Chapter 1

"Dad, I'm coming home to Jonkerville. I'll go out on a blind date with that student of yours," I said, utterly dejected as I called Dad while stroking the intimate photo of Mitchell and my sister I'd found in the wallet.

"That's good. It's been so many years, and you're finally coming home to me. But Gaby, your voice… Did someone make you cry?"

Although Dad sounded happy on the phone, he could still tell that something wasn't right with me.

I sniffed lightly and tried to sound as lighthearted as possible. "Of course not! I just want to go home to you as soon as possible because I miss you. I was just too overwhelmed with my emotions.

"I'm sure that your student must be brilliant. I'm wondering what he looks like already. Dad, don't let me down, okay?"

Dad chuckled, his voice warm with pride as he replied, "Of course, I'll never let you down. You can trust me to choose only the best for my precious little Gaby.

"I'll share all of his information with you later. I've already done some intensive research on him, and he's passed every test so far. By the way, when are you coming home, Gaby? I… I miss you too."

I tried my best not to let the tingling in my nose affect me. Blinking lightly, I replied, "In two weeks. I'll be home in two weeks."

"Okay. I'll make sure everything is ready for my precious little princess."

After a brief hesitation, he added, "By the way, your sister went to Havenridge to go after her first love. She said that she's bent on getting back together with him and even plans to marry him. If you run into her, just congratulate her. But if you don't, there's no need to go out of your way to find her."

I closed the wallet in my hands.

So, Dad knew the reason my sister, Isabella Claxton, had come to Havenridge. But, did he know that the person she was seeing was Mitchell Zahn, his student, whom he'd asked to take good care of me in Havenridge?

It made sense now. This was why Mitchell insisted on keeping our relationship a secret and why he had refused on multiple occasions when I suggested bringing him home to meet Dad.

I place a hand over my heart. It was hurting a lot.

So, Mitchell and Isabella were already thinking of getting married?

"Okay. I'll congratulate them."

I heard hurried footsteps coming toward me and looked up. It was Mitchell, drenched in sweat as he rushed toward me.

He saw his wallet in my hands and hurriedly took it back. "Did you open it?" he asked.

I smiled and shook my head.

Mitchell was about to turn and leave when he suddenly stopped and turned back to face me again. "What was that about congratulating someone just now?"

"I wanted to congratulate you!" I answered.

He cocked his head to the side and smiled, his faint dimples showing, pulling me in.

"I knew you'd understand," he said, patting my head. "I'll explain everything to you tonight, alright?"

Before I could reply, he was already on his way out.

I hailed a cab home.

I then opened the wardrobe. My heart sank as I realized that more than half of all the clothes inside were similar in style to Isabella's clothes today.

I had been her replacement all along.

For seven years, I had loved him with all my heart, even leaving behind my family for him. But, in the end, it turned out that I was nothing more than a stand-in.

I, Gabriella Clarkson, was just my sister's replacement.

You were right, Mitchell. It was time for the replacement to go back to where she came from.

I was giving up on him now.