Stand-in Groom for Hire, Feelings Not Included

I had just stepped off the stage when I heard my brother, Trevor Nott, say, "Poppy, I was diagnosed with cancer back then. I didn't want to become a burden to you, so I left the country.

"Who knew it was all just a misunderstanding? Your eyesight returning is also thanks to all the prayers I've made day and night. The one I've always loved has been you. That has never changed."

My mom, Amy Shaw, pushed me aside and took my fiancee, Poppy Steele, by the hand. She gushed, "Trevor really loves you. That's why he was afraid he would hold you back. Now that you two have talked it out, you guys can get back together."

My parents were fully aware that Trevor had refused to marry Poppy after her injury. He had threatened suicide to force the cancellation of the engagement so he could go abroad.

Unwilling to sever the long-standing relationship between both our families, my parents had me take his place as Poppy's fiance.

Now that Poppy's eyesight had been restored, Trevor came rushing back to snatch her away.

Unfortunately, she wouldn't believe his crappy lies.

After all, when she threatened to end her life, Trevor never once came to see her. He even rubbed salt in her wounds, cruelly telling her, "I never loved you."

Meanwhile, throughout those five years when she was blind, I had always been by her side, taking meticulous care of her. I read her stories, looked after her every need, and served as her eyes.

But reality was different from what I had imagined. The next moment, I saw Poppy take Trevor's hand, tears welling in her eyes, as she sobbed. "I knew you had a reason for leaving me."

I was stunned to see their hands clasped together. Then I smiled bitterly, berating myself for being naive.

Trevor was the man Poppy loved so deeply that she was willing to take her own life for him. How could a stand-in like me ever replace him?

Mom watched them reconcile as relief washed over her face. When she turned and saw me still standing to the side, her expression soured instantly.

"What are you still doing here?" she snapped. "Wasn't it enough that you enjoyed the good life meant for Trevor? Are you thinking of stealing his wife too?"

I looked at the parents I remembered as gentle and loving from my childhood, yet all I saw in their eyes now was hatred as they tried to drive me away.

My heart clenched painfully.

Years ago, when Trevor went missing, my parents were devastated and adopted me because I looked so much like him.

For those ten years, I had parents who loved and cherished me, and Poppy, my childhood sweetheart, who was inseparable from me. Those had been the happiest years of my life.

But the moment Trevor returned, I was instantly brought back to reality. My parents loathed me, convinced that I had stolen the love meant for Trevor. Even Poppy, who had insisted since childhood that she would marry no one but me, had thrown herself into his arms.

I lowered my eyes in dejection when I saw their hostile gazes. Yet, because they had raised me, I didn't have the right to be angry.

I nodded and turned to leave.

Poppy noticed my dejected figure and raised an eyebrow at my parents.