It had been ten years since I became a replacement bride, and then, my sister suddenly came back.
My whole family stared at her in stunned silence.
She yawned, casually remarking:
“Thirteen countries, I’m absolutely exhausted from all that traveling.”
“And where’s Leo? He must be in elementary school by now. Why isn’t he here to greet his real mom?”
Leo was my sister Stella’s son.
Ten years ago, Stella gave birth, then faked her death on her wedding day, abandoning her son and her fiancé.
The Sterling family was old money, part of the city’s elite.
My parents didn’t dare offend them, so they decided to package me, fresh out of college, and send me to the wedding.
For ten years, I’d been a dutiful wife, a responsible mother.
Seeing Stella’s self-righteous demeanor,
My parents’ eyes fell on me. I offered a faint smile:
“Leo is on a trip to the coast with his dad.”
At my words, Stella Reed’s eyebrows knitted together in a frown of displeasure.
“Didn’t I tell you I was coming home in advance? Didn’t you tell Julian that I was returning?”
I calmly sipped my tea.
Years of quiet resilience had transformed me. I was no longer the invisible girl who lived in my sister’s shadow.
My silence completely infuriated Stella.
She abruptly stood up, her sharp voice piercing the air:
“Amelia Reed! What do you mean by this? Don’t forget, I was the one engaged to Julian Sterling! Now I’m back. Do you honestly think you can keep playing the role of Mrs. Sterling?”
I glanced at her, a small smile playing on my lips.
“Sister, I’m not sure what you’re talking about. My husband and I have a wonderful relationship.”
Over these past years, I had accompanied Julian to countless charity galas and business events.
Our reputation as a loving, devoted couple spread throughout our social and business circles.
Julian’s image as a devoted husband had earned him respect and appreciation from many business partners.
Perhaps Julian and I didn’t share passionate romance, but we had a connection far stronger than mere love.
It was mutual benefit.
That was why I felt so confident.
Stella looked utterly incredulous. She pointed at me, shouting:
“Amelia Reed! Have you no shame? He’s practically your brother-in-law!”
I slowly set my teacup down, my smile unwavering and dignified.
“No, we’re legally married.”
My gaze was firm. I stood up, unwilling to prolong this charade.
My parents stood nearby, looking utterly helpless.
Stella suddenly rushed over, grabbing my mother’s sleeve.
“Mom, Amelia’s lost her mind! Julian and I were college sweethearts! If it weren’t for me, if it weren’t for the Sterling family, how do you think our company grew so much?”
My parents had always favored Stella since we were children.
But this time, Mom secretly observed my expression, her voice softening.
“But… you ran away from the wedding, and you faked your death. For all these years, we didn’t hear a peep from you.”
“There was no bride at the wedding! If it weren’t for your sister, the Sterling family would have been publicly humiliated. They wouldn’t have let it go, and our company would have been ruined!”
Stella’s face froze for a moment, then she stammered an explanation:
“I… I just wasn’t ready for marriage back then. But I’m back now, aren’t I?”
“Besides, you know how arrogant the Sterlings are. They never really thought highly of our family, and I was pregnant out of wedlock. If I had married into their family back then, I would have just been marrying into a life of being looked down upon and mistreated!”
My eyes were cold as I asked,
“Why are you back?”
Stella looked utterly reasonable.
“Now that the Sterling family has accepted you, they can certainly accept me too, right? It’s perfect!”
“If I marry Julian now, his parents surely won’t treat me too badly. And Leo can finally meet his real mom. It’s good for everyone!”
With that, she took a few steps forward, gripped my hand tightly, and looked at me with what she imagined was sincerity.
“Amelia, you’re free! You can go find your own happiness now.”
I stared expressionlessly into her eyes.
In those almond-shaped eyes was the naivete born of a lifetime of pampering and favoritism.
Her innocence was almost cruel in its self-centeredness.
She genuinely believed that I, her overlooked sister, was meant to sacrifice everything for her.
I pulled my hand away with a cold laugh.
“I’m very happy with my life, Stella. It’s time for you to face reality.”
With that, I turned and left that emotionally barren house. I don’t know what Stella’s mood was behind me, but I knew it wouldn’t be good.
But I also knew that Stella, with her stubborn and capricious nature, wouldn’t give up easily.
I dragged my exhausted body back to the Sterling mansion.
These past few days, I had been swamped with a project, almost always working late into the night.
I walked in, rubbing my temples.
An hour earlier, I had received a SnapChat from my parents saying my sister had returned.
At the time, my body had frozen.
I had always known Stella would come back, but when the day finally arrived, I was still momentarily stunned.
I hung my bag on the coat rack and looked down to see a pair of men’s shoes on the floor.
I paused for a second, then instantly put on a polite smile.
“You’re back?” a gentle voice asked.
I turned to see Julian in a simple black silk pajama set. Even in casual wear, his broad shoulders and narrow waist, tall physique, and handsome face were evident. His gentle eyes peered from behind gold-rimmed glasses.
He frowned slightly, looking at me with concern.
“Why are you so tired? Haven’t you been resting well these past few days?”
I smiled. “Work’s been crazy. Did you and Leo have fun these past few days? How is he?”
Julian stepped forward and gently pulled me into his arms.
His chin rested on my shoulder, his warm breath fanned my neck, and his long, slender fingers gently stroked my back. He whispered:
“Leo had a great time, he’s already asleep from exhaustion. The only regret was that you weren’t there. Next time, the three of us will go together.”
“I missed you,” he murmured, his voice laced with an intimate undertone.
I felt the warmth of his chest, but my heart remained chillingly cold.
I felt something soft press against the back of my neck. My body stiffened, my mind replaying Stella’s words from earlier today.
I didn’t respond to him like I used to.
I subtly pushed against him, creating a small distance between us.
“I…”
My words trailed off, because I distinctly felt Julian’s body stiffen for a moment.
I keenly sensed his displeasure.
After a long pause, Julian smiled and smoothly picked up my thought:
“You’ve been too stressed lately. Take a shower and get some good rest.”
He had found an excuse for me.
Then, he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss on my forehead.
I nodded and turned to go upstairs.
Behind me, the man hidden in the shadows had a darkened, unreadable expression. The air around him seemed to thicken with unspoken tension, his gaze fixed intensely on my preoccupied retreating figure.
The next day, I headed to work as usual. Just outside our gated community, I saw a familiar figure.
My hands tightened on the steering wheel, my brows furrowing.
Stella saw my car too. She suddenly darted in front of it, forcing me to stop. The car behind me blared its horn incessantly.
It was rush hour.
The security guard rushed to pull Stella away.
But Stella was relentless. Even as she was being pulled back, she screamed desperately:
“Amelia Reed! Don’t play dead! You’re taking my fiancé, have you no shame?!”
Her shrill, piercing voice drew everyone’s attention.
I pulled my car to the side, ensuring I wasn’t blocking anyone, then stepped out.
I watched her with a cold expression. Stella flashed a triumphant smile, running a hand through her messy hair.
She chuckled:
“What? Embarrassed? Or are you afraid Julian will find out I’m back and ditch you?”
My voice was like ice. “Stella Reed, you are severely disrupting my life. This is my final warning: stop coming to find me.”
Stella completely ignored my warning.
She sported a look of absolute certainty.
“Don’t pretend, you’re just scared. After all, you’ve always lived in my shadow, jealous of me, wanting to replace me—it’s only human nature.”
She paused for a moment, then took a few steps closer and whispered in my ear:
“But a usurper will always be kicked out. I’ll wait here. Once I see Julian, I’ll explain everything. He’ll forgive me, I know it.”
“And Leo, he’s *my* child. We have an unbreakable blood bond. You’ll never replace me!”
I said nothing, just turned and got back into my car.
This time, Stella didn’t stop me.
In the rearview mirror, I saw her watching my car, a faint smile playing on her lips.
A shiver ran down my spine.
Stella had been pampered since childhood. She was impulsive and utterly devoid of self-restraint. If anyone dared to displease her, she’d throw a monumental tantrum, like a spoiled child.
I took a deep breath, forcing my thoughts away from her.
These past years, I had painstakingly built my marriage and my career.
If I divorced, it wouldn’t just be me, but Julian too. Our interests would suffer a severe blow.
Julian, at least, had a fallback.
I had only myself. I sat in my office, my mind drifting far away.
In elementary school, every summer and winter break, Stella would run wild like a little tomboy. By the time school started, her homework would be untouched.
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