. He watched me pack with a smirk, mocking my dependence on his wealth. He even made a bet with his billionaire friends, gambling a vintage Porsche that I would be back crying at his door within three days. For four years, I gave up my acting career and molded myself into his ideal, quiet companion, believing my daily devotion could melt his frozen heart. But my love was just a joke to him, a simple line item in an arrangement I had never seen. I didn't understand how he could be so casually cruel, or why my entire identity over these years had to be a meticulously crafted fraud. This time, I didn't shed a single tear or beg him to stay. I left behind every designer gown and black card, packed my old suitcase, and went straight to the clinic to burn the tattoo of his name off my skin. From now on, I am living for myself.”