No Longer A Substitute

STELLA POV 

A grin spread across my face as I chopped some onions; I could not help but smile like a fool.That afternoon, I came back from the hospital with good news! 

I was pregnant!

Although this was not part of the plan and frankly might be against my contract marriage with my husband, Devon, I've heard that the appearance of babies in marriages usually strengthens the bond and I wish the same for us. I believed he might even fall in love with me.

My husband, Devon King, would be arriving late from work despite today being our 3 year marriage anniversary, but actually works out great in my favor so I can prepare my surprise for him. 

I prepared his favorite dishes to celebrate our anniversary and the news of my pregnancy.

It had been three years since we were married. Although I was not his initial choice, he treated me far nicer than I expected.

He treated me better than any of my family members ever had, he took care of me while I was sick, when tired after work, he allowed me to rest and called over his nanny to do the chores. We also sometimes watch movies together and he took me to different places I've never been to during his business trips and we had dinner together, I consider them as dates. I've learned so much about him and it helped me become a better wife for him. We rarely fought and he always held him in his warm embrace after we've had sex.

I couldn't help but fall for him during those years and devote myself to him. 

Once he hears I am pregnant, I am sure his view of me would change, and we could finally become a happy family.

The food was almost ready when I heard the doorknob twisting.

Devon must be back!

With excitement in my steps, I turned off the stove and went to the door to receive him. My hands were wide open, ready to embrace him but who walked through the door made me freeze instead.

Staring back at me was a woman. She had blue eyes and wavy blonde hair, plump pink lips. A smug smile was on her face.

She looked just like me.

“Hello, Stella,” she said. “Long time no see,” she whispered softly, her grin widened.

She was Estelle, my twin sister. 

‘What was she doing here?’ I questioned internally as I stood there, dumbfounded and unable to react.

“Go on in,” I heard my husband’s voice say from the door.

I looked down and saw his arm around her waist as he ushered her inside. There was a smile on his face, a smile I've never seen before, but it dropped when our eyes met.

“Stella?” He rushed in front of me, eyes widen. “What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be at work?” he questioned.

‘Yes, I was supposed to be at work,’ I said in my mind. ‘But I came home just to prepare for our anniversary. I’m sure he doesn't even remember.’

My clenched fists trembled.

‘What was he going to do here with her?

Why was she back? Why now?’

I was spiraling.

“I need to go get a glass of water,” Estelle said, then walked past me and went straight to the kitchen.

How did she know where the kitchen was without asking any questions unless she had been here before?!

My vision started getting blurry as tears welled up in my eyes.

“You haven’t answered my question,” Devon said from behind me. “What are you doing here?”

I bit my bottom lip.

“No, what is she doing here?”I pointed toward the kitchen. 

It was obvious Estelle had been here before. Had he been bringing her home when I wasn't around? Since when did he find her? Since when has she been visiting our home? And his hands were on her waist. Why was he holding her so affectionately?

“She left you, Devon,” I choked out, “I am your wife now. SHE ran away three years ago!”

My twin sister, Estelle, ran away a day before her wedding. I would never forget how chaotic that day was. Nobody could track her down, it was as if she disappeared from the earth. I was brought in to replace her in order to save the public image of the company and Devon.

The next day was our wedding and in return, I was offered money for my mother’s hospital bills and a position in their company.

I had green eyes while my sister had blue eyes, but to take over her identity, I had to wear contacts everywhere, including at home. Devon reasoned it's to ensure we're never found out but deep down I knew it's because he only wants Estelle.

My naturally straight hair was also curled to match hers. My individuality was changed to look like hers as I took over her identity and became her substitute. 

But I am not her and I thought it was all worth it after I fell in love with Devon.

It was love at first sight when I met him, when Estelle introduced him to the family, but I knew he was my sister’s fiancé, so I let go of my feelings.

Those feelings came back stronger than before and after spending three years with him together with the way he treated me, I thought he might be returning those feelings little by little.

Now I know I was only being hopeful.

I saw how in love he was with my sister, and how he affectionately stared at her from the door. Not once has he stared at me that way.

But how could he do this to me?

I endured it when he searched desperately for Estelle, coming home late and drunk because he could not find her. I endured and consoled him, and he repays me by cheating on me?

“Stella!” he yelled at me. “Will you calm down?”

“She is your TWIN sister. Why are you asking such a ridiculous question? You didn't even welcome her to your home! You stared at her like you saw a ghost! Why are you so shocked that she is here?” he questioned.

‘Why was I so shocked?’ I repeated it in my head. ‘Because I was not expecting her to be here. She left him before the wedding day, and he did not even tell me he found her?!’

How could he just bring her here like everything was forgotten? Did he forget the pain she put him through? How she just up and left him without an explanation? When it's obvious she's been planning this move for a long time now?

How was everything suddenly okay?

“Stella, this is your sister,” he said. “How can you be so unfeeling toward her? You didn't even think to ask why she left or what she must have gone through while she was alone.”

I was sure she left for someone else or it's one of her sick games. Everyone thought Estelle was a saint, but only I knew she was far from being one.

Estelle and I were twins born from an affair, the illegitimate daughters of the Bob Enterprise. I lived with our biological mother, while my twin sister lived with our father, Bob Huston and his wife, Morgana Huston.

I did not even know she existed until I was fifteen years old. My mother was never a warm person, and I thought she was just cold by nature but when Estelle visited us for the first time, I saw that she simply did not like me.

Estelle always bullied me whenever I had to visit our father's estate, so I kept my distance from her but for some reason, I was considered the evil twin, while my sister was a saint. She had everyone in her palms and I couldn't do anything to stop it.

Nobody liked me but everyone loves Estelle, including Devon.

What was going to happen to me now?

Now that she has returned and our marriage was only a contract arranged because of her disappearance, was he going to divorce me?

I rolled my eyes, “well I'm sure you'll ask her. That is if you haven't already.”