After marrying Ash Vanderbilt and enduring three years of his apathy and avoidance, Justine Thorpe encountered him at the OB-GYN's clinic, carefully helping a pregnant Jenny—the woman who had taken her place in the Thorpe family for years while Justine was missing as a child. That night, she demanded a divorce. Ash had always hated her, particularly because her disability reminded him of a traumatic event in his life. He had been prepared for this divorce since the day they married. Justine became the laughingstock of elite society. Everyone knew how obsessed she was with Ash. Now, without him, the elites awaited her downfall as a form of entertainment—until three months later, when news broke of Justine's marriage to an heir of a powerful elite family. Enraged, Ash stormed the wedding, determined to take her back. "You love me! You've always loved me, and me only! So don't you dare love someone else!" "No, Mr. Vanderbilt. The only reason I ever loved you was that you were 'his' substitute." All of her passion and obsessive love had been because she saw Ash as someone else. A dance of substitutes had long been in motion, but only now did he realize he had always been a contestant. When the final curtain falls, what will become of him?
View MoreThe next early morning, Leon brought a little girl to Justine's compound. They knocked on the door.As soon as she came out, Leon beamed at her."I've got a job for you!" he declared.Justine looked puzzled.The little girl stepped forward and began to sign bashfully, "Hi, Ms. Thorpe. I'm Kitty. Will you be our dance instructor for our New Year's Day performance?""This is Kitty from the welfare home next to the residence. She's deaf and mute by birth." Leon ruffled her hair. "To be honest, almost every child there is disabled in one way or another. In a few days, the home will receive some warm-hearted visitors."If they manage to perform well enough to charm them, they might even get adopted. Other children had no problem, but… Kitty and the other deaf-mute children had no instructor, so I thought of you."Justine had been raised in an orphanage. She understood how important being adopted was for children in that situation. Besides, she had been rather free these days, hadn't
They would be so delighted, right? Leon found Justine's eyes reddened and misty, feeling a pang in his chest. "Are you alright?" he asked, choosing not to bring up her virality. She shook her head."I'm fine. I slept a little too much, that's all," she signed. "What's the matter?"Leon smiled. "Hey, I'm your therapist, right? If anything is bothering you—big or small—you can always talk to me. I'm your best outlet—by profession!" Justine grinned. "Did something happen?" It was rather late in the evening. Leon had never shown up in her room at this hour before—he always made sure not to do anything that might make his patients uncomfortable. Some female patients simply could not bear to be alone with a man. Leon realized Justine had no idea about the Internet drama—she had probably napped through it all. Little did she know, everyone in the residence was aware. "Well, you've gone viral for a few hours on the Internet," Leon explained briefly. "The story got clamped dow
By the time Jenny emerged with her cardigan, Ash was gone. Only the driver remained.He politely opened the car door. "Ms. Thorpe, Mr. Vanderbilt has an important international conference to attend. He instructed me to drive you home."Jenny forced a smile. She was furious but had to maintain her facade as a sweet, docile young woman when around Ash's associates.While retrieving her cardigan, she had texted Charlie and Sue using her burner phone, ensuring they covered their tracks as thoroughly as possible.Jenny had initially planned to leverage that Internet drama to pressure Ash into marrying her, but look what had happened instead!The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.Ash cared about Justine far more than Jenny had anticipated!In the end, Jenny directed all of her rage toward Justine.-A new patient had arrived at the residence—a rather troublesome one at that.He was an idol from a top boy band who suffered from severe depression. Within just three m
"Look at you getting your panties twisted like that!" Gaius spun his car keys, smirking as he approached Ash. "Your sycophants said you were the one masterminding this smear campaign to please your pregnant girlfriend. I almost believed them!""That's bullshit," Ash said, frowning. "Jenny and I are not together. That baby isn't even ours."Gaius did not appear shocked."The problem is, the opposite of that is exactly what everyone thinks now." He tilted his head slightly. "Does Justine know that baby isn't yours?"Ash glared at him in silence.Gaius made a face of understanding. "How about a bet, Ash?"Ash studied him warily.Gaius might look young and cavalier, but Ash knew better than to trust his pretense. Gaius had made bets with other trust-fund kids that had nearly left them bankrupt.Gaius' eyes glinted mischievously, but his tone was firm. "Just a Bugatti will do this time. I bet you'll regret divorcing Justine."Ash thinned his lips. "Me, regret?""That's right. You'
The crowd fell silent, their eyes fixed on Ash.The host turned pale, clearly confused."Fuck this!" Ash snarled, his irritation palpable.He stormed off, his expression grim.After he left, the crowd began murmuring again."No way. Is he pissed because we badmouthed her?""That can't be it. Everyone knows he hates Justine with a passion. He would have introduced her to us if he'd accepted her even a little!""There's no way our bro would throw a fit over us talking about her!""If he really cared about that bitch, he wouldn't have divorced her!"Jenny listened quietly, her hands clenched so tightly beneath the table that her knuckles turned white.They might be speculating, but she knew how close they were to the truth.But how?! Since when?! Hadn't he said she didn't deserve him?"Jenny? Jenny!" someone called her name, snapping her out of her thoughts.Jenny scanned the crowd and quickly composed herself."I'm sorry about his outburst, everyone. He hasn't been in the b
"Ugh, here's the truth: Sweetheart's sister stepped in before the two could marry. She charmed Ash's grandparents so thoroughly that they took her side, forcing Ash to marry her instead of Sweetheart. They then sent the real fiancee out of the country under the pretense of 'studying abroad'.""I can never understand how shameless some people can be," another voice said. "I heard Ash was so disgusted by her, he wouldn't even hold her hand!""Well, divine retribution's an even bigger bitch. Ash ended up taking control of his family's company and now he's getting his real darling back. Good riddance!"Twitter exploded with hashtags like #TrueLoveNeverDies, #Vanderbilt, and countless derogatory slurs directed at Justine.Edited pictures of her were shared, many juxtaposed with images of Jenny, the true object of Ash's affection.Justine was portrayed as a stereotypical witch, while Jenny looked almost ethereal in comparison.People, trapped in their lookism, devoured the narrative. T
Leon started playing some easy-listening music.A faint fragrance filled the car."There isn't any public transportation near the residence, so if you ever need anything, let me know. I'll drive. But if I happen to be away…" Leon glanced at her. "Do you drive?"Justine shook her head and decided to be honest with her therapist."I tried to learn when I was 18, but for some reason, every time I got into the driver's seat, I became terrified. I never got over it," she signed.Ares, though, had been a natural. He had passed all of his tests with perfect scores right away.Then, he had promised her that he would always be her driver, taking her wherever she wanted, even if she couldn't do it herself.Leon nodded in understanding."Well, I guess I have a new job on my resume now!" He grinned. "Chauffeur for one of my biggest clients."She chuckled and signed, "I'll buy you lunch."-It took two hours to get there.Justine had read the brochure before, but she remained skeptical
Ash asked abruptly, "You're leaving Sol?"He had overheard Iris' conversations.Justine didn't turn around. Instead, she simply flipped him off.Being mute had its advantages—one could be more concise in expressing themselves.On some level, Justine was relieved that she was heading to the residence tomorrow. She wouldn't have to see his stupid face until the end of their buffering period.After Justine finally left, Jenny came running over."Ashie, are you okay?" she asked, wincing at the faint fingerprint on his cheek. "I can't believe she's still acting like everyone owes her something! She's the one at fault! God, she hasn't changed at all!"Jenny reached out to touch his face, but he dodged her hand."I'm driving you back to the hospital," he said flatly.He turned and walked toward his car.Jenny's hand was still suspended in the air when she called out in her most girlish voice, "Ashie!"Ash was in a daze. It was the first time Justine had ever hit him. Justine, of al
Ash's mood had been in the gutters since he left the hospital, yet he could not pinpoint the reason. His rage refused to subside. He just wanted to see Justine in person as soon as possible.Locating her was not difficult. Soon, he learned about her party with her ballet company at the garden restaurant. Coincidentally, Jenny had called, expressing how much she missed him.He quietly instructed his staff to reserve a table at the restaurant and invited Jenny to join him. Knowing the group would be using the largest table in the venue, he chose a table where he could observe them without Justine noticing.That night, he saw a side of Justine he had never encountered before. She had always been so demure with him—smiling, yet quiet. But with these people? She laughed heartily, her joy unrestrained. Those male dancers all seemed enamored with her! Each of them wanted to be near her—especially the one who ended up dancing with her. As they waltzed together, that guy wore a gri
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