Ex-husband, I'm No Longer Your Substitute

Ava’s POV

“Today, CEO Williams Anderson formally introduced his first love, the renowned Olivia Thompson, to the company. Are they finally tying the knot now that the famous model has stepped back into the spotlight?”

I replayed the news over and over again as my eyes lingered on the television screen. My throat bobbled up and down as I watched the photo being displayed below the news headline.

In the picture, my husband, Williams, stood with a strangely familiar woman who had the same eye colour and hair colour as me. His hands were wrapped around her waist in a protective way, while she smiled sweetly at him.

A cold shiver ran down my spine as the elegant mask I wore cracked, revealing a storm of disbelief and hurt. A slow burn started in my chest, crawling up my throat like bile. My eyes stung with tears, but I pinched myself to stop the tears from falling.

That wasn’t me, even though she looked so much like me— same eyes and hair colour. Who was she? Olivia Thompson?

First love? I had never heard of those words associated with Williams, not once. How could this be? A secret he had kept buried now splashed across every screen.

Shock and confusion etched on my features as I swallowed the bile that had formed in my throat. My fingers trembled as I switched off the TV with the remote in my hand.

My breath hitched, and my heart pounded with a mix of betrayal and a sudden, unfamiliar ache. My mind reeled with questions. Why was the secret of Olivia being William's first love hidden from me? And why had he brought her to the company— my company?

Suddenly, memories of my wedding night with Williams flooded my mind. He had clearly referred to me as Olivia the night we consummated our marriage. I thought it was a mistake until it happened again and again, then it became something uncontrollable— an act I could not stop. Up till now, he referred to me as Olivia during intimacy.

Was this because I looked so similar to the famous Olivia? His first love? My heart felt as if it had been pierced by a thousand shards of glass. I didn’t need a soothsayer to tell me that the woman whom Williams fell in love with was not me, but Olivia Thompson. Jealousy coiled around my heart, and it became almost impossible to brush off. The urge to release those tears became overwhelming and unbearable.

“Maybe they were just business partners.” I mumbled to myself, despite knowing that I was only lying and fooling myself. I just couldn’t believe that Williams would easily betray me in this manner.

I was the one who stood by him when he was struggling. Through the thick and thin, I was there for him and not his first love whatsoever. He wouldn’t throw away everything I’ve done for him in the last three years for his first love, right?

Night came, and still, Williams had not returned from the company. My heart kept pounding with worry, and aching with unanswered questions.

Was he with his first love this late at night? Was he having an affair with Olivia Thompson?

I shook my head frantically, shaking off the unhealthy thoughts. Williams had always been cold since the fifth month we got married, but he wouldn’t betray my trust for him by having an affair with his first love, right?

The only times he showed his affection towards me were in the darkness of our bedroom, when passion blurred the lines of reality. During those moments, his touch felt real, gentle, like I was all he needed, which made me believe that whispering Olivia's name during those moments was meaningless.

But now, it stung. The pain cut deeper than I care to admit, but I still didn't believe I could be a stand-in. No. Williams chose me, he married me and not her.

I gently drew in my trembling lower lip as I tried to hold back the sob rising in my throat. The front door swung open, and relief washed over me when I tilted my head up and saw Williams strode in.

I rose from the couch with a breath of relief, the corner of my lips curling into a bittersweet smile as I walked towards him.

“You are back...” I whispered in a soft tone.

He brushed past me as if I were nothing but a plague he needed to avoid. I could hardly see the expression on his face due to the dim light in the living room. I spun around, my lips parting slightly as he perched on the couch nearby with a sigh, exhaustion written all over his face.

“What is happening in the company?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.

He raised an eyebrow, glaring at me with disdain flashing in his eyes. “What do you mean by that question?” He retorted, his tone neutral.

“Williams!” I called out softly. “I saw the news—”

“You have no business with that!” He cut me off, his tone sharp.

Wait…What? The words hit me like a slap!

“I have no business with what’s happening in my company?” My fingers balled into fists, digging into my palms.

I knew I had handed over the company to him after we got married three years ago, but he couldn’t keep me in the dark about things happening in the company. When we were dating, his family business was struggling; in fact, it was on the verge of collapsing due to his father’s debt. But Williams didn't let this crush his dreams. He was strong and even showered me with the love I never thought I deserved.

I was just an orphan, managing a design company I had worked so hard to build before we met. I trusted him with everything— my love, heart, and even stepped back from running my company so he could take over. While I became his dutiful and humble wife, all through the years.

“Yes, Ava. I am in control of it, have you forgotten?”

“Was that why you brought in your first love?” Pain flashed in my eyes as the question rolled off my tongue.

A flicker of shock passed over William’s features. Had he not expected me to talk about her?

“Who is she, Williams?” I asked, my heart aching in my chest as my eyes hovered over his features. “Why didn’t you tell me about her?” I continued, swallowing the lump in my throat.

Each breath I took felt like daggers in my heart as he glared at me with the familiar, cold and emotionless look.

“Since you already know about her, I guess there is nothing to hide anymore.” He spat, bringing out a document that I hadn’t noticed earlier from his suit jacket. “She is my first love, the only woman I’ve loved and would ever love. You were nothing but just a substitute for her, I’m sure you can tell after seeing her picture. I’ve never loved you, Ava.”