In the tenth year of my stand-in marriage, my sister came back from the dead. The entire family stared at her in silence. She yawned, running a hand through her perfectly messy hair. "Thirteen countries," she said, her voice dripping with manufactured boredom. "God, I'm exhausted." She scanned the room. "Where's Leo? He must be in elementary school by now. Shouldn't he come say hi to his real mom?" Leo is my sister's son. Ten years ago, she gave birth, then faked her death on her wedding day, leaving behind her newborn and her fiancé. The Hayes family is old money. East Coast royalty. My parents, terrified of the consequences, decided to package me up—fresh out of college—and deliver me to the wedding in her place. For the last decade, I have been a perfect wife. A devoted mother. Now, watching my sister's breathtaking entitlement, my parents' eyes shifted to me. I offered a faint, placid smile. "Leo and his father are in the Cayman Islands for the week." ... At my words, my sister Vivian's brows knitted together in annoyance. "I told you I was coming home. Didn't you tell Julian I was back?" I took a calm, deliberate sip of my coffee. The last ten years had forged me into someone new. I was no longer the transparent girl living in my sister's dazzling shadow. My silence infuriated her. She shot to her feet, her voice sharp. "Nora Chen! What is that supposed to mean? Don't you forget, I'm the one with the marriage contract. Now that I'm back, do you really think you can keep your spot as Mrs. Hayes?" I glanced up at her, a small smile playing on my lips. "I don't know what you're talking about, Vivian. My husband and I have a very strong relationship." It was true. For ten years, I had stood by Julian Hayes's side at every charity gala, every business dinner, every weekend retreat. We were known as the golden couple. Julian’s reputation as a devoted husband had won him the admiration and trust of countless business partners. There might not be a sweeping romance between Julian and me, but we are bound by something far more resilient than love. Mutual benefit. An empire. That is the source of my confidence. Vivian's face was a mask of disbelief. She pointed a trembling finger at me. "Nora! Have you no shame? He's your brother-in-law!" I set my coffee cup down, my posture poised and unyielding. "No," I said, my smile never wavering. "He is my legal husband." My gaze was firm. I stood up, ready to end this farce. My parents stood by, wringing their hands, utterly useless. Vivian rushed to my mother, grabbing her sleeve. "Mom, she's lost her mind! Julian and I were college sweethearts! If it wasn't for me, if it wasn't for the Hayes family, would our company be where it is today?" My parents have always favored Vivian. But now, my mother risked a glance in my direction before answering in a weak, wavering voice. "But… you ran away, Vivi. You faked your own death. We didn't hear a word from you for a decade." "The wedding was happening! There was no bride! If your sister hadn't stepped in, the public humiliation would have destroyed the Hayes family, and they would have ruined us!" Vivian's face froze for a second. "I... I just wasn't ready to get married yet! But I'm back now, aren't I?" she stammered. "Besides, you know how snobby the Hayes family is. They already looked down on us. And I'd just had a baby. If I had married him then, they would have treated me like dirt!" My expression was cold as I asked, "Why did you come back?" Her answer was a masterpiece of self-absorption. "Well, they've accepted you, haven't they? Which means they'll accept me now. It's perfect!" "I can marry Julian, his parents will have to be nice to me, and Leo can finally have his real mother. It's a win-win for everyone." She closed the distance between us, grabbing my hands, her eyes wide and sincere. "Nora, you're free! You can finally go find your own happiness." I stared into her eyes, expressionless. In their depths, I saw the profound, unthinking innocence that comes from a lifetime of being spoiled and adored. An innocence so pure it was cruel. She was so certain that I, the overlooked younger sister, existed only to sacrifice for her. I let out a cold laugh and pulled my hands from her grasp. "I am perfectly happy with my life, Vivian. You're the one who needs a reality check." With that, I turned and walked out of the house that had never felt like a home. I didn't know how Vivian was feeling, but I was sure it wasn't good. And knowing her, she wouldn't give up this easily. I returned to the Hayes estate, a deep exhaustion settling into my bones. For the past week, I’d been consumed by a new project, working late into the night every day. I stepped inside, rubbing the bridge of my nose. An hour ago, my parents' text had arrived: Your sister is back. My body had gone rigid. I always knew this day might come, but the reality of it still left me stunned. I hung my purse on the hook and glanced down. A pair of men's dress shoes sat neatly on the mat. I froze for a second before schooling my features into a pleasant, welcoming smile. "You're back?" a warm, smooth voice asked. I turned. Julian Hayes stood there in a simple black silk pajama set that did little to hide his broad shoulders and narrow waist. He was tall, handsome, his gentle eyes framed by gold-rimmed glasses. He frowned slightly, a flicker of concern in his gaze. "You look exhausted. Haven't you been sleeping?" I smiled. "Just a lot going on at work. Did you have a good trip? How's Leo?" Julian stepped forward, pulling me gently into his arms. His chin rested on my shoulder, his warm breath ghosting across my neck. His long, elegant fingers traced soothing patterns on my back. "Leo had a blast," he murmured. "He's already crashed. The only thing missing was you. Next time, all three of us will go." His voice dropped lower, a thread of husky intimacy weaving through it. "I missed you." I felt the warmth of his chest against my back, but a chill spread through my core. A soft pressure, his lips, touched the back of my neck. My body went stiff. All I could hear were Vivian's words from earlier, echoing in my head. I didn't respond the way I usually did. I pushed back, just slightly, creating a space between us. "I…" My voice trailed off. I felt it—the barest hint of a flinch, a sudden tension in his body. I sensed his displeasure immediately. After a beat, Julian finished my sentence for me, his voice smooth again. "You're exhausted. Go take a hot bath and get some sleep." He had given me an out. He leaned in and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to my forehead. I nodded and turned to go upstairs. Behind me, the man stood in the shadows, his expression unreadable, the atmosphere in the room turning heavy and cold. His eyes were locked on my retreating back, a back that was suddenly burdened with secrets. The next morning, I left for work as usual. Just as I was pulling out of the gated community, a familiar figure appeared. My hands tightened on the steering wheel. Vivian saw my car and darted in front of it, forcing me to slam on the brakes. The car behind me laid on its horn. It was the middle of the morning rush hour. A security guard rushed over, trying to pull her away. But Vivian was relentless, screaming even as he dragged her back. "Nora Chen! Stop ignoring me! You have no shame, sleeping with your sister's husband!" Her shrill voice attracted stares from every direction. I pulled my car to the side of the road and got out. I faced her, my expression like ice. Vivian gave a triumphant smirk, tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear. "What's wrong?" she purred. "Embarrassed? Or just scared Julian will find out I'm back and kick you to the curb?" My voice was frosted over. "Vivian, you are seriously disrupting my life. This is your last warning. Stay away from me." She ignored me completely, her smile widening. "Don't pretend, Nora. You're terrified. You've lived in my shadow your whole life. It's only natural you'd be jealous and want to take my place." She took a few steps closer, leaning in to whisper in my ear. "But a cuckoo in the nest always gets kicked out eventually. I'll wait right here for Julian. When I explain everything to him, I know he'll forgive me." "And Leo," she added, her voice hardening, "is the child I gave birth to. We have a bond you can never break. Don't you ever think you can replace me." I didn't say another word. I just got back in my car. This time, she didn't stop me. In the rearview mirror, I saw her standing there, a smug smile on her face. A chill ran through me. Vivian had been spoiled her entire life. She operated without rules or consequences. If anyone crossed her, she would throw a tantrum of epic proportions, a grown woman acting like a giant toddler. I took a deep breath, trying to force her from my mind. For ten years, I had painstakingly built this life, this career, this marriage. If we divorced, it wouldn't just be me who suffered. Julian would too. Our entire empire was built on this partnership. Julian, at least, had a safety net. I had no one but myself. I sat in my office, my thoughts drifting back. When we were in elementary school, Vivian would spend every summer running wild, never touching her homework. On the first day of school, terrified of being scolded, she would demand to copy mine. My parents would always justify it. Nora's such a good student, the teacher won't mind if she doesn't turn it in. But if Vivian doesn't, she'll be humiliated in front of the whole class. For the sake of Vivian's pride, my work was always hers for the taking. Eventually, I just started doing two sets of homework every holiday. In high school, she discovered boys. She chased the captain of the football team, got into fights, and charmed her way into every teacher's good graces. Her grades were terrible, but she was popular and vivacious. There was always someone to clean up her messes. I had to be careful. Every step I took was calculated. In college, she met Julian at an off-campus music festival. They started an indie band, performing in smoky bars. For two months, while I was juggling three part-time jobs to pay for tuition, they were on stage, basking in the glory of their reckless youth. I thought that after graduation, I would finally save enough money to escape my family for good. Then came the night Vivian stumbled home late, her face caked in makeup, wearing a crop top and shorts that were barely there. She was drunk. She started feeling sick, and my parents, frantic, rushed her to the hospital. The test results came back. Vivian was pregnant. A heavy silence fell over our house. My parents were in a state of shock. I was busy working a summer job to save for my senior year. The only calm person in the house was Vivian herself. It was as if the new life growing inside her was a complete abstraction. Because of the pregnancy, my parents made her stay home, stuffing her with supplements and fresh fruit. Meanwhile, they negotiated with the Hayes family. The plan was set: once the baby was born and a paternity test was done, the wedding would take place. The Hayes family, backed into a corner and desperate to avoid a scandal that could tank their company's stock, reluctantly agreed. The night before the wedding, I took a four-hour drive home from college. The next morning, the wedding cars arrived, but Vivian was gone. All that was left in the room was a swaddled, sleeping Leo and the stony-faced members of the Hayes family. Julian's expression was thunderous. My parents stood there, fidgeting, until their eyes slowly landed on me. My mother's face lit up as if she'd found a lifeline. "We still have another daughter! She's never even had a boyfriend!" My father immediately chimed in. "Yes! Nora! Quickly! Your sister's gone. You're the only one who can do this!" I stood there, stunned, my mind unable to process their words. Before I could react, they were on me, each grabbing an arm, trying to drag me into the dressing room to put on the wedding gown. I fought back, a cold dread washing over me. Disbelief warred with a volcanic anger. The first twenty years of my life had been spent in Vivian's shadow. Was the rest of my life going to be a sacrifice for her, too? The injustice of it all filled my chest, and my nose began to burn. It was the first time I had ever truly broken down. I screamed, shoving their hands away. "Why?! Why should I be responsible for her selfishness? It's been like this my whole life!" My father's hand cracked across my face. "She is your sister!" I staggered back, my cheek stinging. My mother was sobbing. "What your sister did was terrible, we know. But you can't just let our family be destroyed! The guests are all waiting for the bride!" My face was a numb mask. I finally squeezed the words out through my teeth. "I will not get married." No matter how much they pleaded or how they tried to physically force me, I refused. I grabbed a fruit knife from a nearby platter and held it to my own throat, my eyes wild. "If anyone tries to make me, I'll kill myself!" Everyone froze. I don't know if they were afraid I would die, or just afraid that a dead body would be even more inconvenient than a missing bride. Either way, I didn't care. I had graduated. Once I found a job, I would be free. The standoff was broken by Julian. He suggested he and I speak alone. The room cleared. In the bridal suite, it was just me and Julian Hayes.
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