Semua Bab He Took Me as Stand-in for Five Years, I Left: Bab 1 - Bab 10

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 reply came almost immediately.“Don’t worry. We’ve been holding the spot for you.”“Report to London in five days.”My nose stung, and the tears came again.For years, Dominic had kept me locked away at home like a bird in a gilded cage. My one job was to give him an heir.The miscarriage six months ago had shattered me, body and soul. I had taken round after round of medication and treatments, trying to recover as fast as I could.I had sealed myself off completely. All my professional skills had been shelved, and I had turned down the company’s overseas offers time and again.Thinking about everything I had given up for Dominic, I felt like the biggest fool alive.“Stella Quinn, from now on, you live for yourself.”I dragged my heavy suitcase out the door and wandered the streets with nowhere to go.The sky opened up without warning, drenching me in seconds. The cold seeped straight through to my bones.It wasn’t until I stumbled into a hotel that I felt any warmth at all.The ra

A memory surfaced unbidden: five years ago, the day Dominic proposed.He had held my hand and said softly, “Stella, you are the smartest, kindest woman I’ve ever met. Will you marry me?”Six months ago, I lost my first child.He sat at my bedside for three days without closing his eyes.He’d said, “Stella, you have to be okay. Even if I never have children, I can’t lose you.”For five years, I had told myself, over and over, that maybe he really was the love destined for me.Now he had destroyed everything I had for Vivian. He’d nearly killed me.The confinement punishment of the Ashford family was extremely harsh.For three full days, I was given nothing to eat or drink, thrown into a windowless room like a piece of trash.My wounds became infected and festered. My fever raged until my skin was scalding to the touch, yet no one came.I thought I would die there.On the fourth day, the door finally opened.I crawled out on my hands and knees.The moment sunlight touched my face, tears

This whole mess had started because of those AR glasses. If he wanted Stella back, the last thing he should do was provoke her further.Dominic walked to the front door and pushed it open.“Stella, are you home?”He raised his voice. No answer.His heart dropped.Had she really made up her mind to leave?When she had gone out into the rain and checked into a hotel days ago, Dominic had assumed she was just throwing a fit. He figured once she’d cooled off, she’d come back.But the house held no trace of her.It was empty.Dominic called his assistant immediately.“Check if Stella is still at that hotel.”Ten minutes later, the answer came back: she wasn’t.His heart went cold.Then he noticed an envelope sitting on the entryway table.His heart skipped a beat.He picked up the envelope and tore it open.Divorce papers slid out.Both their names were already on them. His, and Stella’s.Dominic stood there, speechless.Only then did it hit him. Five years ago, when they got married, they

Blood seeped out slowly. Vivian screamed and collapsed, her face twisted in agony.The reporters, handed the story of a lifetime, swarmed Dominic with their cameras, snapping and filming without mercy.Dominic shoved through the crowd of journalists, burst out of the hall, and got into his car.He drove aimlessly through the streets, the footage playing over and over in his mind.The woman he had pined for, had loved for all those years, had played him for a fool.And the woman who truly loved him, who had done so much for him, had been hurt until her heart turned to stone and she left for good.“Dominic Ashford, you bastard.”He slapped himself, hard, again and again.After a while, his assistant called.“Mr. Ashford, we’ve finished looking into it. Vivian went overseas specifically to be with that man. They were together for two years and even got married in secret. After they divorced, he destroyed every opportunity she had over there. That’s why she came back.”Dominic’s ears were