He Took Me as Stand-in for Five Years, I Left

I finished packing a few light pieces of clothing while Dominic was still sound asleep on the king-sized bed.

On the computer screen, the social media page he’d left open flashed with another message from Vivian.

“I know it’s hard on you, having to sweet-talk that stupid woman every day before rushing over to be with me.”

“Our baby misses you too. He’s kicking so hard.”

“Sweetheart, I never imagined you’d come up with something like this for me. Having her stuck in that cage of the Ashford Estate, taking all those rules and expectations in my place while you protect me like this... I’m the happiest woman alive.”

I stood in front of the computer, my hands and feet trembling uncontrollably.

I was six months pregnant, and the morning sickness was so severe I couldn’t sleep through the night.

Dominic had never come with me to a single prenatal appointment.

The one time he’d agreed to come, he abandoned me at the hospital entrance to take a call from Vivian, and I was nearly knocked down in the crowd.

I looked down at my flat stomach, where a life had been lost not long ago.

Behind me, Dominic rolled over and reached across the empty sheets. Realizing I wasn’t there, his eyes snapped open.

“Stella, why are you up?”

He asked softly, slowly sitting up and wrapping his arms around my thin shoulders from behind.

“Can’t sleep again? Let me get you some warm milk.”

With that, Dominic turned away to get it.

His voice was just as gentle as it had been for the past six months, but when he turned back with the glass, he’d slipped those black-rimmed glasses on again out of habit.

The instant he looked at me through the lenses, I saw the corners of his mouth curl into a sickeningly sweet, lovesick smile.

My heart shattered in that moment.

I stared hard into his eyes, forcing my voice to stay calm. “Dominic, do you love me or not?”

Dominic stiffened for a beat, then let out a helpless little laugh. “What kind of silly question is that, Stella? How could I not love you?”

“Stop overthinking and get some sleep. Our fifth anniversary is just a few days away, and I’ve got a huge surprise for you.” He smiled and reached out to tap my nose.

I turned my head and dodged his touch.

When I first married Dominic, I was just an orphan with nothing to my name. Out of gratitude for his kindness when I was at my most desperate, I willingly confined myself to the iron-walled Ashford Estate, enduring the cold stares and rigid household rules of the Ashford elders.

I believed that if I was patient and obedient enough, I would eventually melt his cold heart.

Until I found a photo of Vivian Lane tucked inside his wallet.

I knocked over the cup in my hand. Warm water spilled across the table and soaked the corner of a book.

Dominic’s face changed in an instant. Almost on instinct, he shoved me hard.

I slammed into the edge of the table and crumpled to the floor, hissing through the pain.

He didn’t spare me a single glance. All he cared about was gently drying off the book, a gift from Vivian years ago.

Only after the book was dry did he seem to snap out of it. He looked down at me on the floor, and through those AR glasses, his gaze softened into that nauseating tenderness again.

“Sorry, Stella. That didn’t hurt, did it?”

I lifted my head, tears finally breaking free, and asked him, word by word:

“Dominic, when did you start wearing those glasses?”

“Do you really hate the sight of me that much?”