Chapter 1

Mrs. Sterling saw something in me. She hired me to be a stand-in for her son, Julian Sterling's first love.

It was all because I looked so much like her.

Mrs. Sterling said I bore a striking resemblance to Julian's first love.

Ever since his first love left, he’d become cold, ruthless, and utterly dejected.

My job was to keep him company, to make him happy again.

The mission went surprisingly smoothly.

He didn't just smile; he even started creating small romantic gestures for me.

Until three years later, his first love, Serena, returned, fresh from a divorce. That’s when he lied to me for the first time.

I cried to Mrs. Sterling, pouring out my heart, detailing my sorrow and the crushing unfairness of it all.

My goal was simple: get a bigger payout and then vanish.

But then Julian's voice, dark and cold, cut through the air from just outside the door: "Stop the act. I'm renewing the contract."

I was grabbing my usual coffee downstairs at the company when Serena Vance, without a word of warning, slid into the seat opposite me.

Her voice was soft, gentle. "How much did Julian pay you to hire you?"

I looked at her.

Eight years. She hadn't changed much from the photo I'd seen.

Still the same long, straight black hair, a simple, solid-colored dress, and the lightest touch of makeup.

Only now, a subtle maturity etched itself between her brows.

Her voice softened even more. "I know, it hasn't been easy, accompanying Julian and taking care of him for three years. But this isn't fair to you. No girl wants to be anything less than true love."

As she spoke, she lightly traced my cheek.

"And no girl wants to be a stand-in."

A stand-in... she didn't need to keep reminding me. I hadn't forgotten it for a single moment.

Three years ago, I was a fresh college graduate, just about to step into the working world.

As I hustled around, résumé in hand, Mrs. Sterling herself sought me out.

All because I looked seventy percent like Julian Sterling's first love.

She handed me a blank check.

She promised that if I could get Julian back to his old self, I could fill in any amount I wanted on that check.

And on top of that, a million dollars would be deposited into my account, right on time, every month.

I got it. This was the classic stand-in trope.

The deal was incredibly lucrative.

No one could refuse it. Not even me.

That was Julian Sterling—a legend in Sterling City.

I didn't hesitate for a second. I accepted.

Under Mrs. Sterling's guidance, I styled myself after Serena.

I straightened my hair, swapped out my wardrobe for simple, solid-colored dresses.

And smoothly became Julian Sterling's personal assistant.

The first time Julian saw me, he seemed to frown, but he didn't say anything.

To mold a perfect stand-in, Mrs. Sterling also gave me a thick stack of files.

They meticulously detailed Julian Sterling's preferences.

From his morning coffee to his evening routine, his wardrobe, even his travel habits—every single thing.

I was getting paid, so I followed every instruction without question.

At first, I thought someone like Julian Sterling would be incredibly difficult to deal with.

Julian was decisive, detail-oriented, and hated idle chatter.

So, I focused on efficiency and precision, ensuring every detail was flawless.

My proposals, often drafted overnight, had almost zero errors.

My reactions and patience were sharp enough to handle any sudden emergency.

My phone was always on, twenty-four hours a day, ready to answer his calls, never a word of complaint.

Everyone said I was the best assistant he'd ever had.

Slowly, he began to accept my presence.

He'd eat the meals I cooked.

He'd drink the coffee I brewed.

Sometimes, when I personally prepared his lunch, he'd comment, expressionless, "It's awful."

Then he'd eat every last bite.

Our relationship grew closer with each passing day.

After a perfectly ordinary banquet, I drove him home as usual.

Without warning, he pulled me closer and kissed me.

That night, our silhouettes intertwined against the windowpane...

The next day, Julian had all my belongings moved to his mansion in the West Hills.

When a black card was placed in front of me, I automatically unlocked a new identity: mistress.

Besides the money from Mrs. Sterling and my assistant's salary, I was now receiving a third income.

This arrangement was overly lucrative.

At least from my perspective, we were like any other couple.

We went to work together, cooked together.

During intimate moments, I followed my instincts and responded with passion.

Yet, in my heart, I remained perfectly clear. I was Chloe, not Serena. This play, it would end one day.

I just didn't expect that day to come so soon.