CHAPTER 3: A Substitute

 

"Sister-in-law! Finally, you've come down!"

I was startled by the loud shout of that familiar voice as I descended the stairs. I quickly found Raquel sitting in the living room of the mansion.

"Waah! Raquel!"

I was overjoyed to see her and hurriedly made my way down the stairs, almost flying towards her.

She stood up to greet me with a warm hug. I held onto her tightly, longing for her presence.

She's Raquel De Silva, Ezekiel's adoptive sister, and my sister-in-law. She's my lifesaver in this marriage! She's the only one I can vent to without judgment and who patiently listens to my grievances.

Even though they are siblings and have a good relationship with each other, it doesn't hinder our friendship. She herself knows how heartless her brother can be most of the time.

"I'm so glad you came here, Raquel!" I greeted her with a big smile.

"Of course, Faye informed me that you finally came back after three weeks!" she exclaimed. "You have no idea how bored I was without seeing you! No one could even contact your personal number."

"I'm sorry..."

"Spill the tea, girl."

I raised an eyebrow, and we both sat on the sofa facing each other. I instructed Panying to serve us breakfast.

"I was just really busy with work for the past two weeks; that's why I didn't have time to come home." I took a sip of juice.

"That's it?" She crossed her arms and leaned back on the seat. "You can't fool me with that excuse! Why didn't you even show your face to your husband for a week?"

"Why would I even show him my face if he's glaring at me every time like I'm a sinner?" I placed the juice on the table in frustration. "You know how I had anxiety and stress when we were just newly married because of him! Thankfully, I'm starting to recover, and it's obvious that he's not looking for me when I'm gone—it's my body he's looking for!"

As I recalled what happened last night and woke up to find no trace of him, my frustration grew.

He's only nice to me in bed, but when he's in his senses, he completely ignores me!

"Do I look like a disposable woman? I'm his wife, you know?"

I heard her deep sigh. A look of concern appeared on her face as she looked at me.

"I thought your relationship would improve after a year, but I guess I was wrong." She also took a slice of cake from the table to play with using a fork. "I don't know why he's like that. Even with me, he's cold, so I thought he didn't want an adopted sister. But he really doesn't care about me! Can you believe that?"

"Yes, yes." I nodded.

"Anyway, where did you go last week?"

"I booked a hotel room to sleep in for days, then I attended an interview with Mami Vic along with Brantley last night before coming home."

I saw her eyebrows raise and her lips part in surprise. "Brantley! Oh my gosh, oh my gosh! When will the interview be released!? Kyaah! Why didn't you tell me? I could have gone as an audience to support SereLey!"

My eyes widened. I couldn't believe she was such a huge fan of SereLey!

She loved watching teleseryes as a pastime, and at first, she only watched the show to support me, but suddenly she became a fan because of its beauty. And soon enough, she became a fan of Brantley too, and she shipped the two of us.

"The interview was quick, so you didn't have to waste your time there. It will be aired next Saturday at nine p.m."

"Argh! That's so long!" She pouted and aggressively looked at me. "Tell me what the interview is all about! Please, tell me!"

I rolled my eyes. "The key point of the interview is to know whether Brantley and I are in a relationship or not. We answered in a way that would satisfy everyone, even though there's nothing between us. Then, Mami Vic had us play a game to showcase our closeness. But since we knew what would happen, we practiced it beforehand to please the audience. Are you satisfied now?"

"Wow. It looked so real, though," she said, slightly disappointed. "Then what do you think of Brantley?"

"Brantley is a good friend of mine. Hmm," I paused, thinking. "He's actually my partner in crime on set, and he's a genuinely kind person, which is why I admire him. There were many times when he offered me his shoulder to cry on. He's humble despite his success, and that's what I like about him the most. He treats others the way he wants to be treated, and he always wears a genuine smile, no matter who he's facing."

Even though Brantley is still new to the industry, he has already made a big impact and quickly gained popularity. He caught up to me, who has been an actress since childhood. How admirable is that? He deserves my utmost respect.

"Oh, Ezekiel! You're here?" Raquel was startled as Ezekiel's voice came from behind. "Panying told me you went to work?"

"Not yet."

Ezekiel's voice came from behind, and I stiffened in my seat. My heart started beating a little faster. I quickly turned to look at him, furrowing my brows.

He walked towards where we were, not paying attention to me, and headed straight to Raquel.

"It's too early to be here."

"Wah? I didn't come here just for you! Besides, I've been here since earlier, why didn't I see you?" Raquel pouted. "I was waiting for Serena, and you ruined our conversation!"

He didn't respond to her. Instead, he turned his back on me and walked away until he reached the large door of the mansion.

I pursed my lips at his behavior. How can someone be so attractive on the outside but lack good manners and right conduct?

Can Brantley donate some of his good manners and righteous conduct to him? I feel like buying a book titled 'How to Treat Your Wife with Love and Respect 101' and slapping it in his face.

I'm willing to respect him and show him some affection if only he treats me the way I deserve. If only...

"I'm sorry, Serena," Raquel said worriedly. "Are you okay? My brother is too hard on you."

"Well," I said, avoiding eye contact and finishing my juice. "I'm getting used to it."

"Tsk! Ezekiel is acting so strange! What's wrong with him? Is it that hard for him to say goodbye to you when he's leaving for work? Can't he at least give you a simple kiss or something? Is it going to affect his business if he does that?"

"It's okay. Let's not be too sensitive, Raquel."

"Sensitive? We women are emotionally sensitive! Oh well! Men are the ones who handle relationships. No wonder you didn't come back for the past few weeks. He deserves your cold shoulder!"

I tried to calm her down, but she kept on retorting.

"I swear! If my future husband treats me like that, I'll serve him the annulment papers!"

I fell silent. It's not like I can annul him. I can't leave Ezekiel because of the contract.

I can't do anything but hope, repeatedly.

Maybe one day he will see me for who I am, beyond just my naked body.

"He wasn't like that when I saw him talking to Marian last time!"

I stiffened in my seat when Raquel mentioned that.

I tried to suppress my emotions. "What do you mean? Is he still talking to Marian?"

Her eyes darted around. "Of course he is! It's not like he has moved on—oh!" She instinctively covered her mouth. "I-I'm sorry..."

I took a deep breath but forced a smile to hide it. "It's fine, I just wanted to ask. I don't have any updates about them either. You don't have to keep it a secret from me since I already knew."

She breathed a sigh of relief. "You're really unbothered, Serena! That's right, you shouldn't let Marian affect you! So what if she still has his affection? For all we know, she's nothing but second-rate. Trying hard, copycat!"

"Pfft! Raquel, you're becoming a villain—you've been watching too many TV series!"

She flipped her hair. "I should have become an actress when I was young. I have so much talent, you know."

I tried to keep up with her jokes and topics, but my heart was left with Marian and Ezekiel. To think they're still seeing each other now that we're married?

Something pierced my heart.

Marian is Ezekiel's ex-fiancée. I found out from Raquel when I saw a picture of the woman. She looked so much like me that I was shocked.

Even though we have different heights and body shapes, our faces are almost identical, if not for the slight difference in facial structure. It's as if we were long-lost twins.

I know it's not just a coincidence. I may be a substitute for her. That's why, despite the risks of being an actress like me, Ezekiel still chose to marry me.

I always pretend like it doesn't bother me. But how long can I hide my feelings when he's still meeting Marian?

What would happen to me... if, in the end, he still chose the original over the replacement?