I'm Just A Substitute

VIVIENNE

I took one of my husband’s cars and drove to his company. My heart pounded in my chest, a mix of anger and despair fueling my determination.

I just couldn't let myself stay still while my husband was disrespecting me. However, deep down in my heart, one of my reasons was that I wanted us to fix this too.

When I arrived, I stormed into the building. My steps were hurried and resolute. I even gained attention probably because of the evident anger in my expression but I didn't give a shit anymore.

I walked into Zeke’s company building, my heart pounding with determination. No one recognized me; Zeke had never brought me here or introduced me as his wife officially. Gathering up my courage, I approached the front desk, trying to keep my voice steady.

“I need to see Ezekiel Harrington. I’m his wife,” I said, meeting the receptionist’s skeptical gaze.

The receptionist raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed.

“Sure you are," she said sarcastically. "We get people like you every day. Sorry, but Mr. Harrington is a very busy man. You can’t just walk in and claim to be his wife.”

Frustration and desperation bubbled up inside me.

“I’m not just claiming! I am his wife. I need to see him now.”

The receptionist’s eyes narrowed, and she glanced at her colleagues, who were already whispering and casting curious glances my way.

“Look, lady, I can’t let you through without proper identification or an appointment. Now, please leave before we call security.”

My patience snapped.

“I’m not leaving until I see Zeke!” I raised my voice, causing a scene.

The whispers grew louder, and all eyes in the lobby turned toward me. Just then, the entrance doors swung open, and Zeke walked in, arm in arm with a woman whom I suspected to be Alex. My heart sank at the sight of them together.

"Zeke," I uttered my husband’s name.

His eyes widened in shock as he saw me. His face quickly turned into a mask of anger and frustration. He pulled away from Alex and stormed over to me.

"Vivienne, what are you doing here?!" he demanded. His voice was harsh yet cautious because of the commotion I created.

But I was really caught off guard by the woman’s face because… she looked like me.

What the…

The resemblance between Alex and me was uncanny, except she carried herself with an elegance that made my heart ache even more.

Then, I was brought back to reality when Zeke grabbed me inside his office but I wrenched myself free of him.

All my frustrations came back.

I didn't give a shit about dignity anymore. I didn't care if I was making a scene.

Tears streamed down my face as I confronted him.

“You answer me, Zeke! What are you doing with that bitch?!” I pushed my husband's chest. "I knew it. I knew something was going on. How could you do this to me, to our family?!"

“Don’t call her a bitch!” Zeke sided with Alex and it added fuel to the fire of anger within me.

That woman even had the nerve to look confused.

“What is she talking about, Kiel?” she asked Zeke and even called him by his nickname I never heard someone use.

Her audacity to act like this despite being the mistress here?!

I felt a surge of anger and heartbreak.

"So, this is why you wanted a divorce? Because of her?!" I turned to Zeke again.

Zeke rubbed his temples, clearly frustrated.

"Vivienne, you need to leave. This isn't the place for this discussion."

"No," I said firmly, my voice trembling. "We're having this discussion now. Why, Zeke? How could you do this to me? How could you do this to us?!"

My mind flashed back to the miscarriage I had suffered just months ago. The pain of losing our baby was still fresh, a wound that hadn’t healed. I had blamed myself, thinking maybe I did something wrong, but now, seeing Zeke with Alex, the betrayal cut even deeper. The thought of him finding comfort in another woman while I was grieving alone was unbearable.

“How could you, Zeke?” I cried out, my voice breaking. “We lost our baby not so long ago. How could you just find another woman at this time? Am I the only one who couldn’t barely sleep? Does our baby mean nothing to you? How could you do this?”

I was so upset and mad that I couldn’t speak rationally. The words tumbled out in a torrent of pain and anger.

“I thought we were in this together. I thought you loved me. But you’ve been with her, planning to leave me all along. How could you be so heartless—”

I could hear the whispers among people but I couldn’t care more.

If he was the one who betrayed everything of us, why do I still bother to protect his reputation?

“Shut the fuck up!” He cut me off harshly.

Zeke's jaw clenched, and he stepped forward, his eyes cold and determined. Just as I was about to respond, Alex moved to his side, placing a gentle hand on his arm.

“Kiel, please,” she said softly, her voice soothing. She turned to me, her expression one of genuine concern. “Vivienne, I’m sorry for your loss. This must be incredibly hard for you.”

Her calm demeanor contrasted sharply with my hysteria, making me feel even more out of control. I hated her even more for it, for being so composed, so perfect. Her eyes met mine, and there was no malice there, only sympathy.

She was like a perfect version of me. Bullshit!

“I know this is difficult,” she continued, “but yelling and causing a scene won’t help. Maybe we can all sit down and talk this through calmly.”

Her words were like oil on the fire. How dare she speak as if she understood? As if she had any right to be involved in this conversation?

“Don’t pretend to care,” I spat, my voice shaking. “You have no idea what I’ve been through. You’re the reason my marriage is falling apart!”

“Vivienne, enough,” Zeke interjected, his voice firm. “You need to leave. Now."

He gestured to the security guards standing by the door. "Get her out of here."

"No! I need answers, Zeke. You owe me!" I tried to protest but it was futile.

Zeke waved impatiently, leaving no room for argument with a frown.

Feeling utterly defeated, I allowed the guards to escort me out of the office. As I was shooed out of the building, each step felt like a blow to my already broken heart. By the time I reached the car, I was shaking with a mix of anger, sadness, and disbelief.

How could this happen? How could the man I loved so deeply betray me like this?

My mind suddenly caught on, everything just clicked.

Zeke's distant behavior, his insistence on me not putting my hair up, the way he called me by a different name in bed—it all made sense now. He had never truly seen me. He was projecting his love for her onto me, trying to recreate a past that no longer existed.

I laughed at myself, the sound bitter and hollow, only watching them in shock.

It was laughable, really. I had spent time and effort trying to be the perfect wife, trying to make him happy, when all along, Zeke didn’t love me for who I was. He loved me for who I reminded him of.

As the security dragged me out of the building, I faintly saw Alex smirk triumphantly.

Am I just a substitute for her all these years?