Chapter 1

For seven years, **Alistair Vance** still called out his **Sera's** name when he was drunk, even to me.

"Sera, please, don't leave me."

I'd softly agree, then take out his hearing aid.

And whisper **Liam's** name to him.

He always believed I was so madly in love with him that I'd willingly play the substitute.

Until **Liam**, who was supposed to have died seven years ago, suddenly returned.

Seeing the divorce papers I handed him, **Alistair's** eyes blazed. "You never loved me?"

"Of course not."

"Don't you have anything to say to me?!"

I smiled gently. "Thanks for the five million. Otherwise, I still wouldn't have found him."

1

The day news of **Seraphina Hayes's** divorce spread back home.

I was with **Alistair Vance** at the hospital for his follow-up.

His permanently damaged hearing was beyond recovery, and his legs still couldn't walk.

But hearing that the culprit behind it all was back in the country.

A flicker of joy still crossed his usually indifferent eyes.

That evening, he got drunk.

His eyes hazy, he held my hand and whispered, "Sera, now that you're back, don't ever leave me again."

I obediently said, "Okay, I won't leave you."

But he looked at me again, his expression slowly fading. "You're not Sera."

My movements stilled.

**Alistair** grabbed the small blanket draped over his wheelchair and flung it at my face.

"Just because you have a face like Sera's, you think you can *be* her?"

"You don't deserve her, **Audrey**."

"If there's nothing else, get out."

His tone was calm, unhurried, as always.

The blanket didn't hit hard, but it felt like a slap across my face.

A wave of intense humiliation washed over me, pulling me back years.

I was eighteen, the night before my art school auditions.

It was **Seraphina Hayes**, **Alistair's** white moonlight, who tore up all my paintings.

She took a small silver hammer, studded with jewels, and systematically broke my fingers, one by one.

Even after they healed, my hands would tremble uncontrollably the moment I picked up a paintbrush.

I could never paint again.

**Alistair** found me, acting as **Seraphina’s** protector.

He pushed a check across the table. "If it's not enough, name your price."

I gripped my trembling hands, biting back the urge to scream at him.

"What's the use of your money? My dreams, my future, she destroyed them all!"

Then, **Alistair**, sitting across from me, smiled.

He looked at me with an expression of gentle contempt.

"Just take it. Aren't your 'dreams' just a way for people like you to earn a little more cash?"

Back then, he was aloof and aristocratic, just twenty-three, already the youngest head of the Vance family.

He looked down on me, completely.

Neither we, nor anyone else in the Vance family, would have guessed then—

**Alistair** and I would marry two years later.

2

On my twentieth birthday.

It was also **Liam Carter's** fourth year as a police officer.

He fell into the open sea while rescuing our citizens kidnapped by pirates.

The country searched that sea for a month afterward, but he was never found.

They all said **Liam** was dead.

I was in a daze for two months, on the verge of a breakdown.

But then, in the corner of a blurry photo on a hidden overseas website, I saw his figure.

The image quality was terrible.

But **Liam** and I had known each other for over ten years, and I had a gut feeling—that was him.

Still, finding him based on that photo was like searching for a needle in a haystack.

I needed a lot of money.

That's when it happened.

**Seraphina Hayes** abandoned **Alistair**, who was injured because of her, and went abroad to get married.

And **Alistair**, once healed, found me.

…

**Seraphina Hayes** returned seven nights later, late at night.

**Alistair** had specially sent people to wait at the airport for a whole day to pick her up.

Compared to her triumphant departure, **Seraphina** looked considerably more haggard.

She wore a simple white dress, her expression stubborn. "Alistair, you still remember me."

Her gaze shifted to me in the corner, and she suddenly froze.

A moment later, she shrieked, almost losing control.

"Audrey Stone, you poor, cheap knockoff, what are you doing here?"

I silently watched her.

**Alistair** calmly stated, "She is my wife now."

**Seraphina** looked incredulous, her eyes red as she demanded, "What do you mean by this?"

"You said you'd wait for me forever, and now? You can like *this* kind of person?"

She stood stubbornly, tears streaming down her face.

That face, which was seventy percent similar to mine, held a fragile beauty.

**Alistair** turned his head and ordered me, "Push me over there."

The wheelchair was pushed in front of **Seraphina**.

**Alistair** took her hand, sighing softly.

"Sera, you were gone so long. I missed you too."

"She's just a cheap stand-in, don't mind her."

"Oh, so she's just a stand-in."

She picked up the steaming cup of water from the table and threw it straight at my face.

"Now that I'm back, can I be annoyed by this knockoff face?"

**Alistair** didn't spare me a glance, just looked at her with indulgent understanding. "Of course, you can."

The liquid streamed down my neck, soaking my clothes, leaving a burning sensation on my skin.

I was in so much pain I could barely stand. Tears welled up instantly.

"Why are you crying? Playing pitiful again, are we?"

**Seraphina** looked at me with disgust. "It's sickening."

**Alistair** finally spared me a glance.

He looked at my scalded red face, frowning slightly.

And calmly said, "**Audrey Stone**, get out."

3

The next morning, I received five hundred thousand dollars in my account from **Alistair**.

No memo, no explanation.

But I knew perfectly well.

It was his compensation to me for **Seraphina's** actions.

I was no longer as naive and stubborn as I had been at eighteen, fantasizing about getting justice.

I accepted it calmly, even sending him a text saying thank you.

After my injuries healed, **Alistair** looked at my face and suddenly smiled. "**Audrey**, I thought you'd always be so proud."

I meekly lowered my gaze. "Mr. Vance, people always change."

There was a gala tonight.

**Alistair** had specially prepared it for **Seraphina**.

After she went abroad and married, the Hayes family's influence back home had waned. **Alistair** was using his connections to pave the way for **Seraphina**.

During the dinner, **Seraphina's** old rival, **Mason Reid**, suddenly stood up with a drink in hand.

"Seraphina Hayes, weren't you supposed to be a princess for some royal family overseas?"

"How did you end up sneaking back like a stray dog, looking so pathetic?"

**Seraphina's** face instantly turned pale.

**Mason** had someone bring a bottle of high-proof liquor and pushed it in front of her.

"I know what Mr. Vance's purpose is for this party tonight."

"Alright, Seraphina. You drink this whole bottle, and all our past grudges are settled."

"If you want to establish yourself here in the future, maybe I can even help you out."

**Seraphina's** eyes reddened.

She looked at **Alistair**, tears trembling on her lashes. "This is hard liquor, I'll die if I drink it all."

"Alistair, didn't you say you'd always protect me?"

**Alistair** reassuringly squeezed her hand and looked at **Mason**.

"Sera used to be stubborn and she probably offended you, so it's normal that you want to get even."

"How about this drink, someone else can drink it as an apology."

He paused, then looked at me. "**Audrey**."

"Go drink it, then apologize to Mr. Reid."

**Mason** leaned back in his chair, one hand on the backrest, looking amused.

"If your wife agrees, I have no problem with it."

The wounds on my face hadn't fully healed yet. The doctor had specifically told me not to drink.

I froze in my chair, pinching my slightly trembling wrist, silently meeting **Alistair's** gaze.

He calmly said, "I'll have my assistant transfer you a million after this."

The atmosphere was still for a moment.

I stood up, picked up the bottle, and tilted my head back, chugging it down.

The intense burning sensation from the strong alcohol spread from my throat all the way to my chest.

The potent fumes surged up, climbing my windpipe, making my eyes stream with tears.

**Mason's** buddies applauded and cheered. "What a drinker! What a woman!"

"Mr. Vance's wife is so fond of money, what, was she poor in her last life?"

Their tone was full of mockery.

After I finished, I put down the bottle and bowed deeply to **Mason**.

"Mr. Reid, I apologize for any past offenses. Please forgive me."

**Mason** toyed with his glass and smiled.

"A million dollars, Mr. Vance certainly has deep pockets."

"Alright, Seraphina. Our grudges are settled."

4

The restroom outside the banquet hall was dimly lit, permeated with a faint, sweet scent.

I clung to the toilet, throwing up until my vision blurred.

My stomach and throat were numb with pain, so much so that when I saw streaks of fresh blood in the vomit, I realized—

It seemed I was quite seriously hurt.

I forced my aching body to call 91